What do you think of the word "thug"?

[Suburbia]

What do you think of the word "thug"? Do you think political correctness is behind the criticism of the word?

[ElectionsGuy]

It's fine, as long as its accurately describing someone. In before the PC police arrive.

[memphis]

http://youtu.be/C0PB4o9GH2A

[Lief 🗽]

9 out of 10 times it's used it's a racial dog whistle.

[cinyc]

9 out of 10 times it's used it's a racial dog whistle.

Especially when "progressives" call Republicans "Rethuglicans".

The PC police need to go away and stop telling people what they can and can't say.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

I don't think it's the province of a bunch of white people on the internet to decide what is and isn't racially charged, I really can't think of any legitimate use of this particular word that other words wouldn't capture just as well, and there is a big honking difference between advocating prudence and restraint and tact in word choice and being 'PC police' who want to 'tell people what they can and can't say'.

[Lief 🗽]

9 out of 10 times it's used it's a racial dog whistle.

Especially when "progressives" call Republicans "Rethuglicans".

The PC police need to go away and stop telling people what they can and can't say.

No one is telling you what you can't say. People are just calling you a racist when you say racist things.

[cinyc]

No one is telling you what you can't say. People are just calling you a racist when you say racist things.

I think it's ironic that Internet "progressives" who routinely call Republicans "Rethuglicans" are now lecturing people that the word "thug" is racist.  Especially when the word "thug" derives from India, where it described professional robbers and murderers who strangled their victims.

The PC police need to be stopped at every turn, especially when they are the ones who are warping the meaning of neutral words, claiming they are "racist" when they are not.

[Beet]

It's a compliment (e.g., "thug life")

It can also be used as a racial epithet, yes.

"Rethuglican" is just a hilariously partisan term that even I can't take seriously.

[Ebowed]

9 out of 10 times it's used it's a racial dog whistle.

Especially when "progressives" call Republicans "Rethuglicans".

That's some pretty serious FF vocab for any progressive to be using.

It's all about context, guys.  You ought to be able to know racism when you hear it.  An old white man saying "thug" in a derogatory manner rubs people the wrong way for a good reason.

[MaxQue]

Very context dependent.

[muon2]

9 out of 10 times it's used it's a racial dog whistle.

Not in the Midwest. It is more often applied to mob or gang violence. The race of the mobster or gangbanger doesn't factor into it.

[CountryClassSF]

What do you think of the word "thug"? Do you think political correctness is behind the criticism of the word?

Yes.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Wasn't the connection of "thug" to African Americans largely the doing of hip-hop culture embracing the word?  Was it generally a racially connotative word before then?

[publicunofficial]

9 out of 10 times it's used it's a racial dog whistle.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Very context dependent.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

One of Thatcher's fave words actually.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Very context dependent.

[Zioneer]

Very context dependent.

[pbrower2a]

Origin -- a cult of robbers in India who killed and robbed long-distance travelers. The ord has been extended in use.   

[DrScholl]

9 out of 10 times it's used it's a racial dog whistle.

Especially when "progressives" call Republicans "Rethuglicans".

The PC police need to go away and stop telling people what they can and can't say.

You can say whatever you like, you just shouldn't feel that people are obligated to agree with you and praise you for your opinions. No one is ever obligated to agree with you.

[DemPGH]

It can have racial subtext, but a lot of things can. Around here "thug" is basically interchangeable with "goon" or "gangster" or "hoodlum" (although hoodlum is dated and seldom used) or whatever in that vein. I often say "thug cop" and "thug police" in reference to these police brutality cases, and there's not a grain of racial subtext to it.

[Gass3268]

9 out of 10 times it's used it's a racial dog whistle.

And usually a replacement for the n-word.

[Illuminati Blood Drinker]

9 out of 10 times it's used it's a racial dog whistle.

[SWE]

9 out of 10 times it's used it's a racial dog whistle.