I don't really check the people that grew up around a diverse group of people and you can tell its just a part of their vernacular.
But I always check the white cats that wonder why they can't say it, or why we don't want them saying it. It's a simple, well, because for centuries your ancestors have called us this term in different variations to hurt and demean and now it became like a self fulfilling prophecy deal. Where you call someone something enough then they start to believe it. That why blacks in huge number still address each other as n words. Me as a black man I don't say it anymore. At random times(maybe once a month it might slip out, because of heavy usage when I was younger and didn't know any better.) But now, I feel like depending who the person is, its kind of ingrained into society like cuss words are. I don't think cuss words are bad, but majority of the nation does. I don't feel N word has any power any more(well like harmful levels like it did in the past), but a lot of people give it power. I feel like these n word conversation are meant to just agitate blacks for no reason, its a waste of our mental space even talking about this beat dead horse.
Check who you need to check, but for some people it's whatever.
Perfect example: I have a real close friend, a Mexican guy. P.s. I live in San Antonio so go figure. Well, hes dating a black girl, and he would say the n word, but he sounded to happy like he was proud he was able to say it and not get persecuted. I told him that it didn't sound right coming out of his mouth, so could you not use it around me any more. He doesn't out of respect. But its situation like that..
IDK... Different black folks feel different about it on many level.. To extreme to indifference. I guess the older gen who were closer to blatant outright normal society racism feel different, then the new gen, who experience camouflage racism.