Thanks, Les.

I appreciate that information. However, with regard to your statement that:

"The words on their own are quite harmless, it's the way they're said or meant that makes all the difference".

In my opinion, it's not only a referent's literal meaning or the way the referent is said but it's also the referent's connotation that become an important part of its meaning.

Hence, my {and many other Black people and non-Black people's} problem with the "N" word}.