Describing One With His/Her Looks Abroad

[Lemur]

If I ever called someone a "the n-word that is not permitted by the forum rules" I would expect to get punched and be thankful that I didn't get shot. And this is coming from a guy who enjoys putting down all shades of brown people.

Actually, when I was living in Brooklyn, it seemed as though every teen called every other teen "the n-word that is not permitted by the forum rules." Very confusing. There was a group of Puerto Rican kids whom I was friendly with, and they were about as black as a bar of ivory soap, but they'd be calling each other "my the n-word that is not permitted by the forum rules" and "hey the n-word that is not permitted by the forum rules" every minute of the day.

I asked my boss, who was a native New York hispanic, what that was all about, and he looked at me like I was insane. "Sure, it's a word you use for friends. I'd call you my the n-word that is not permitted by the forum rules anytime."

I guess that was a compliment.

Words change, words evolve, and lemurs just get confused.