I agree Guest Q. It is an antiquated word that makes some uncomfortable, but it in no way is equatable to words like nigger, coon, etc.

What I found offensive in the orginal poster's remarks really, was the suggestion in the thread title, when combined with the suggestion in the post that the issue was once restricted to "negroes". For me, it was the combination that tipped me off that the original poster *might* have been a racist troll. But even if the original poster is a racist troll, it doesn't mean we can't turn the conversation to more positive things, which is what intelligent, reasonable adults do all the time.

Of course, some adults respond to these things by getting hysterical and trying to use whatever authority they believe they have to "keep people in line". I object to that sort of behavior as much as I do to racist trolls.