Something niggling at the back of my mind

[yogiii]

They keep thinking about something and it's bothering them

[shanendoah]

It would partly depend on who said it to me.
For most people, I would probably think they were about to ask a personal/improper/impolite question. (Though there are people in my life who I would have no problems answering those questions for.)

If it were C, it's probably about some math proof that he's been thinking about and it's finally starting to coalesce for him. He'll want to talk it out, and I understand enough math to make vague sense of what he says or ask questions, but I don't actually understand what he's talking about.

[haapai]

"I wish that you'd chosen different words."

Maybe I'd be better than this.  Maybe I'd bite my tongue and save the lecture about being careful for the benefit of sensitivity nazis for later, but that's the first thing that would come to mind.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

. . o O (sensitive nazis?)

[Apple]

Well, it would be that something was bothering them or there was something they couldn't pin point.
But, after reading other responses, and looking up the term, I realize again how incredibly sheltered I've been from certain ways of thinking (and for that, I am thankful. There are some things I can never understand.)

[cktc]

I'd think something isn't sitting right with them. Words or actions aren't adding up in a way that makes sense.

[kittensaver]

I would probably let it slide as ignorance. The word has a racist-tinged history; an older person would (probably) use it because it was a common phrase "back then"; a younger person might be ignorant or might be testing the situation with a less-than-politically-or-socially-acceptable word. 

[cktc]

Oct 23, 2014 18:53:26 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

So is what I said that easily misconstrued as a racial slur?

That didn't even occur to me that people might think that until Apple 's comment. I looked it up and it is Scandinavian in origin.

[midjd]

I never considered it to be a racist word. Is anything that rhymes with or resembles the n-word now off-limits? Is renege also racist?

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

It didnt even dawn on me that this word could have another connotation in people's minds.

So any other word that sounds like the n-word is off the table?

I've used this term before myself.

[Malarky]

If I heard the word niggle in conversation, I would assume that you are well read.  

[sesfw]

I wouldn't have thought race. Just something really bugging someone. 

I'm naïve.

[NastyWoman]

Oct 23, 2014 18:56:00 GMT -5 kittensaver said:

I would probably let it slide as ignorance. The word has a racist-tinged history; an older person would (probably) use it because it was a common phrase "back then"; a younger person might be ignorant or might be testing the situation with a less-than-politically-or-socially-acceptable word. 

Huh? This word is about as racist as the word n****rdly which btw also has less than zero to do with the infamous N-word! 
My reaction would be along the lines of "ok, do you know the genaral subject? What were you doing/seeing/hearing when this started?"  I never even heard of anyone thinking it could means anything derogatory. I must hang out with the wrong (or is it right?) kind of people 

[mmhmm]

I'd think they were trying to remember something that had slipped their mind.

[milee]

Huh. I use "niggling" fairly often, but usually in the context of solving small, bothersome problems "niggling details" in a project or plan.  Now I'm wondering if people have been interpreting that as racist?  FWIW, nobody's ever questioned it or looked askance at the use.  Hm, looking at that last sentence, maybe I need to stop using "askance" because it might look like I'm taking a dig at Alaskans. 

[mmhmm]

Oct 23, 2014 19:36:10 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

Ugghh, this is all so hard.  I mean the word n****rdly isn't in my common speech and if it was I would most definitely avoid it because it does sound so close to the other one.  But it never in a million years entered my mind that niggling would fall under the same category. 

I agree, Sroo. I know the word n****rdly, but wouldn't use it. I consider it outdated and the sound is so close to the insulting term, I avoid it. Better ways to say the same thing. Niggling is a whole different albatross, though. I do use that term and it never occurred to me it could be taken wrongly.

[Artemis Windsong]

Since we are on words.  I found out that tinkering is a crime.  Two kids were picked up for tinkering with a sign.  I'm sure they were going to steal it.  They love to steal the Easy Street and Pleasant Street signs.

[teen persuasion]

Oct 23, 2014 19:36:10 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

Ugghh, this is all so hard.  I mean the word n****rdly isn't in my common speech and if it was I would most definitely avoid it because it does sound so close to the other one.  But it never in a million years entered my mind that niggling would fall under the same category. 

Eta: hmm. Apparently pro boards thinks I'm racist too.  It censored the word I typed 

It never entered my mind, either.  I was trying to figure out if the thread title was a trick question.  I consider the phrase "niggling suspicion" a common one, I'm surprised none of them had heard of it before.

So now we have to dumb down our speech for fear of what someone might misinterpret due to poor vocabulary?  I never heard that word before, but I'm sure it is offensive, since it kind of sounds offensive.  To hell with context!

