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The White Man's (New) Burden

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How is that any different than what we have today? Plenty of people are punished for things they haven't done.
People are profiled and assumed to be doing something wrong on a regular basis based on nothing but their skin color so how would it be worse than what has been happening for decades?

Do you think it's worse because it would now be happening to white people?

Ah, so punishing people for things they haven't done is ok. I see.

I don't think it's ok. It's messed up.

It has happened to white people... poor white people.

How about the nasty comments a lot of people on this board and the liberal Northeast make about Republicans, Southerners, Christians, and referring to people from the South as hicks and rednecks? Aren't those just as prejudicial as racial comments against Black and Hispanics people?
 
I'm against that. I don't stereotype white men just as I expect no one to stereotype me. It may be a reality but I'm not going to tolerate or perpetuate that.
+1

I don't and have never made any assumptions about anyone. In my world, you're innocent of everything until you show me otherwise (by action or association).

He can fuck right off with the notion that all white men are presumed guilty/racist/homophobic/whatever. That's just fucking nonsense.
 

Infinite

Member
+1

I don't and have never made any assumptions about anyone. In my world, you're innocent of everything until you show me otherwise (by action or association).

He can fuck right off with the notion that all white men are presumed guilty/racist/homophobic/whatever. That's just fucking nonsense.

He didn't say that all white men are racist and homophobic. I'm not sure what you read to make you arrive at this conclusion.
 

Enzom21

Member
It would be worse if white people said "deal with it" instead of trying to fix it, like it seemed the author was saying toward whites.
Plenty of white people have said just that as well as things like; "By talking about racism, you're keeping it alive." or "You see race in everything, maybe you're the real racist." and many other dismissive statements. So don't act like this is something new.
Ah, so punishing people for things they haven't done is ok. I see.

I don't think it's ok. It's messed up.

It has happened to white people... poor white people.

How about the nasty comments a lot of people on this board and the liberal Northeast make about Republicans, Southerners, Christians, and referring to people from the South as hicks and rednecks? Aren't those just as prejudicial as racial comments against Black and Hispanics people?

Do you have poor reading comprehension? Point out where I wrote it was okay.
I asked you how it would be worse than what has already been happening for decades like you claimed.
 

Patryn

Member
Once again people are refusing to see the point with that statement. He's also not necessarily endorsing that ideology. Yes we should give people the benefit I the doubt but society doesn't give people like him the benefit of the doubt! His ideology is a consequence of institutionalized racism and discrimination since at allows actors in society to potentially act on racist views towards people like him meaning black people. At times I see my self feeling the same. I assume every cop is going to harass me and racially profile me because that behavior is facilitated by the institution they serve. I don't have the luxury of giving people the benefit of the doubt in the scenario so I am on my "best" behavior .

This. He's arguing that this is the way things are, and as a white male, I have to agree.

I'm reminded of the time that I was walking home from the T (Boston's subway) at night. The street I was walking down was empty except for one woman who would occasionally throw nervous glances back at me.

Now I'd like to think that I'm non-threatening, but I understand her anxiety. It's possible I made the situation worse by trying to speed up, because I simply wanted to pass her by as fast as possible and stop being behind her. Either way, I eventually passed her but I could tell that she was uncomfortable.

It's just a fact that if you're a guy out alone at night, woman are going to be nervous around you.

Honestly, that incident was a really tiny one but it helped to make me realize how others have to approach the world at all times. I'm lucky in that I only occasionally find myself stereotyped in that way. I realize that others have to deal with those feelings and those situations all the damn time.
 
Ah, so punishing people for things they haven't done is ok. I see.

I don't think it's ok. It's messed up.

It has happened to white people... poor white people.

How about the nasty comments a lot of people on this board and the liberal Northeast make about Republicans, Southerners, Christians, and referring to people from the South as hicks and rednecks? Aren't those just as prejudicial as racial comments against Black and Hispanics people?

Until negative stereotypes against "hicks and rednecks" lead to systemic and institutionalized behavior and reactions in the same way that equivalent stereotypes have for blacks and hispanics ("stop and frisk", incarceration rates, drastically different sentencing for equivalent offenses, etc, the list goes on) then they're not really comparable.

As of now, the only "harm" those stereotypes do is making those people feel bad or victimized. Note, I'm not advocating them, just pointing out the false equivalency
 
Do you have poor reading comprehension? Point out where I wrote it was okay.
I asked you how it would be worse than what has already been happening for decades like you claimed.

I don't want the Internet mob playing judge, jury, and executioner to racial and prejudicial issues.

