Should use of certain racist slurs be made illegal?

@InOtterWords I've heard about that, and that's part of what inspired my question.

@LordShadowfire context is what really is important here.

If the slur is in a book, especially an old book then that is a part of heritage. I would expect the book to carry some sort of warning.

If it is used by someone towards another then yes it should be a crime

@InOtterWords I feel like I've gathered enough opinions that it's safe for me to give my own. I respectfully disagree with you. Just calling someone names, however offensive they might be, should not be illegal. That's not to say that in polite society, it's something we do. But to me, calling someone the N-word, while I would be inclined to punch someone out for using that, shouldn't be any more illegal than calling that person an a***ole.

@LordShadowfire

I have been racially abused and racially assaulted.

I did not and would not file a police complaint for just abuse. I did for the assault, which police were slow to act upon but did so because the perpetrator assaulted a police offer the same day.

Should it be a crime?
Yes, why should I have to endure such abuse, indignity and humiliation and then not even have the knowledge that in the eyes of the law and of society that behaviour is unacceptable

@InOtterWords *cough*slipperyslope*cough*

@LordShadowfire why is it a slippery slope? Clear cut to me

@InOtterWords Okay. Let's say that today, landmark legislation is passed issuing a 3-day jail sentence for using offensive speech like the N-word. Once we have pulled the trigger on that, an advocacy group comes forward and demands the same punishment for using offensive terms for people of Hispanic descent. Then the indigenous Americans want the same laws. Then the LGBT community. And you're all, "Okay, we shouldn't harass those people, anyway." And then an advocacy group for people with Down's syndrome gets the R word banned. Again, you're cool with it, because people shouldn't say that.

Then one day, a couple of years down the road, somebody is being a jerk to you. You call him an inconsiderate jerk, and suddenly you're being arrested. Why? Because there is no freedom of speech.

@LordShadowfire discrimination someone and abusing them for something such as race, gender, sexuality, age, disability is wrong and should be backed by law that it is wrong. It is completely different to calling someone a jerk. Surely you can tell the difference?

Also freedom of speech is a blanket term I have heard used by people when they think they have a right to spout hate. It is actually meant to be a voice for those who are oppressed, not an excuse to oppress

@InOtterWords Do you pretend people that stupid don't exist? Karens have already likened the word Karen to the N-word, unironically.

They're Karens. It's what they do.

@LordShadowfire which is what I said, only someone totally ignorant would liken it...but listen to your argument "we mustnt criminalise racism because ignorant people will want to claim oppression too"

@InOtterWords Yes. Because one by one, every minority will demand that offensive terms for them be made illegal. Including rednecks, Karens and Kens, WASPs, racists, homophobes, transphobes, etc., until you can't say anything rude about anyone.

@LordShadowfire wouldn't that be wonderful, no racism, homophobia, sexism, etc etc