Hasan and Vaush banned from Twitch for saying "cracker"

[Hassin Bin Sober]

I tend to agree with the analysis here that right wing crybabies have complained about “censorship” so much that the moderators of these platforms are just itching for any reason to show how “fair” they are by coming down on a lefty whenever possible. Gotta show how “both sides” are just as evil.

Is “cracker” a racial slur?

[jimfields33]

1. I certainly think cracker is a racist word

Typically if the question is asked by anybody, it’s racist. There is no reason to use the word except when talking about the square salty crisp cracker. Otherwise, it should not be used. Ever!

[cinematicdiversions]

3. You mean like Cracker Country at the Florida State Fair or the Cracker Barrel????

My dad used to get upset with White Trash when my sister or I uttered it in our youth. But I have a hard time believing anyone would object to cracker.

Should we bring back Honkey????

[jimfields33]

7. I don't think we're to the point of changing Cracker Barrel or cracker county fair

However, when a person uses cracker in calling people a name then it’s racist. The person calling a person cracker knows what they are doing and saying. It’s not like they are saying, “wow, you are awesome cracker.”

[11 Bravo]

8. Richard Pryor seemed to think it was a slur.

[BlackSkimmer]

23. They could never do a skit like that now.

Pryor was great.

[Amishman]

16. its all context, for example "you people" can have heavy racist overtones if used in certain ways

context and usage is everything. 'well bless your heart' can convey a cutting insult in the right (or wrong) context and delivery

[cinematicdiversions]

27. I can't imagine any well balanced adult possibly being able to be insulted by Cracker. NT

A

[Amishman]

30. You might want to rethink that

Given there seem to be plenty on here who consider it racist and offensive

[iemanja]

4. Okay, but how about a warning?

[Happy Hoosier]

10. I could not disagree more.

"Cracker" is not a term applied generically to white people. It requires the racist element.

[jimfields33]

11. I've never heard POC called a cracker.

Have you? Maybe I haven’t been around when POC are called that.

[Happy Hoosier]

31. So what?

“Cracker” specifically refers to a racist white person… not white people in general. The defining behavior is what makes the difference here. No one has has ever called me a cracker…. And I am as pastey white as they come.

[tblue37]

2. Yes, it is. It is also a cultural slur.

[Pantagruel]

5. Is "cracker" a racial slur?

To me, it's the equivalent of redneck and closely associated with reactionary rural whites of the Southern United States. The focus not on race but attitude .

[Hugh_Lebowski]

6. Well ... it's certainly not as bad as the opposite racial reference

Notice the lack of reticence for spelling out the word verbatim?

I think that's how you can tell

Although that's maybe cause 'The C-Word' is already taken?

Also ... can someone like Eminem say 'cracka' and it's okay?

Anyways, let me know when you've figured out The Rules.

[BlackSkimmer]

24. I don't think you meant "lack of reticence." nt

[Hugh_Lebowski]

29. Well, then you think incorrectly, because that's exactly what I meant

Imagine the OP, with every instance of the word cracker (which, counting the video, is at least 4) ... but replace it with 'n****r', that entire word, fully spelled out.

There'd be a lot more reticence to post the latter. Esp. here, but anywhere, really.

OTOH there's a lack of reticence to use the word cracker.

Cracker, cracker, cracker.

You see?

Btw, what's up, sister

[BlackSkimmer]

36. My bad. Got it.

Trying to lose some pandemic weight so I’m not allowed my daily glass of wine.

Clearly my head is not happy detoxing!

[Hugh_Lebowski]

37. Aw shit girl, I feel ya, trying to do the same!

I'm not being so ambitious as you on the drinking part (sipping some bourbon atm actually ) but have drastically improved my diet and exercise level the past 6 weeks, since my doctor read me the riot act about my weight and BP and triglycerides and all those 'counts they do. I know I've dropped at least 20 pounds in 2 months, but I think it's actually a bit more, maybe 30? I don't have a scale cause I don't want to obsess on it plus it's kinda fun to see larger-sized losses every few weeks as opposed to .5 lbs a day or whatever. For me, anyways.

