[Bring_Back_Shantz]

I find it shocking that some of you guys still can't understand why using the word Thug in this thread is a bad idea.

If you want to try to understand why it's a bad idea, watch the news and pay attention to who is using it right now. More importantly pay attention to when they haven't used it (I'll give you a hint, remember all those white guys with guns storming the state capitol).

For a fairly large portion of society "Thug" especially in our current context, is 100% a dog whistle.
I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt that some of you don't know/understand that, but arguing about it is totally missing the point of what is going on right now.

When a person of color tells you why that word is offensive in this context, you explaining why you don't mean it that way, or why it shouldn't, even if you are 100% sincere and on their side, it is similar to saying "All lives matter".
Yes, it is true, but saying it is not helping, and it's missing the point entirely.

One way you can contribute in a positive way right now, is not to argue over semantics, or explain why someone shouldn't be offended, it is to listen to what they are saying, and think about the effect what your actions and words are having.

You want to call Zach Kassian a thug in a GDT, fine, go ahead, in that context you can pretty safely argue that there are no racial overtones, and yeah, that's an appropriate place to argue over whether or not it is a racially insensitive word.

Using it in a thread about BLM protests, and ongoing violence over the death of a black man, maybe not the best time or place.