In these complicated times, it's sometimes difficult to know what behaviors are acceptable and which ones defy the conventions of a polite society.

Fortunately, Isiah Thomas is here to be our moral compass.

While appearing in a videotaped deposition Monday in the sexual harassment lawsuit filed by former team executive Anucha Browne Sanders, the Knicks coach and president was asked if an incident in which a white executive allegedly referred to Sanders as a "b****" violated the team's code of conduct.

"It would have violated my code of conduct," Thomas said.

But when asked if he was similarly offended by a black male calling a black woman a b****, Thomas said, "Not as much. I'm sorry to say. I do make a distinction."

So to sum up:

-- White men can't call black women b******.

-- Black men probably shouldn't call black women b******, but it's far less offensive than if white men call black women b******.

-- And the jury's still out on whether a team employee engaging in sex acts with a visibly intoxicated college intern in an SUV parked outside a strip club violates Thomas' finely tuned code of conduct.