That's how it would become worse. You can post a video of anyone saying anything out of context and then post it on a widely viewed site and ruin their lives. Remove impartiality and context and you can judge anyone for one bad moment that was captured on a camera. I don't want my or anyone else's hands judged on the minds of a select world purview. That's my opinion.

Now you please tell me how that's a better future.

Until negative stereotypes against "hicks and rednecks" lead to systemic and institutionalized behavior and reactions in the same way that equivalent stereotypes have for blacks and hispanics ("stop and frisk", incarceration rates, drastically different sentencing for equivalent offenses, etc, the list goes on) then they're not really comparable.

As of now, the only "harm" those stereotypes do is making those people feel bad of victimized. Note, I'm not advocating them, just pointing out the false equivalency

I understand. It's only frustration to see and hear that I can be recognized as a protected group but other people aren't.
 

Enzom21

Member
I don't want the Internet mob playing judge, jury, and executioner to racial and prejudicial issues.

That's how it would become worse. You can post a video of anyone saying anything out of context and then post it on a widely viewed site and ruin their lives. Remove impartiality and context and you can judge anyone for one bad moment that was captured on a camera.

Now you please tell me how that's a better future.

So to you someone being called racist for an out of context comment on video is worse than say someone whistling at a white woman and then being beaten to death?
Are you really that ridiculous?
 
I hate the whole sins of your fathers thing. I'm not white myself, but I don't understand why white men (or any other race) should "pay" for what their ancestors did. I find the whole concept of "white guilt" to a bit absurd. I understand it, but I don't agree with it.

Wait a minute, I'm a racist, bigoted, closed minded sexist just because I'm white?

fuckin lol


No dude, you're just assumed to be one till proven otherwise. Makes sense, right? :/
 

njean777

Member
I get what he is saying, unfortunately I do not agree with the way he said it. If he would have been less abrasive it would do wonders for his argument.
 
So to you someone being called racist for an out of context comment on video is worse than say someone whistling at a white woman and then being beaten to death?
Are you really that ridiculous?

Stop being coy and using ridiculous examples. You're insinuating something I NEVER said.

They're not equal. That's very plain as day.
 

andycapps

Member
Man, what a dystopian vision of the world.

Yup, I can't deny that things are changing and people do need to pay more attention to the stuff they say, but they really should have been doing that all along. Basically, don't be an asshole or racist. This idea of having to walk on eggshells all the time and basically reassure everyone that you're not a racist is annoying though. Hell, if you have to reassure people that you're not a racist, you probably are.
 

Xenon

Member
At first when I read the highlights I was thinking, "Yeah OK thanks for putting me in my place." But it's a good article and I agree with it.
 

mckmas8808

Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
Of course not. But no company wants to be associated with those things openly.

It really depends on what the goals of my company are.

In the case of Anthony Cumia, it wasn't the first time he's said something racial. It's been his living for years as a shock jock to say shitty things to be provocative, but the fact that SiriusXM didn't find it "decidedly inconvenient" back then instead of when his contract negotiations were coming up, I don't like the sudden 180 companies make when someone become "too expensive" for their liking.

So would you rather the company to keep them on the payroll and suffer themselves? And of course it's easier to let someone go when their negotiations are coming up.
 
Wait a minute, I'm a racist, bigoted, closed minded sexist just because I'm white?

fuckin lol

Yeah, the same way black males are assumed to be thugs, gangbangers, unintelligent, ebonic speaking, white women raping, drug dealing, intimidating, rap car riding, hoodlums.
Welcome to the club! Where the founders are white, but all the members and alumni are minorities. Hope you enjoy your stay!

You see how ridiculous you sound? Obviously white people aren't evil and many groups and cultures throughout history have had measure to institutionally disadvantage their minority groups, but I'm trying to get you to understand the situation. The article is basically saying "Look what others have had to deal with."
 

Spoo

Member
I'm pretty sure I do get the benefit of the doubt. And I'm pretty sure that most white people do -- that's the privilege of being white. This is what Racism with a capital 'R' is all about -- the Institutionalized Racism we should be fighting.

Either I need to check that privilege, or I don't, but it can't be both, can it?
 
The OP or the blogger never stated that. Why are you making things up?

Well, it's part of his argument:

No matter what it will be assumed that you are racist, misogynist, homophobic, etc. until proven otherwise.

Unless I misread it, he's basically saying you are until proven otherwise.

Yeah, the same way black males are assumed to be thugs, gangbangers, unintelligent, ebonic speaking, white women raping, drug dealing, intimidating, rap car riding, hoodlums.
Welcome to the club! Where the founders are white, but all the members and alumni are minorities. Hope you enjoy your stay!

You see how ridiculous you sound?

