Respect, censorship, PC, fear?

noodle?

because it has been changed to only be a racist term and they fear the backlash

not using the word, is an attempt at non-bigotry. It's the language and context that still makes the ideas racist. They should just say it

because it's so offensive that many people don't need to see it. We know what they mean.

doshdosh, probably for the same reason you didn't come right out and say it.

people associate that word as having a negative meaning..

because the MSM will latch onto it and burn him at the stake for it

funny thing, my mom got the look when she used the N-word. Mind you, in hungarian that's the ONLY word. and she talked in hungarian.

she was totally astonished.

beagooddad I have no qualms with saying the word in a non-derogatory way but I used the 'N-word' to make a point.

Since the media uses it, I had to use it here to show that the media uses it. Get it?

there is no non-derogatory way to use that word

i think the point is that nobody gains anything by saying it in the media. just like any other profanity type of words that they edit.

its because all things are not equal

moonheids in my native there is no alternative word. plus, it means "black". nothing else.

moonheids just look at how the blacks have co-opted the term into their culture, everyday conversations amongst themselves.

There are non-derogatory ways to use it.

Just depends on the context and who is using the specific term... like all linguistic statements.

and there is a debate within the black community about the use of the word, even as an allegedly affectionate slang term. why use it at all?

what would be your reason for using it?

This is a little more complex than it being derogatory. The blacks' appropriation of the term have been said by some to be a subversive act.

Although there are some who criticize them for using the white man's term, one associated with bondage and slavery.

Personally I don't see the need to be too politically correct about it. It can be used to as a way to remember previous racial injustice.

As I've said, it all depends on context and the person using it, the way he/she uses it etc.

A blanket assumption that a term is permanently derogatory is a limited perspective on the intersection between politics and social culture.