Forbidden words

You know... I understand why using certain words like 'nigga' is frowned upon. However I don't understand the unnecessary overreactions when one uses these kinds of words.

I understand the history and the meaning behind them but really... does one really have to go so far because of a single word. We are civilized people... we should act civilized, not like some barbarians. Forbidding some words because they are offensive is idiocy at it's finest.