Two wrongs don't make a right. Assuming that of black people or assuming anything of any race is just as bad.
 

Infinite

Member
I hate the whole sins of your fathers thing. I'm not white myself, but I don't understand why white men (or any other race) should "pay" for what their ancestors did. I find the whole concept of "white guilt" to a bit absurd. I understand it, but I don't agree with it.

People who say the above fail to recognize that old racist institutions and practices as well as contemporary ones all negatively affect blacks and other minorities and privilege whites.
 
Two wrongs don't make a right. Assuming that of black people or assuming anything of any race is just as bad.

Well tell me where he advocated the assumption of stereotypes to be "right". His list of what white people are assumed to be is suppose to mirror what minorities are assumed to be. See the last bolded section in the OP.

Would it make more sense if the thread was "The Brown Man's (New) Burden" and the quote was instead

No matter what it will be assumed that you are radical, terrorist, anti-America, etc. until proven otherwise.

Try and frame it in the context of other races and you start to see what he's trying to say
 

studyguy

Member
I feel fortunate to have been raised in Southern California. It's such a huge melting pot of cultures that it makes me that much prouder of what I am. To be honest though, most of the racial tension I've had have come less from whites and more from my own race. Getting told You talk/act too white is pretty fucked up.

I would hope that I mirror the kind of environment I was raised in now versus that which I grew up in. Till I was like 13, you could have pegged me as some latchkey kid living in the shit parts of LA with no future. At that time I expected the worst out of people, and why not? I saw my friends get mugged or beat up pretty regularly. I'm thankful my parents pulled us out of that situation, but I know I'm going to live with some aggressive tendencies my younger brother and sister never had to deal with.

If race is the only thing warping your world view then I guess you must have it pretty fucking good. Cause I know growing up the only color that mattered was green and lots of it.
 
So would you rather the company to keep them on the payroll and suffer themselves? And of course it's easier to let someone go when their negotiations are coming up.

What I'm saying is that if you're a company that benefits from the fruits of someone else's labor by them doing something bigoted, you can't pull a 180 and take a supposed moral stance and say "we don't support this person" as if the company is in the right.

Sirius saw a perfect opportunity to sever an expensive contract and used it. Good on them, but not even as a fan of Opie and Anthiny, I listened to some of their stuff with Patrice O'Neal and Louis CK and heard worse shit that he wrote on Twitter.

You said it would be worse than it has been and that is just not true at all and you know it.

That's your opinion. I believe shoving a camera everywhere isn't better.

I admit I don't think about the struggles of the Civil Rights Movements. It wasn't my fight or my father's fight. My Grandfather was in picket lines for labor rights. That's my cross to bear and the one I truly have a very strong passion for.

I'd rather get upset over abusive companies and economic rights than the bigoted comments that certain people have to say about race.

But I'm going off-topic. I've expressed my feelings on the article. I'll leave it at that.
 
This is the most ridiculous argument. Do you really think he was out taking creep shots with a giant camera and lense in the middle of Times Square?

That's the burden the OP article is talking about. No one can expect that every action they take will be seen by it's true intentions, everyone has to take that extra step to prove what they are doing is legitimate.
 

Infinite

Member
Well, it's part of his argument:



Unless I misread it, he's basically saying you are until proven otherwise.



Two wrongs don't make a right. Assuming that of black people or assuming anything of any race is just as bad.

Read these two post I made previously:

Once again people are refusing to see the point with that statement. He's also not necessarily endorsing that ideology. Yes we should give people the benefit I the doubt but society doesn't give people like him the benefit of the doubt! His ideology is a consequence of institutionalized racism and discrimination since at allows actors in society to potentially act on racist views towards people like him meaning black people. At times I see my self feeling the same. I assume every cop is going to harass me and racially profile me because that behavior is facilitated by the institution they serve. I don't have the luxury of giving people the benefit of the doubt in the scenario so I am on my "best" behavior .

I wouldn't defend it either I know it's "wrong" but strangely I found myself feeling the same. Changing what he said ruins the underlying message here which is Prejudice and discrimination is a consequence of living in a society that instructionalizes discrimination.
 
Read these two post I made previously:

Well tell me where he advocated the assumption of stereotypes to be "right". His list of what white people are assumed to be is suppose to mirror what minorities are assumed to be. See the last bolded section in the OP.

Would it make more sense if the thread was "The Brown Man's (New) Burden" and the quote was instead



Try and frame it in the context of other races and you start to see what he's trying to say

Yea, that makes sense. I suppose I misread his intention somewhat. People will always judge others, but maybe one day we'll get to a point where people don't judge based solely on race, and instead judge on the person him/herself.
 
