Maybe you ask how to Play the Dozens but it wouldn't make you a Hip Liberal White Guy for knowing just it doesn't make me a Hip Liberal White Guy for knowing it already. Another Hip Liberal White Guy was a psychologist ... but I repeat myself. So I was told by another Hip Liberal White Guy that Playing the Dozens is something in which black guys will go all ripshit on each other, calling each other the most horrible stuff ... worse than any white guy could throw at them.
Some may say 'nigger' or 'motherfucker' or such words are ok because 'they' use them but that's not true.
(Ed: why not?)
The words don't mean the same thing.
There is tremendous nuance to the word 'nigger' when used by a black man but it means only one thing when a white person uses it. I rest my case. The words are not the same.
It's the same with 'motherfucker' as it all depends on the inflection of how you say it. This word has an enormous number of meanings as well. 'Motherfucker' is presented in the same context because white people have some grip on the word meaning meaning many things whereas that often is not true regarding 'nigger.'
Sometimes people remark about 'nigger' or 'motherfucker' turning up in rap, hip-hop, etc but the judgment comes from evaluating the song in terms of your own language. The problem is your language is different. Playing the Dozens marginalizes the word for black people and they turn it around into a rainbow of meaning. Unless you know that meaning, you can't use the word ... probably not even then.
Use of the word in such songs is not shock music but rather it's carrying on a long tradition. I take literary license in using the word here but hopefully it's not seen as abusive. My purpose is understanding the language rather than trying to beat anyone down. Understanding it means nothing if I use a compromised (i.e. politically correct) version of the language.
Some may say 'nigger' or 'motherfucker' or such words are ok because 'they' use them but that's not true.
(Ed: why not?)
The words don't mean the same thing.
There is tremendous nuance to the word 'nigger' when used by a black man but it means only one thing when a white person uses it. I rest my case. The words are not the same.
It's the same with 'motherfucker' as it all depends on the inflection of how you say it. This word has an enormous number of meanings as well. 'Motherfucker' is presented in the same context because white people have some grip on the word meaning meaning many things whereas that often is not true regarding 'nigger.'
Sometimes people remark about 'nigger' or 'motherfucker' turning up in rap, hip-hop, etc but the judgment comes from evaluating the song in terms of your own language. The problem is your language is different. Playing the Dozens marginalizes the word for black people and they turn it around into a rainbow of meaning. Unless you know that meaning, you can't use the word ... probably not even then.
Use of the word in such songs is not shock music but rather it's carrying on a long tradition. I take literary license in using the word here but hopefully it's not seen as abusive. My purpose is understanding the language rather than trying to beat anyone down. Understanding it means nothing if I use a compromised (i.e. politically correct) version of the language.
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