I'm going with Stephen King just because I get a kick out of his sense of humor, but that really doesn't diminish the skill of Clive Barker. Their $tyles are so different, it's almost like comparing apples and oranges. Barker is much more sublime than King, and I loved the Books of Blood. I actually enjoy his more fantasy-oriented novels more, like Weaveworld (though it had plenty of grossness factor going on, too).

The contents of my pants says man. But barely.

dannyodwyer

:lol: Poor Danny. . .

I am woman, hear me roar. Or at least scream when my husband tracks dirt into the house.

Personally, for me it has a lot to do with the intent of the one who says the word. I'm not black, but I have a few friends that are who like to call me assorted Asian insults and I'll occasionally toss the N-word at them. With them, it's understood it's all in fun, and when you get down to it using it in that manner is no different than calling each other "idiot", "freak" or whatever. I'd never dream of using it as an intended insult.

Interestingly enough, on two occasions other black people that overheard our joking and tried to make an issue of it, but my friends jumped THEM and told them to mind their own business, that they didn't know me and they needed to shut up. In both cases I became friends with those individuals too, and we now insult each other regularly.

When all's said and done, it's a word with a nasty history, but it's only a word.