Find Another Word

I've noticed the use of "N-word" a lot lately and it disturbs me. Not because it is racist (and cowardly) but because it's evidence of poor writing. If you are afraid to use the actual slur, why use it at all? Find another way to approach the subject or insinuate the word without actually using it. As a writer, it really isn't that hard to do.

What this amounts to is certain people wanting to have their cake and eat it too. That is, they want to be provocative but without actually provoking anyone. It's the sincerest form of cowardice and invites a whole other level of "response" in the sense that, should anyone actually be provoked by the vocabulary and take it upon himself or herself to act on it, the cowards can sit back and say "they had it coming; I would never use that word."

Except that you did. See, we all knew what you wanted to say, you just didn't have the nerve to say it. So maybe you should just find another word or, better yet, just not bring it up in the first place? If you're going to tackle a sensitive issue, you already know that it's going to be provocative. If you aren't going to be honest about doing so, you have nothing of value to say, so just shut up! No one cares about your position on the "N-Word," you R-tard.

© C Harris Lynn, 2013