The N-Word and the A-Word

IS THE WORD 'NIGGER' ALWAYS UNACCEPTBALE?

Mark and Rabiya noticed that our colleagues at the PM programme on Radio 4 (which broadcasts on the radio in the UK, but you can listen online) got a sizeable response to a story they ran about a show called 'Pride And Prejudice And Niggas'.

The nub of it is this. The show wanted to advertise with London Transport but was not allowed because of its name. Reginald D. Hunter is coming on to the show to explain why that decision is wrong, and you can talk to him.

Is 'nigger' and all the variations on the word unacceptable regardless of circumstance? Does it matter if it's a black person saying the word? (One of the groups I listened to a lot at school was the LA crew Niggas With Attitude and, judging by their massive following, they weren't offending everyone.) Also, whether you are offended or not, are there certain words we don't want published in public places liked buses and trains?

WHAT'S IT LIKE FOR BRITISH TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN?

A man who knows better than most is our correspondent Alastair Leithead. He's coming on to the show to answer your questions. It's not too late to send them in.

IS TV JUSTICE HELPING?

There's a show called Dateline in the States. It investigates all sorts of issues, and it's caused a major debate in the town of Murphy, Texas, after it set up a number of men who thought they were meeting underage boys. You can see the show here.

Arrests have been made (one man committed suicide rather than be arrested), so has the show served America well by helping the police snare these suspects... or should they leave policing to the police? And how do the people of Murphy feel about suspected paedophiles being lured to their town? Add in the fact that a known vigilante group was involved in the sting and we won't be short of issues to debate.

If you're in America - did you watch the show? Did you approve of it?

Speak to you later.