[Deleted]

I was going to post about how I honestly can't see how the word "niggle" (which I use too) can have racist connotations, but once I saw it written down, obviously, I can't post that anymore, because I can see why somebody might say that.

BUT, I would SINCERELY hope that that "somebody" is NOT a native English speaker, because if they were, I would have NO qualms about shooting them down.  

It sounds like you work with people of different nationalities, whose first language is probably NOT English. So frankly, for YOUR comfort, it may well make your life easier to turn your excellent vocabulary down a notch. Partly for them, but mostly for you.

But, I'm not sure from your post (I freely admit I may have missed it) who raised this issue: a native English speaker, or not? 

[Deleted]

Oh wow, it was your boss and coworker? I'm assuming they are native English speakers? 

I'd definitely send them a link to the dictionary definition (or even buy them both a dictionary). But then I'd probably drop it.  

[zibazinski]

It took me forever to figure out what the topic even was. I thought I missed the original post. 

[Deleted]

I don't think it will be a big deal in the end, but I'm sorry, because fewer and fewer people use language correctly with every passing year.

I'm sorry you were a victim of their ignorance instead of being able to pride yourself on your vocabulary. 

[Deleted]

So is what I said that easily misconstrued as a racial slur?

Not that I've ever known of. I'm black and I would've thought what cktc said:

I'd think something isn't sitting right with them. Words or actions aren't adding up in a way that makes sense

When I was trying to figure out where you were going with your OP, the word "niggling" didn't even stand out. Maybe because I know what it means?

It would be different if she knew of actual derogatory usage of the word, but she assumed you used a made up word with a derogatory meaning. I'd feel kind of silly if I were your boss. I'd feel even sillier if I talked to the SVP about it and found out they knew what the word meant and never thought twice about you using it. 

[Alyssa]

Something niggling at the back of my mind

Oh those pesky little critters..  lol

I try not to think, but if I don't think then I am thinking of not thinking.  Now how the hell do I get out of this one?

[Tiny]

It may just be an age thing or a vocabulary thing. I know (and have used) niggling as in "oh just the niggling details are left" or "I've got that niggling feeling - I'm forgetting something I just don't know what!"

I love me some 10 dollar words (and even 5 dollar words) and 'niggle' is one of those getting to be old timey words that the younger folks don't use - because it's not in that common of usage. I can see where someone hearing it for the first time might give the word the hairy eye ball thinking it's somehow racist. But, it's not.

I get lots of weird looks when I slip into 'full vocabulary' mode... cause I'll use some really cool word that no one knows. I once said something like "the consultants are formicating the conference room... there's free bagels and cream cheese! We have to hurry if we want some!"

I've never used n****dly in a sentence but I know it's meaning (and have probably run across it in text somewhere... perhaps a play or a book?

[moon/Laura]

Oct 23, 2014 19:36:10 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

Ugghh, this is all so hard.  I mean the word n****rdly isn't in my common speech and if it was I would most definitely avoid it because it does sound so close to the other one.  But it never in a million years entered my mind that niggling would fall under the same category. 

Eta: hmm. Apparently pro boards thinks I'm racist too.  It censored the word I typed 

Not proboards. But we have that word on our board censored list.

I find it sad that people just assume that because n****rdly and niggling *sound* like a word that's racist, that that those words are racist too. They're clearly not educated.

[ArchietheDragon]

People have been fired for using words like nig gardly. In fact I even had a post deleted and got a 25% warning bar on this forum for using the word nig gardly in a post. You have to be careful what you say to people these days.

[cronewitch]

I think of it as more like wiggly or squirmy an idea that just tickles and itches until you solve it, I don't know if I ever used the word, but know it. n****rdly means stingy or cheap like giving you a serving of something that is undersized. Race has nothing to do with either word.

[Apple]

Well, apparently there is another use for the word (seriously, if you want to find out all the bad ways words are used, go look at Urban Dictionary).

One of the "slang" meanings of the word is apparently a "black baby".  I don't know how long it's been around, or how prevalent it would be because before this thread I'd never heard the word.  I'd have used "nagging" or something similar most likely.  But, I've also mentioned hazelnuts having another name (they're known as filberts here, we have lot of orchards in Oregon), and someone thought I was talking about another nut with a "bad name", so I had to go look that up too.

But, if she didn't know that meaning, I think it would be weird for her to hone in on it like that.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Oct 23, 2014 19:06:11 GMT -5 midjd said:

I never considered it to be a racist word. Is anything that rhymes with or resembles the n-word now off-limits? Is renege also racist?