Richard Sherman Says Calling Someone a Thug Is the Same as Calling Someone the N-Word

[cwood]

Yes, There most certainly is a reasonable argument against that. There are two examples of people being labeled a thug even though they are not violent street criminals. You are saying that it is racist to call one that but not the other because he had a physical style of play. Does that honestly make any sense to you or are you just grasping at straws? So is it acceptable now to call anyone with a physical style of play a thug?

There is a difference between labeling someone's extremely physical play as "thuggish"... because that makes sense... and labeling someone thuggish for being cocky which doesn't. I'm sad you can't see the difference. Read the definition with a clear mind and you will be able to understand the difference.

 

[Berkeley_Blues]

I just feel bad for the real Seahawk players who played their hearts out, then have to suffer a shit-stained goof like Richard Sherman.

 

[Frank Rizzo]

That's stupid. You don't respond to anonymous hecklers through the media. You don't even dignify them.

...unless you're trying to make yourself out to look like some kind of victim, and I'm getting really tired of people doing that.

I think you hit the nail on the head there... I believe this ridiculous idea of the misuse of a word being a racial slur was created by Sherman to deflect blame and take away attention from the poor decision he made originally. I guess it is kind of smart because it is actually working!! There are people posting here acting like Sherman is the victim of some sort of hate crime.

 

[SonnyCID]

I understand why that wasn't a big story. This really shouldn't be a big story either.

The fact is that a lot of people bury their head in the sand until they can point and say "race card". And a lot of people pull the card when they shouldn't. And I'm not defending him but I'm not in his shoes. I'm not being called a n*gg*er by a bunch of people and a thug by a bunch of other people. I'm sure Sherman knows for a fact why people are calling him a n*gg*r, but he obviously doesn't understand why they're calling him a thug. There's nothing thuggish about him.

 

[cwood]

I understand why that wasn't a big story. This really shouldn't be a big story either.

The fact is that a lot of people bury their head in the sand until they can point and say "race card". And a lot of people pull the card when they shouldn't. And I'm not defending him but I'm not in his shoes. I'm not being called a n*gg*er by a bunch of people and a thug by a bunch of other people. I'm sure Sherman knows for a fact why people are calling him a n*gg*r, but he obviously doesn't understand why they're calling him a thug. There's nothing thuggish about him.

He reminds them of cocky black rappers so he's a thug. Hate being on the same side as you but anyone calling Sherman a thug was wrong at best, and racist at worst.

 

[Frank Rizzo]

There is a difference between labeling someone's extremely physical play as "thuggish"... because that makes sense... and labeling someone thuggish for being cocky which doesn't. I'm sad you can't see the difference. Read the definition with a clear mind and you will be able to understand the difference.

First of all, no where does it say he was a called a thug because "his physical play was thuggish" In fact the word thuggish is never even used. Not sure where that came from. Also, What definition do you want me to read with a clear mind... That doesn't even make sense.
Again, I gave you two examples of two people being labeled a thug even though it wasn't an accurate label. One you say is racist and the other is not because the person has a physical style of play. I'll ask again, Is it acceptable then to call someone a thug if they have a physical style of play even though that has nothing to do with the actual definition of the word?

Here is the question I have asked a few times but you haven't responded to.... If any of the people that labeled Sherman a thug were black, Do you consider them to be racist as well?

 

[cwood]

First of all, no where does it say he was a called a thug because "his physical play was thuggish" In fact the word thuggish is never even used. Not sure where that came from. Also, What definition do you want me to read with a clear mind... That doesn't even make sense.
Again, I gave you two examples of two people being labeled a thug even though it wasn't an accurate label. One you say is racist and the other is not because the person has a physical style of play. I'll ask again, Is it acceptable then to call someone a thug if they have a physical style of play even though that has nothing to do with the actual definition of the word?

Here is the question I have asked a few times but you haven't responded to.... If any of the people that labeled Sherman a thug were black, Do you consider them to be racist as well?

