On A Certain Word

[Alexander III]

All of GL Wilsons threads have actually pooped into my mind a question which, I would love to hear your opinions on.

If a Contemporary author used the word Nigger in a novel or poem, how would you feel about it? If he used it not to incite racism, but merely in his portrayal of real life speech. Would you rather he forsake the truth in the name of being nice, and not use the word, or would you rather he remains honest to the reality of life he has witnessed and uses the word as it comes up in conversation.

Speaking from personal experience me and my friends, both at university and back in my home, use the word Nigger, once in a while in a derogatory way to insult black people, just like we use all sorts of slangs to insult all sorts of people. We have made fun of most ethnicities and class backgrounds at some point. I do not think it racism in particular, just healthy boys being boys, as I have yet to meet a group of people in their 20's who were actually politically correct; and If I have met them they tend to be the dull types.

So Considering that in common speech the word "Nigger" does come up, how would you feel if a contemporary author used the word?

(obviously this question is based on the context of white characters using the word as an insult, this question is not in the context of black characters using it as idiom of addressing each other)

Also If a black author used the word, with white characters; would it be acceptable like if a white author used the word with black characters?

[Red-Headed]

When I lived in Wales I was often referred to as a Saeson (Saxon), it is a derogatory term for the Frisian-descended English. It carries many of the same connotations as 'nigger'. It's just a word. If you want what you write to have any contemporary verisimilitude you will write whatever you want.

[OrphanPip]

If appropriate in the context of the work I don't care.

However, I have never used the n word in a derogatory fashion in my life, and I don't associate with people who do.

[zhannochka]

I think if the writer is looking to incite a certain response from a reader and he/she can achieve that by using the word "nigger", then the word is appropriate to use.
That said, I find nothing in the english language offensive, so my opinion is "meh".

[Alexander III]

Anyone else, would love to hear more opinions on this ?

[PeterL]

It wouldn't bother me at all. I still can't understand why it went from being one of several terms for black people to a word that is worse to say than almost any other.

[Alexander III]

We have established that most of the people on the forum would not be disturbed by the word, but what do you guys think about the general reading public? Or just general public?

[Dark Muse]

It really would be all about the context in how it was used and if I felt that the author was using it in some significant way to make a statement about the characters and if I felt that it had some purpose in the story.

There are people in this day and age that do still use the word and so I do not think that when writing books a person should censor what does reflect the reality just because it may be perceived as offensive. So if it "makes" sense for that character to be using the word than it would not bother me.

If It felt like the author was using it just for the sake of using it than I might be a little taken aback at the very least.