Also I can see how what I wrote was a little ambiguous so it's not just you

[demmiblue]

9. Hold on, I've got to make a run to the store.

OK, I'm back.

[OriginalGeek]

14. those look good!

And I am pretty sure they aren't made by union-busting Kellogg. Union busters are way more offensive to me than being called a cracker.

[Gore1FL]

18. You are correct. Ritz is made by Mondelēz International.

Grab a handful with a glass of Tang and feel good about it!

[JanMichael]

21. Snowflake Crackers!!! Ha!

[OriginalGeek]

12. It's OK when we say it

I'm a southern white male.


It's also pretty funny when Chris Rock says it - so much so that I enjoy adding "cracker-ass" to any mention of cracker. "Honey, hand me those Ritz cracker-ass crackers. Hey, Let's go to cracker-ass Cracker Barrel!"


I refuse to be offended by the word "cracker" and, instead, will evaluate the intent of the person saying it to me. And even then, if someone is trying to call me names, that's their problem. I'm too old to give a shit about people who want to call me names and don't accept cracker as an offensive name anyway. I would laugh if someone called me that and laugh even harder if they thought they were offending me.

[Caliman73]

13. Cracker is a slur invented by rich White people to denigrate poor White people.

That Black people began using it as an answer to the various slurs pointed at them, is a separate issue.

Black people did not call other Black people the N word. It was a term used to dehumanize Black people.

Cracker is a slur, but it has very little power outside of White people using it to denigrate their own.

[OriginalGeek]

15. They also call us "the poors"

which also makes me laugh.

[BlackSkimmer]

25. Black people,certainly use it now.

I wish no one would.

Cracker is just funny to me. But I’ve never heard it used, nor used it.

[Caliman73]

26. Yes Black people use it.

True. I wish that nobody would use words and slurs to denigrate other people.

I have heard it used. I have never called anyone a cracker, but I have been in situations when it was said by others.

The reality is however, that I have never heard a word that specifically has the power to harm White men. Cracker can certainly be offensive but it does not by any means, carry the power that the N word does against Black people or other slurs against women, or Latinos, or Asian groups do. Something to think about.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

17. Wow, the white pain

It absolutely is a racial insult. I don't find it offensive, but I've never been called it. Not exactly sure why anyone would use it for any reason.
But some Hollywood Internet dipshits want to prove just how edgelord they are, so they fucked around. And found out.

[cinematicdiversions]

28. Yeah but it really only applies to uneducated poor people.

Kind of like Trailer Trash or Browns Fan.

[Dr. Strange]

35. Holy shit!

or Browns Fan.

Come on man, there's no call for that!

[Torchlight]

19. Can't find the energy to pretend I'm offended when I hear the word.

I'm guessing that a lot of people will find the energy, though.

[Act_of_Reparation]

20. "Racial slur" is itself an uninformative term.

Is "cracker" a word that refers to people of a particular race? Yes.

Does "cracker" have the same contextual meaning as the n-word or other racial slurs used against people of color? Fuck no.

They are not the same. End of debate.

[AncientAndy]

22. They don't have to be the same, you know.

Just because one word isn’t as bad as the another, it doesn’t make that word acceptable. If a website wants to ban people for saying cracker(or any other slur/insult) they are certainly within their right to do so.

[Act_of_Reparation]

32. No one said they had to be.

Twitch is well within their rights to restrict language in any arbitrary, smooth-brained way they want. Which is exactly what they did.

[Celerity]

33. +10000000000000000

[Dr. Strange]

34. Is it a racial slur? Yes.

Is it as bad as the N-word? No.

Hasan wants to conflate the two issues, but Vaush covered it well here:

Ultimately, Twitch (for better or worse) has decided that they don't want racist slurs (even woke ones) on their site. Users now have to decide if they can chat without using those slurs.

[Behind the Aegis]

38. Good.