I think any person of any race can call Sherman a thug without automatically thinking they're racist. I just don't think it makes any sense at all to call him a thug. I'd like to hear you explain why you think Sherman is a thug. I've already explained why Laimbeer was called a thug.

 

[Frank Rizzo]

I think any person of any race can call Sherman a thug without automatically thinking they're racist. I just don't think it makes any sense at all to call him a thug. I'd like to hear you explain why you think Sherman is a thug. I've already explained why Laimbeer was called a thug.

Where on earth did you get the idea that I think Sherman is a thug? I haven't stated anything even remotely close to that. In fact, In just about every post I have made I said anyone calling him that was a misuse of the word or that it wasn't an accurate label.

Would you do us all a favor and put together a list of when it is and is not acceptable to call someone a thug. It keeps changing to fit your story so I'm getting lost... Where we left off is I believe that anyone with a physical style of play can be called a thug. Is that right?

 

[Wazmankg]

It seems more logical then that it is just a misuse of the word then and not a racial slur. Does it make sense to accuse some one of a racial slur when the origin or definition of the word has absolutely nothing to do with black people?

It amazes me at what lengths some will go to to play the race card. There are real examples of racism out there and those situations should get awareness and worked on.... This simply isn't one of them no matter how much you want it to be.

The meanings of words change over time. You slapped a pretty coherent post together there so surely you're aware of that. I had to laugh when I read a post in this thread going on about its origins in gangs of Indian assassins as if that's of any relevance to this discussion. In short, black rappers in the late 80s/early 90s co-opted the word to define themselves and their lifestyle. This is fairly common knowledge. Sherman painted with too broad a brush, but if you don't think a lot of people called him a thug as shorthand for n****r you're kidding yourself.

 

[cwood]

Where on earth did you get the idea that I think Sherman is a thug? I haven't stated anything even remotely close to that. In fact, In just about every post I have made I said anyone calling him that was a misuse of the word or that it wasn't an accurate label.

Would you do us all a favor and put together a list of when it is and is not acceptable to call someone a thug. It keeps changing to fit your story so I'm getting lost... Where we left off is I believe that anyone with a physical style of play can be called a thug. Is that right?

I'm just asking why it is appropriate to call Sherman a thug. You've been defending it so I want to know why it's OK. Give context to the word.

 

[Oldschool739]

A lot of people on here and in the media does not know what the word means. He's right, he's not a thug.

This guy is not a gangbanger who commited many crimes and have been arrested several times. He is far from a thug.

I didn't say he was a thug, just an idiot for saying that is the same as being called the Dreaded , life altering, cosmic meteor collision , racial crutch , N word......
Enough already, when nothing else works, just play the race card, is getting tired and weak....
But he is just a big mouth imposter thug, I've seen him get smacked twice now and all he does is run his mouth....Case closed...

 

[Frank Rizzo]

I'm just asking why it is appropriate to call Sherman a thug. You've been defending it so I want to know why it's OK. Give context to the word.

I don't know how I can make this any more clear... I have not made one single post defending anyone calling him a thug. In fact, I have said the opposite. I said it is a misuse of the word and an inaccurate label. It seriously can't get any more clear than that.

My whole point all along that is not the racism you are making it out to be. It's people using a word incorrectly. I really do admire the passion you or anyone else has on what can be a sensitive subject... but seriously this is a gigantic leap that just doesn't make any sense. There are real examples of racism out there that really do deserve attention and those should be getting talked about.

 

[cwood]

I don't know how I can make this any more clear... I have not made one single post defending anyone calling him a thug. In fact, I have said the opposite. I said it is a misuse of the word and an inaccurate label. It seriously can't get any more clear than that.

My whole point all along that is not the racism you are making it out to be. It's people using a word incorrectly. I really do admire the passion you or anyone else has on what can be a sensitive subject... but seriously this is a gigantic leap that just doesn't make any sense. There are real examples of racism out there that really do deserve attention and those should be getting talked about.

