[quote=flu]I’m not trying to pick on you. I’m really trying to understand this complex issue of race relations.[/quote]

I’m enjoying the picking. I think that it is an important discussion and I’m happy that we can have it in a civilized manner.

[quote=flu]But back to your first point. Why should your friends have to cirmcuvent the word to begin with?[/quote]

That is a good question. We certainly don’t have to. It’s probably because of the fact that we are a sarcastic and ironic bunch, and calling each other ‘ninjas’ is much cooler than calling each other ‘dudes’ or ‘bros.’

Taking race out of the equation (building on davej’s culturalist argument): I used to have a group of gay friends who would always say “that’s sooooooo gay” about things they disliked or disagreed with. I too could say it as a heterosexual and they got a kick out of it.