A user name that features a racial epithet inflamed a raging controversy on Reddit today.
The account, Gradual_Nigger, leaves comments that progress from standard American English to so-called “ghetto” English.
As an example, here’s one recent comment: “You seem like a really cool, unique individual. Do you know that yo ass be slightly off from erryone else (in dat good way), or do you thank dat erryone else b da weird ppls?”
The account launched a huge debate on racism after a link to one of Gradual_Nigger’s comments made it to the site’s front page.
For many, the popularity of the user’s comments alone was evidence of Reddit’s racism. But the argument seemed to fall largely along two lines.
Some contended that the account was not racist — the humor, they argued, was not discriminatory. Rather, it was simply based on race.
As redditor K_Gator observed: “Though there may be actual racists that roam this site, I have yet to see one actually vicious, racist comment or act of racial discrimination. What Gradual_Nigger does, and a lot of other people on reddit do, is humor based on race, (or any number of things), and not racist.”
But that kind of statement was dismissed as simple rationalization by others.
As SpeedSteamBoat explained: “It’s bullshit to pretend that something which shoehorns a large group of people into a classic stereotype designed to be derogatory and demeaning cannot be prejudiced simply because it’s supposed to be funny.”
For others, the use of a loaded racial epithet alone was enough to make the account racist.
“Couldn’t he be called gradual ghetto or something?” wrote redditor BisforBM. “Not all black people talk like that, and nigger isn’t really an acceptable word anymore. In fact, it’s never been acceptable. Anywhere.”
The redditor behind the account identifies himself as a half-black, half-white male.
He claimed the account is all for the “lulz”—a term for the amusement one derives from the shock value of one’s antics.
“I don’t ACTUALLY speak like I’m from the ghetto, but all of my peeps think it would be some hysterical shit if, some day soon, I started tawlkin more like the homies i live round and less like myself.”
Racism is rampant on similar Web forums, such as image board site 4chan. But on Reddit, a community which views itself as better at surfacing civil discourse and thoughtful argument, overt racism is rarely front and center.
Which begs the question: Is the account really just for the “lulz,” or could it actually be a sophisticated attempt to bring racism on Reddit into the open?
We’re in touch with the person behind the Gradual_Nigger account and will update this as soon as we learn more.
Photo via NYC.gov