The thing is, it's NOT a gigantic leap. Sherman has done NOTHING that should label him as a thug. Nothing. So why do you think so many people are calling him that? What is the reason they're mistaking that term?

 

[RoboticDreams]

The thing is, it's NOT a gigantic leap. Sherman has done NOTHING that should label him as a thug. Nothing. So why do you think so many people are calling him that? What is the reason they're mistaking that term?

Are you fucking serious? How many times does this guy have to reiterate the same thing before you comprehend? He said he's not a thug and that is a misuse of the word. What are you not getting here?

 

[Frank Rizzo]

The meanings of words change over time. You slapped a pretty coherent post together there so surely you're aware of that. I had to laugh when I read a post in this thread going on about its origins in gangs of Indian assassins as if that's of any relevance to this discussion. In short, black rappers in the late 80s/early 90s co-opted the word to define themselves and their lifestyle. This is fairly common knowledge. Sherman painted with too broad a brush, but if you don't think a lot of people called him a thug as shorthand for n****r you're kidding yourself.

For starters, I don't even know who is calling him a thug in the first place. What I am understanding it is people on Twitter. Correct me if I am wrong on that. Is it known that these are all white people calling him a thug? I brought up the examples of some white athletes being called thugs and ask if it is racist to call them thugs? I also pose the question that if any of these people supposedly calling Sherman a thug were black, Are they racist too? I have not got an answer that makes any sense on either of those questions.

Part of my confusion here is I have heard the N word and other racial slurs used a lot in my lifetime which is unfortunate but the words out there and people who do have issues with racism use them. I can honestly say though as I have never heard anyone calling a black person or any person for that matter a thug with the intent of it being critical on race. If this is such a racist word.... Why is every other derogatory word being used regularly and not this one.
Maybe because it is just using the term loosely or not understanding its definition, and it just isn't the racism that some want it to be.
I actually have a new respect for Sherman for concocting this story to shift the blame off of himself... It's actually genius. He went from a selfish idiot to a poor victim of racism just like that and people are lining up to offer their sympathy.

 

[cwood]

Are you fucking serious? How many times does this guy have to reiterate the same thing before you comprehend? He said he's not a thug and that is a misuse of the word. What are you not getting here?

When did I say the person you are quoting thought Sherman is a thug? I don't remember it if it happened.

 

[RoboticDreams]

When did I say the person you are quoting thought Sherman is a thug? I don't remember it if it happened.

And yet you are asking him to tell you why other people use the word and why they feel the way they do. You can't be serious.

 

[Frank Rizzo]

When did I say the person you are quoting thought Sherman is a thug? I don't remember it if it happened.

Your last few posts have... Just go back and read them. Which is why I have been tirelessly trying to explain that those aren't my thoughts on him, I just don't think that it is racism like you do.

Anyway, We seem to be at an impasse here so I guess we will just have to agree to disagree. I just get frustrated when people bring race in to every situation. In my opinion trying to inject race in to something like this does more harm than good for race relations. The "race card" should be save for instances where there is real racism going on and it will have a greater effect.

 

[cwood]

And yet you are asking him to tell you why other people use the word and why they feel the way they do. You can't be serious.

No, I'm asking why people are defending calling Sherman a thug for being cocky and loud. Words have meanings and thug has a pretty definitive one that doesn't fit Sherman. It doesn't fit Sherman. I'm waiting for someone to explain why it should.

 

[RoboticDreams]

No, I'm asking why people are defending calling Sherman a thug for being cocky and loud. Words have meanings and thug has a pretty definitive one that doesn't fit Sherman. It doesn't fit Sherman. I'm waiting for someone to explain why it should.

Whether it fits of not isn't the issue. Many people are called things that they aren't. The question is, are you accusing anyone that uses the label 'thug' for Richard Sherman, a racist.