A top Netflix executive is out after using the N-word | Hacker News Reader

A top Netflix executive is out after using the N-word

money.cnn.com

8 pointsCookingboy13 comments

Wait, did I understand correctly that he quoted the word "nigger" instead of saying "n-word" when talking about words used in comedy and this is considered taboo?

I'm not a native speaker, so please bear with me: is this really considered not acceptable?

Opinions differ on the matter. While I think you should be able to quote the word, I understand that not everyone feels the same way, and so I never say the full word because I don't want to unintentionally offend anyone. I don't feel strongly enough about my opinion to say the word regardless of other people's opinions.

Yes, you must say "n-word" or use asterisks like n* unless you are black.

This seems ridiculous, given the context. They also have loads of content with the same word used by characters that are racist, yet it doesn't make those films themselves racist.

There's a joke about a guy who gets a phone call because his son used "the S-word" at school. "I'm so sorry, I don't know where he picked that up; I'll have a stern talk with him." "Good," the teacher says, "we can't have children calling each other 'stupid' here."

"Wait, stupid? Ok I thought..."

"And another thing, he called Susie the B-word." "Really? I've always taught him to be respectful to women." "Well, I heard him say 'bozo' with my own ears."

"Oh, that B-word... Well, if there's nothing else..."

"In fact there is, I hate to say this but your son also used the M-word." "Hrm, yes, and what do you mean by the M-word?"

Here the teller is invited to concoct the most utterly obscene, vile, and ridiculous phrase imaginable, suitably taboo and vivid to evoke surprised involuntary laughter in the audience (I like to start with "mouth-breathing", delivered with nervousness and ill-concealed delight).

As an French speaking European, I m not sure to precisely understand American taboo and other cultural rules. But I find the practice to not be able to report the use a taboo or swear word quite strange. If you report a fact, you need to report it precisely.

On the N word specifically, couldn't we agree to ban it completely in normal discourse for all? I mean if it is so taboo why make it exception? And on what do you base the exception? level of melanin production? supposed ancestry? “Who’s the gatekeeper for blackness?” asked Rachel Dolezal[1].

[1] https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/rachel-dolezal-s-claim...

> It recounts an incident that occurred "several months ago" when Friedland used the N-word during a meeting with Netflix public relations staff during a discussion about "sensitive words." Several people told him they were offended by his use of the full word, according to Hastings's memo.

This is a joke right? I could understand that he would have been ousted for using this word in a normal conversation on the regular, actually meaning to hurt someone with that. But I can't see any form of disrespect here.

Actually saying "N-word" instead would be more offensive to me, because I am an adult not some 5-year old.

If you really feel triggered by the use of this word in a meta-discussion I can only advise you to leave your echo-chamber and get a sense for some real problems.

Why does anyone with a shred of decency and respect for fellow man/woman have this word in their vocabulary?

Let's see:

> "several months ago" when Friedland used the N-word during a meeting with Netflix public relations staff during a discussion about "sensitive words."

Maybe to at least be able to discuss it?

Which word?

Okay. I am going to say it here : Voldemort. Also they are just working the euphemism treadmill

Use-mention distinction. If you don't have it in your group, you're missing out.

larger discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17378925

Reply on news.ycombinator.com