Is the "N-word" really a bad word?

It comes from the Spanish word "negro" meaning "black". To believe that it's a bad word, I need a reason other than "because people get pissy about it".

EDIT: I will be respectful to you if you're respectful to me, no matter what your opinion is.

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Justbychance · M

I don't get it when one 'N' can call his same ethnic friend 'N' in return and it's acceptable. If a Caucasian guy calls a ethnic a 'N' he is considered racially abusive.

AmbivalentFriability · 26-30

The connotations are very different coming from a person of colour. You can bet that they don't mean it in a derogatory way.

Justbychance · M

@AmbivalentFriability: I don't agree ...

[quote]The connotations are very different coming from a person of colour. You can bet that they don't mean it in a derogatory way.[/quote]

By definition: "A member of a class or group of people who are systematically subjected to discrimination and unfair treatment" - "used as an insulting and contemptuous term for a member of any dark-skinned race

The widespread belief of the origin of the word itself was, by it's nature, defined "an ignorant person", which adds more contempt to it's origins other then the obvious. But surely; those who use the 'N' word amongst one another is a negative and wouldn't this mean they are calling themselves ignorant given the nature and meaning of the word? If they don't mean it in a derogatory sense, then how come they know exactly when it IS derogatory?

They have taken offense to an offensive word, will NOT accept it's use and yet now to make it's use exclusive for themselves AND consider it none-offensive. How does that make any sense?

I don't get it.