NFL

[shmenguin]

Justin Bieber is a wanna be 'Thug' and last I check little Bieb's was a white boy

ergo "wanna be"

[ExPatriatePen]

Sherman 'Thug is the new "N" word'

Just STFU will you Sherman? Like a white player wouldn't have been called a Thug for those same actions.

For instance.... Justin Bieber is a wanna be 'Thug' and last I check little Bieb's was a white boy.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24417234

You don't think that the word "thug" carries with it certain racial connotations in society as a whole?

No... I don't.

Thug = Gangsta(er) and Gangster's roots go back to the 20's.

I remember being around 10 years old when my Dad pointed out some white guys hanging around a bar on the lower North Side and called them "Thugs".

It's racist for someone to associate Thug with a given race. Thugs come in every race.

[count2infinity]

I can't disagree with Sherman's comments. The word "Thug" certainly has a connotation with it. Ask a group without any sort of knowledge as far as what you're testing to draw a thug and then ask a different group to draw an n-word. My bet is on them being quite similar.

[shmenguin]

It's racist for someone to associate Thug with a given race.

no - it's observant. it has nothing to do with what people should or shouldn't be called. it's documenting what they are called.

[ExPatriatePen]

So none of you have ever called a white person, a Latino, or an Asian, a Thug?

[KennyTheKangaroo]

just search thug on lgp.com and see the connotation used for it.

its either used for dirty hockey players or black people.

[shmenguin]

So none of you have ever called a white person, a Latino, or an Asian, a Thug?

i don't think i've ever called anyone a thug. but we're talking connotations. there are exceptions - they aren't air tight.

[shafnutz05]

Living near Philadelphia, I'll gladly admit to using the word "thug" to describe a certain class of people that I've lived and worked around. I completely disagree that Sherman is a "thug" in any sense of the word (he's probably one of the most well-educated and spoken people in the NFL, I'm personally a fan). I also disagree that using the word "thug" is synonymous with the N-word or racism in any way.

In fairness, the "thug life" motto/whatever isn't really used by white hoodlums too much that I've seen. Actually, come to think of it, I think I use the term "hoodlum" or "white trash" more with those types. Meh.

[ExPatriatePen]

just search thug on lgp.com and see the connotation used for it.

its either used for dirty hockey players or black people.

[shafnutz05]

The vast, vast majority of Americans would associate the word "thug" with your typical black gangbanger. I can't even believe that's a debate.

[count2infinity]

again, epp, connotation. words mean different things to different people. non hockey fans likely don't see the word "thug" to mean a dirty hockey player. it depends on where you are and what your lifestyle is, but it's very difficult to argue that nation wide, if you say the word "thug" people usually see a black, street gang type of person as one of the possible things for that word to associate it with.

[shafnutz05]

I would imagine a vast majority of hockey fans, when they hear the word "thug", would also think of a black gangbanger rather than a dirty hockey player.

[count2infinity]

I would imagine a vast majority of hockey fans, when they hear the word "thug", would also think of a black gangbanger rather than a dirty hockey player.

of course. i think that EPP is trying to make the argument that the word COULD mean something different, depending upon who you are, and that's absolutely true, but I think the common denominator across the nation when using the word "thug" is a gangbanger, like you said.

[columbia]

I just read this page...what is the point of contention?

[shmenguin]

it's another classic LGP instance of someone saying what other people are allowed to be offended by.

[count2infinity]

I just read this page...what is the point of contention?

is thug a PC replacement for the n-word?

[columbia]

Oh...well that's obvious: it's short hand, code language, etc for it.
So Sherman is correct about that.

[shafnutz05]

Out of curiosity, what is an acceptable word to describe a black man that has a penchant for bad behavior?

http://thesaurus.com/browse/thug

Maybe "goon"? "Troublemaker"? I feel like a lot of the synonyms for "thug" (hoodlum, gangster, hooligan, punk, hood, etc) have kind of been co-opted into synonyms for the n-word.

I don't really think "criminal" always applies, so it's a tough question. Let's go with "poopoohead"

[count2infinity]

how about we just don't call people names?

[Troy Loney]

Out of curiosity, what is an acceptable word to describe a black man that has a penchant for bad behavior?

http://thesaurus.com/browse/thug

Maybe "goon"? "Troublemaker"? I feel like a lot of the synonyms for "thug" (hoodlum, gangster, hooligan, punk, hood, etc) have kind of been co-opted into synonyms for the n-word.

I don't really think "criminal" always applies, so it's a tough question. Let's go with "poopoohead"

A thug I assume.

But since people also default to thug when a black individual gives an animated, angry interview....it does have a racial connotation. The word isn't inherintly racist, but people are.

[Idoit40fans]

Yeah thats along the lines of what I was about to say. Sherman isn't someone who has a penchant for bad behavior but he has a big mouth. So when you use that as the description for Thug then also call Sherman a Thug, you're entering a territory.

[blackjack68]

What about Thuggees from India? (Featured in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.)

A certain group has co-opted the word Thug and put it upon themselves by living the Thug Life.

I still think of old-time henchmen, goons, you know...thugs.

Of course, gay used to mean happy. Just ask Christmas carol writers or Fred Flintstone.

[Idoit40fans]

Oh I just thought the Flintstones was a progressive alternative lifestyle show.

[blackjack68]

Oh I just thought the Flintstones was a progressive alternative lifestyle show.

Fred and Barney were close.

[ulf]