Ignorance - by Arislyn on 22:52 14 Sep 2002
Am I the only one who thinks this is just ridiculous? This evening when watching the news, a story came up about a local teacher who was reprimanded for teaching the word niggardly in class. (For those of you who don't know, it means stingy or miserly). Because it sounds like a racial slur, a parent got upset about it and, of course, the school took their side, reprimanded the teacher, had the teacher write letters of apology to all the parents and then promise to not teach the word again.
What is up with that?! I will agree that it does sound like the slur, but it is not a slur. I feel that people should be taught the word so that they can tell the difference between the two. Are we just going to get rid of all words that either sound like a slur but aren't or words that are legitmate but have been claimed by the community as a slur? For instance, are we going to say that the word "chink" can't be taught because it sounds like a racial slur?
Just for the record, I've included the definition from the Webster's Online Dictionary below:
Main Entry: nig·gard·ly
Pronunciation: -lE
Function: adjective
Date: 1571
1 : grudgingly mean about spending or granting : BEGRUDGING
2 : provided in meanly limited supply
synonym see STINGY
- nig·gard·li·ness noun
- niggardly adverb
Am I the only one who thinks this is just ridiculous? This evening when watching the news, a story came up about a local teacher who was reprimanded for teaching the word niggardly in class. (For those of you who don't know, it means stingy or miserly). Because it sounds like a racial slur, a parent got upset about it and, of course, the school took their side, reprimanded the teacher, had the teacher write letters of apology to all the parents and then promise to not teach the word again.
What is up with that?! I will agree that it does sound like the slur, but it is not a slur. I feel that people should be taught the word so that they can tell the difference between the two. Are we just going to get rid of all words that either sound like a slur but aren't or words that are legitmate but have been claimed by the community as a slur? For instance, are we going to say that the word "chink" can't be taught because it sounds like a racial slur?
Just for the record, I've included the definition from the Webster's Online Dictionary below:
Main Entry: nig·gard·ly
Pronunciation: -lE
Function: adjective
Date: 1571
1 : grudgingly mean about spending or granting : BEGRUDGING
2 : provided in meanly limited supply
synonym see STINGY
- nig·gard·li·ness noun
- niggardly adverb
Ignorance - by din on 08:45 15 Sep 2002
i can't comment without getting into a big rant ... i was toying with making a website that dealt with these kinds of things , stupid lawsuits and stupid people and just .er, not ranting ...
i can't comment without getting into a big rant ... i was toying with making a website that dealt with these kinds of things , stupid lawsuits and stupid people and just .er, not ranting ...
Ignorance - by VampirePrincess on 13:40 15 Sep 2002
Well take one of schools were I live... You can't high five someone cause it represents Hail Hitler. I am not lying. Thats the way the world is. Everyone is so negative know or days that they will think of these things all the times. Next thing you know the english language will be change to the point that a simple common word can not be used.
Well take one of schools were I live... You can't high five someone cause it represents Hail Hitler. I am not lying. Thats the way the world is. Everyone is so negative know or days that they will think of these things all the times. Next thing you know the english language will be change to the point that a simple common word can not be used.
Ignorance - by din on 18:30 15 Sep 2002
sounds more like admin ignorance than anything. most of them were probably high-fiving in the 70s and never realized how racist and wrong it was
Some concerned group prolly clued them in on it .
| Quote |
| You can't high five someone cause it represents Hail Hitler. |
sounds more like admin ignorance than anything. most of them were probably high-fiving in the 70s and never realized how racist and wrong it was
Some concerned group prolly clued them in on it .Ignorance - by Brad on 09:53 16 Sep 2002
A lot of this is ignorance. It is also about people who want to control others. That is a very double edged sword.
A lot of this is ignorance. It is also about people who want to control others. That is a very double edged sword.