Use of the 'N' Word


I wonder what people think when they are watching a movie and someone uses the "N" word. I know people talked that way back then but that term is so offensive to many people today. It was used just once in the movie but it seemed pretty unnecessary.
Otherwise I thought it was a good movie...

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Well if you are making a movie set in a certain time period,you have to talk like it.
So that does not really bother me.

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I thought the use of the "N" word was appropriate and acceptable in this film; it completely fit the Civil War setting. Moreover, Clyde's racist attitude toward Todd certainly added some extra tension to an already tense and uneasy scenario.

"We're all part Shatner/And part James Dean/Part Warren Oates/And Steven McQueen"

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"Post-Civil War"?? The film took place in 1863, which would be during the Civil War, not after.

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*beep* is as bad as retard *beep* and all other silly insults. its like calling somone nazi or communist, people dont have problem with that, why the *beep* is different?

Edit, obvously the IMDB ignore the freedom if speech and censorship me.
First beep is the n word, second one is S**thead, third one is *beep*
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"Common sense is not so common."
- Voltaire

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they were confederate soldiers and there was a black guy. not saying it woulda been so unrealistic it woulda taken the viewer out of the experience.

'Just remember. I can complete a jigsaw using only my tongue. With the lights out.'

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As a Black Female watching the movie, I was very offended and quite frankly pissed off for about 10 minutes. And am anytime I hear this word used in a movie- I have switched off some movies that get carried away.

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That's taking it a little too far there; they didn't include the word in the movie for shock value or to piss people off. In the time and place in history that this movie was set, it was an extremely common word. It's awful, yes, but its usage in the film is completely appropriate, and to want to turn off the movie because of that is outrageous. Being offended is part of being in the world. It's fine; it happens to everyone; it's OK. I'm gay but I don't throw a fit if someone gets called a fag or what-have-you pejoratively in a movie. Get over it, and move on. That's not to say that you or anyone else should accept aggressive verbal abuse targeted at you, but an un-PC word drop here and there is not the end of the universe— especially in a film, and especially in a film where the usage of the word is non-malicious and totally appropriate to the story/setting.

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[deleted]

^ ditto

I'm kind of of the mindset that the more upset people get over a word, the more power they are handing over to the people who want to use it to hurt them.

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[deleted]

It would be absurd for a bigot in a movie of this time period to call a black man anything but the n word. One shouln't be offended, just understand the circumstances. I am italian and i certainly didn't expect Sterling Hayden (the cop) to call pacino an italian-american in the godfather. Or the bigotted soldiers to refer to an indian as a native american in Dances with Wolves. How else will people understand WHY those words are offensive now. Which is why even african americans shoulnt use the n word in current movies unless it is purposeful as it is in this film.

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[deleted]

Sounds like you need to realize that it's just a word, it's only a racist remark if you see it as one.

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[deleted]

Then you need to chill. In modern day life yes, be offended; but when watching a period piece when the use of that word was extremely commonplace (heck it was commonplace up until the civil rights movement!) you need to be able to put it in context and not get riled up. I suggest this for your own good health-wise and also for anyone who has to listen to you rant about such things in person.

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Of course, they should have used black instead of *beep*

EDIT: I just wanted to see if imdb will really beep out the n-word above. And it did. Funny.

EDIT 2: But how about negro?

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You must didn't see Django? Lol All kidding aside the movie took place during the civil war. Black people weren't exactly treated "civilized" during this time. I wasn't bothered by it. Although it was a fictional story you can't have a movie during that time period and negate the culture of the times. I loved the time period of the movie. I think had it been modern day it would of lost its creepiness. But you're entitled to your opinion just wanted to weigh mines in...

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Its an interesting question that should be discussed.
I am not a *beep* so but I have an opinion I go with the old "sticks and stones"
It is up the character of the individual
it also reminds me of "thank you for smoking" where William H Macy at the end of the movie was lobbying "reimaging" the past to make it "better"

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