This is the most ridiculous argument. Do you really think he was out taking creep shots with a giant camera and lense in the middle of Times Square?

You take 'em where you find 'em. If you are obvious enough about having taken someone's photo and they object, deleting the photo is pretty painless. He is certainly within his right to refuse, but calling the woman a "savage" and his racist tirade seems an over-reaction. He's a pretty awful photographer as well.

In times like these I'm happy that there are barely any non-white folk in my country. I would like more variety, but reading things like this makes me think the cost of that could be hard to swallow.

You're assuming lack of diversity equals lack of racism? I grew up in West Virginia which has a pretty low minority population. I never noticed much racism towards blacks beyond the occasional bad word (though this is part of the problem, how would I notice any, and I'm therefore assuming it didn't exist). But, once Obama was running/elected, I was really caught off-guard by how racist my home state seemingly became.
 

Enzom21

Member
That's your opinion. I believe shoving a camera everywhere isn't better.

I admit I don't think about the struggles of the Civil Rights Movements. It wasn't my fight or my father's fight. My Grandfather was in picket lines for labor rights. That's my cross to bear and the one I truly have a very strong passion for.

I'd rather get upset over abusive companies and economic rights than the bigoted comments that certain people have to say about race.

But I'm going off-topic. I've expressed my feelings on the article. I'll leave it at that.
Do you have extremely poor comprehension skills? I never wrote what was happening to white people now was better or okay. You on the other claimed that it was worse now than it has been so far which is quite the ridiculous statement.
 

mckmas8808

Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
Well, it's part of his argument:



Unless I misread it, he's basically saying you are until proven otherwise.



Two wrongs don't make a right. Assuming that of black people or assuming anything of any race is just as bad.

You can't prove a negative. He's not saying prove you aren't racist. He's saying he's not going to think you are innocent. And that if you say something that "could be" perceived as racist, slightly homophobic, or sexist then he's not going to give you the benefit of the doubt.
 

Real Hero

Member
Well, it's part of his argument:



Unless I misread it, he's basically saying you are until proven otherwise.



Two wrongs don't make a right. Assuming that of black people or assuming anything of any race is just as bad.

'In this essay I refer to White males as if they are a homogenous entity, but really I think the guys who get it will know who I am speaking of and will recognize whether I am talking about them or not.'
 

Tesseract

Banned
'In this essay I refer to White males as if they are a homogenous entity, but really I think the guys who get it will know who I am speaking of and will recognize whether I am talking about them or not.'

what striking ambiguity, i almost missed it
 

UrbanRats

Member
The last paragraph is quite strong, moreso than much of the rest of the article. A day rarely goes by where I don't find myself consciously thinking about my behavior and how I'm perceived - whether I'm in a store, walking behind someone, eating at a restaurant, ordering takeout, checking my mailbox at night, etc. Race is a never ending obsession, often subconscious or an immediate red flag that pops up in my mind. I was raised like this, and while I hate it...I recognize I have no choice but to raise my kids the same way, given our society.

One of my first reactions to the Trayvon Martin situation was wondering why he was wearing a hoodie over his head at night. I recognize it's a blaming the victim thought, but I've been programmed to think like a victim, just as many whites are programmed to automatically assume black men are a threat - which is why countless white women stop in their tracks if they notice I'm walking behind them, and let me pass while staring at me.

So I have no sympathy for the new reality white men find themselves in, where words and actions have some consequences. How can I feel bad when even inaction and silence has consequences for myself, on a near daily basis. If you say racist, homophobic, sexist, etc shit you're going to get shit on. And even if you are misunderstood you're going to be automatically labeled, right or wrong. Welcome to my reality. I wish things were different, I agree we should work to change things, but it's not going to work. In fact it'll get worse now that the threat of becoming a minority is inevitable for whites in the US. A lot (not all) of anti immigrant and vehemently anti Obama sentiment is directly tied to the fear that the party is over: diversity isn't going away, and some whites see it as a direct threat to their ideology, way of life, country, etc.
Don't you think that's a sign of things changing though? I mean from what i understand by reading here (because i don't live in the US and my country has a probably much deeper problem with race integration) things may be worse for the immediate future, simply because a group in power feels like it's losing its grip on the dominant position, but after that struggle has died down, things should be in a better position for positive change to take place (for everyone).
 
Do you have extremely poor comprehension skills? I never wrote what was happening to white people now was better or okay. You on the other claimed that it was worse now than it has been so far which is quite the ridiculous statement.

Are you so condescending to people all the time? Or is it just me you like to point out and bother when it comes to race-based threads?

I never "claimed" that it's worse now.

