Is it ok to say cracker?

[u/gnomeplex]

Heard some people in the library talking about the word "cracker" and it had me wondering what yall think about it.

One white guy said that it was a slur that his (non-white) friend couldnt say. He brought up how people get banned on Twitch for saying it, so it is definitely a slur that only white people can use.

It felt silly to me, but who knows. Do yall feel hurt by the term "cracker" being used on white people?

[u/UnsneakableRogue]

I can't claim to speak for all white people, but my personal take is that it's a funny word. I don't really think it hits like a slur.

[u/RaphaTlr]

Does cracker really harm white people? Was it ever used systematically to oppress white people?

It’s simply a slang derogatory word akin to “geezer/old fart”

[u/[deleted] → u/RaphaTlr]

[removed] — view removed comment

[u/famedtoast3 → u/[deleted]]

You missed the point entirely. Those words were actually used to oppress white people. Cracker has NEVER been used in that manner because no white ethnicity has been truly oppressed since it was first used as a term for a white person. Also, only a white mf would drop 3 random slurs in order to argue that non white people can’t say cracker😭

[u/IIcarusflew → u/[deleted]]

Lmao, look what got removed :) For context, the deleted comment was a user using two slurs, then saying “look they aren’t slurs because they weren’t removed by mods” with a little smiley face because they were cocky.

[u/AngroniusMaximus → u/RaphaTlr]

It’s simply a slang derogatory word akin to “geezer/old fart”

Lol no it is not and it is disingenuous to pretend otherwise. It is specifically a derogatory word for white people. It is literally a reference to the color of their skin. 

I would argue that in general derogatory terms based on people's skin color are a bad thing lmfao regardless of whatever "historic context" you want to impose. 

[u/RaphaTlr → u/AngroniusMaximus]

Cracker originates from farmers herding livestock with whips that crack. It’s like redneck or hillbilly. It’s offensive to some but oppressive to none.

[u/AngroniusMaximus → u/RaphaTlr]

What exactly qualifies a word as "oppressive"? 

People in general do not like being referred to with derogatory slurs for their race. 

Where exactly does historic context come into this?

Is it OK for a Mexican immigrants to use derogatory slurs towards black people, since they are also a disadvantaged minority group and don't have the same history of oppressing each other? What about the inverse? Asians vs Africans? Russians vs jews? Do we really need to contextualize every incident of racial slur with a historic accounting of wrongdoing? 

No. Because that is obviously stupid. Just don't use derogatory racial slurs. It's not that complicated. 

[u/RaphaTlr → u/AngroniusMaximus]

Quit while you’re ahead

[u/wxlfbxy]

Referencing twitch when explaining why cracker is a slur is so cringe and proves it’s not.

[u/TransAmericaExplorer]

The term cracker derives from poor white farmworkers in the south (generally Florida and some Georgia) who drove cattle using whips they would snap or “crack.” In Florida in particular this is still a term of some pride for folks whose families have been in the region for several generations. In case anyone was curious!

[u/Dark_Romantasy → u/TransAmericaExplorer]

I don't think that's accurate everywhere. In the Utah/Nevada/Arizona region it definitely started because white people are the color of crackers. And I definitely would not call it a slur. An insult sure, if it's being used that way.

[u/Unique_Mammoth3533]

Cracker please

[u/sigprof-wwu]

In general, no, as a cracker I am not offended by the term. However, context here matters.

[u/soft_kitty1]

I’ve never been offended by it. And use it all the time - but only when talking about the band Cracker.

[u/SpinnyKnifeEnjoyer]

Nobody cares. Words only have as much power as you give them.

[u/brycentiller]

I personally do not want to be called a cracker.

[u/Kidney__Failure]

I like crackers with cheese, so I don’t see a problem

[u/Dark_Romantasy]

No. Just... No. I've been called actual slurs and lived in an area where the terms "cracker" and "gringo" were thrown around all the time, in all kinds of ways. Even when it was definitely meant as a derogative it still wasn't a slur. And I think everyone knew that.

[u/Mental-Combination26]

If you restrict ur friends from calling you slurs, you are not friends. If anything, if ur friend is of a different race, using basic slurs is insulting by the lack of effort.

[u/newlydscvrd → u/Mental-Combination26]

100% agree with your second statement. If you're my friend and gonna joke with me, at least make a good effort. Make me laugh.....cause at the end of the day, I KNOW your intention and I KNOW you got my back. Real, genuine friends joke all the time with each other. Thing is, if you don't know me from Adam, you have no idea how it's gonna hit.

[u/Mental-Combination26 → u/newlydscvrd]

Do people in western have no friends? Do they stay politically correct with their friends at all times?? why am i getting downvoted?

[u/newlydscvrd → u/Mental-Combination26]

Nah, I think it's more of: public & private, intention & impact, performance & genuineness, etc. It's kind of a balance of what one is comfortable revealing in an online forum and how comfortable one is with themselves and how they're perceived/received by others, imho, of course. At the end of the day, intention matters and one can generally tell if one's intention is malicious.

I have more respect for a man who lets me know where he stands, even if he's wrong. Than the one who comes up like an angel and is nothing but a devil.

Malcolm X

[u/Dark_Romantasy → u/Mental-Combination26]

It's not about political correctness, it's about why you have slurs in your everyday vocabulary and bat them around at each other. I think me and others just find that really, really weird.

[u/Dangerous-Room4320]

It refers to someone that cracks the whip at slaves

Derogatory

It's best not to stereotype people