Nice theoretical philosophy, folks, but I can't buy it. I know a fellow who grew up in a time and place where "nigger" was used as an everyday, casual, non-pejorative word, much as we might use "Black" or "African-American" today. He still doesn't see anything wrong with the word as HE means it, and if not for social pressure, would likely call Blacks, very lovingly, "niggers." To argue that this would be just fine because he means absolutely nothing negative by it (which is what I hear being said) strikes me as quite out of touch with reality, and rather oblivious to the feelings of black folks.