Typing a racists word at work with weird results

I was at work and was post a topic on a forum where I express what I feel the word nigger means and what I feel niggers are. I do not mean to be racists in saying this and no one on the site has any problems with this. But my problem is a co-worker ended up going to this site later on and noticed I posted this topic. She threatens to get me fire and take legal actions because of me using the work nigger on a forum during work time. Is this legal?

 

Well, you were using your work system for something unrelated to work, plus if your hostname gives away the name of your company your post might be associated with your company. They have a right to be worried.

She's probably over exaggerating, but what you wrote might be misconstrued anyway.

That said, I am a 16-year-old, not an attourney. Therefore, I'm not a point of authority on the subject.

 

Well I started the topic but on something totally unrelated and it ended up leading to this conversation. I think freedom of speach would come into play and stuff. Also this can't be harrassment I mean it was after the fact, not towards her, and unrelated to her in anyway other than the fact that she saw it.

 

See my post. Companies tend to disregard the constitution on these matters, because if you're a "danger to their profits" they have grounds to fire you.

 

Can she sue me for harrassment?

 

Your company probably has regulations about using internet on company computers and in company time.

 

Criminalize a word, what's next

 

She can sue you for anything but it doesnt mean she will win. She can try to push the fact about you using the internet during work hours and keep trying to push that fact to see if they will reprimand you for it. As long as you dont mention your company during your post then I believe she cant hold the company liable for voicing your opinion. Just an opinion. Also everyone threatens to sue to scare people.

 

What is your ethnicity? And what is her ethnicity?

 

As stated I am not an authority in this matter either. But I think that freedom of speech comes into play. It also may matter if you were using the term to slander someone or to use it in a derogatory statement.

I think at most she can get you reprimended or fired, depending on what your work rules and regulations are on internet usage at work and on their computers.

But than there is always a civil suit as well........................

 

It was wrong for you to use the word i think, you should appoligize to her and tell her sorry if you offended her or w/e, if you would use the word nigga* (im from brooklyn and the word is a word which represents friend,homie,etc) it would have been a different story but the other word, idk.

 

At least in the United States "freedom of speech" only means that the government will not prevent you from saying what you want. It doesn't mean that there won't be consequences for what you've said from other realms, like your employer, your family, your friends, etc.

It really depends on what the rules your employer has. It seems as though you were using the company's computers on the company's time to post something that some people might find offensive. I would say that your employer does have a right to determine what their employees can use their resources for, particularly if potentially offensive internet postings could be traced back to the company.

That having been said, a sincere apology to your co-worker would probably go a long towards solving the problem.

 

freedom of speech alright but...the problem is you were using your company internet connection. So yeah, they have a right to be worried. She *might* be able to sue you...(people sue for the stupidest reasons these days). I don't know about US but in Canada, you'll get in trouble for being racist.

 

So long as you have a good relationship with your supervisor/boss I wouldn’t worry too much about it. You have to remember we live in a time where individuals are so self-conscious about racism that they go over the top in trying not to be seen as racists. Then again there are people that just like to be a pain in the ass. Your co-worker could be sensitive to the matter because of her ethnicity, the protector of the N word because she is self-conscious about being seen as a racists thus resorts to drama queen tactics, or she is just an instigator.

 

I am white and she is either hispanic or black I really can't tell.

 

Why should i need to apologize I was giving my opinion on a subject and I shouldn’t have to apologize for something like that.

 

Well actually my supervisor is my cousin and I am pretty sure I won't get fired but I am concerned because there should be no reason for her to sue me. I mean how does she have the right to sue me when this has nothing to do with her. I mean can I sue the other people in the forum for posting their definition of cracker, or honkey or something like that?

 

Then if you don’t have your employment to worry about go tell her to F@#$ off. People sue over everything now but I doubt you would be successfully sued over your opinion of the word nigger. If that is the case go tell her to sue Webster. She would be wasting her time and money by pursuing such an action. In my opinion it sounds like an emotionally driven remark with no intentions of fallowing through with the empty threat.

By what you are telling us you should have nothing to worry about but weirder things have happened I am sure.

 

What was the link to the thread? Its hard to judge really because we dont know the whole story and it could be judged in a different context to different people, PM it to me if you like?

 

Sounds like you're in troubled waters right now ... I'd try to work it out with her as best you can. Explain your case and hopefully she'll be reasonable.