Destiny’s Position on the N-Word

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Destiny explaining his position on the N-word.

Although Destiny has maintained a relatively ambivalent stance towards usage of the n-word, it has remained a frequent topic of discussion throughout his streaming career. Destiny contends that the use of the word does not inherently imply harm, and argues that “non-racist” contexts for using it, and similar racial slurs, can exist. These contexts include usage of the slur in discussions pertaining to the harmful impact of the word, and jokes in private among friends one is aware are not racist.

Discussions

Destiny has held numerous discussions on the subject of racial slurs and harmful language with varying individuals. In each of these discussions, Destiny argues that context, intent, and audience are essential in determining the impact of the word and the justification of their usage.

Topic	Summary	Video
Use of slurs in private	Main Article: "I've never been more gaslit in my entire life..." - Destiny Debate ft. Hasanabi, TheSerfsTV, & More

On October 22, 2019 Destiny participated in a political panel hosted by MindWaves. The panel featured Hasan Piker, TheSerfsTV(AKA Lance), Pxie, Ahrelevant, Bastiat, Kormantine and Cole James Cash.

During the panel, Destiny argues that if one is not racist, is in a private setting, and is among individuals they know are not racist, making edgy jokes for shock value does not necessarily make one racist. Destiny posits a healthy engagement with such edgy-jokes is possible, much like it is possible for individuals to engage in violent video games without becoming violent themselves.

Throughout the podcast, several of Destiny's fellow panelists question why Destiny would make his stance on edgy language in private known to the public. They argue stating as much would negatively influence individuals who would otherwise be unable to separate the "shock-value" element of such humor from the "racial-element", and thereby causing these individuals to become racist. In response, Destiny contends that individuals in his audience who consume the array of progressive-orientated and inclusive topics he typically discusses, would not typically fall in the category of individuals taking such jokes beyond their shock value.

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Use of edgy-language in private On October 25, 2019, Pxie and Destiny discussed the implications of edgy humor(specifically those containing racial slurs), and it's role in causing individuals to feel dehumanized.This conversation was brought on following the duo's difficulties in having a meaningful engagement on the same topic during a Mindwaves debate panel.

During the conversation, Pxie asserts that society(even within an egoist framework) should strive to eliminate oppression and dehumanization, as such systems ultimately work to harm all individuals within society. She extends this reasoning to argue against the private use of racial slurs or edgy language, asserting that such behavior can perpetuate the harmful subconscious biases inherent in all individuals, and cause those minorities whom the slurs are directed at to feel "otherized". In response, Destiny acknowledges that racial humor or edgy language can, at times, reinforce subconscious biases, especially when espoused by individuals without a formal understanding of their harmful nature. However, he maintains that individuals who are fully aware of the harm such language can cause may be able to engage with it without falling victim to those subconscious pitfalls.

After an hour discussing the topic, Destiny and Pxie ultimately reach an impasse: Destiny offers to reassess his view entirely if Pxie were to provide studies pointing to otherwise non-racist individuals beginning to develop racist thoughts upon hearing a slur. Following this, the two depart from the call amicably.

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"Dehumanization & Edgy Jokes - Destiny Discusses ft. Pxie

Formal debate on slurs On April 1, 2021, Destiny participated in a formal debate on the word Nigger with Harvard grad political strategist Gion Thomas. During the discussion, Destiny argues that difficult conversations about slurs are necessary, and should include directly using the terms to address the full weight of the topics. Destiny goes on to discuss his belief that context plays a crucial role in how offensive terms are perceived. He points to movies like Django Unchained , where racial slurs are used to depict historical hostility rather than normalize the terms in everyday conversation.

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Discussion with Lex Fridman On November 11, 2022, Destiny discusses his position on using slurs with Lex Fridman . During the conversation, Destiny argues that using slurs, in context, is sometimes necessary for conversations about the word itself. He explains that when not used in a derogatory manner, usage of the slur can be used to confront its impact directly. Destiny goes on to explain that banning such words outright doesn’t address the underlying issues of hate but potentially stifles dialogue.

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