This is what I said:

That's what I felt the author was advocating, and that sounds much worse than what we do have today.

The "That" I'm implying is the future to be one similar to 1984 where there's a camera watching your every move. A dystopian future.

What I had highlighted to comment on:

If you are going to punish people for something they did not do they are going to end up doing it solely to get even.

Where in that context did I say that present racial tension was worse then the past? Why are you harassing me moreso that any other poster?
 

Risible

Member
"And that is the main point that White men in this day and age need to understand; you don't get the benefit of the doubt. Like the rest of us, you as a White male are laboring under the sins of your fathers. No matter what it will be assumed that you are racist, misogynist, homophobic, etc. until proven otherwise. It may suck but the White male in this society has the burden (there's that word again) of proof when it comes to not being seen as a dick."

How is this any different than a white man making assumptions/generalizations about other races? So the solution is for all of us to be dicks to each other in perpetuity?
 

mckmas8808

Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
Guily until proven innocent is becoming the de facto stance in this day and age and it really bothers me.

Yep and that's the great thing about this article. Because he clearly explains why people like me (30 something year old black male)have felt this way about this country as long as I can remember. And black people for 400 years have felt this way too. We have been viewed as guilty until proven innocent.

"And that is the main point that White men in this day and age need to understand; you don't get the benefit of the doubt. Like the rest of us, you as a White male are laboring under the sins of your fathers. No matter what it will be assumed that you are racist, misogynist, homophobic, etc. until proven otherwise. It may suck but the White male in this society has the burden (there's that word again) of proof when it comes to not being seen as a dick."

How is this any different than a white man making assumptions/generalizations about other races? So the solution is for all of us to be dicks to each other in perpetuity?

It isn't any different really. The only difference is that straight while males run the country way more than the minorities that are generalized so on that front they won't feel the pain as much as the minorities do.
 

UrbanRats

Member
"And that is the main point that White men in this day and age need to understand; you don't get the benefit of the doubt. Like the rest of us, you as a White male are laboring under the sins of your fathers. No matter what it will be assumed that you are racist, misogynist, homophobic, etc. until proven otherwise. It may suck but the White male in this society has the burden (there's that word again) of proof when it comes to not being seen as a dick."

How is this any different than a white man making assumptions/generalizations about other races? So the solution is for all of us to be dicks to each other in perpetuity?

This post from Infinite, kind of explains that point better:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=121294030&postcount=228
 

Risible

Member
Yep and that's the great thing about this article. Because he clearly explains why people like me (30 something year old black male)have felt this way about this country as long as I can remember. And black people for 400 years have felt this way too. We have been viewed as guilty until proven innocent.



It isn't any different really. The only difference is that straight while males run the country way more than the minorities that are generalized so on that front they won't feel the pain as much as the minorities do.

I'll agree with that, but what this means is that this will never go away, correct? Until the majority becomes the minority and the roles reverse and then we'll just have it the opposite way. And so on ad infinitum. Maybe it's a realistic way of looking at it but it sure is a depressing one.
 
D

Deleted member 17706

Unconfirmed Member
Wait a minute, I'm a racist, bigoted, closed minded sexist just because I'm white?

fuckin lol

That's the base assumption without knowing you. It's up to you whether you demonstrate that you are otherwise. That's what the article is saying.

I feel that you've already kind of lived up to the closed minded aspect with this post.

Guily until proven innocent is becoming the de facto stance in this day and age and it really bothers me.

It has been the reality for many populations the whole time. Is the fact that it is now beginning to be applied to so-called unassuming white males what bothers you?
 

Risible

Member
That's the base assumption without knowing you. It's up to you whether you demonstrate that you are otherwise. That's what the article is saying.

I feel that you've already kind of lived up to the closed minded aspect with this post.

That's ridiculous. "Hey black person, it's up to you to demonstrate that you do not live up to my preconceived notions."

It's wrong either way, period. Yes, there are certain realities we have to face, but claiming one and not the other is wrong.
 

UrbanRats

Member
I'll agree with that, but what this means is that this will never go away, correct? Until the majority becomes the minority and the roles reverse and then we'll just have it the opposite way. And so on ad infinitum. Maybe it's a realistic way of looking at it but it sure is a depressing one.

To me, it means that before we can reach an ideal, positive equality, we need to find ourselves on the same social level (however uncomfortable), which will probably push a more empathic mentality.
I think it can be seen as a painful first step to a more fair and positive society.
 
D

Deleted member 17706

Unconfirmed Member
That's ridiculous. "Hey black person, it's up to you to demonstrate that you do not live up to my preconceived notions."

It's wrong either way, period. Yes, there are certain realities we have to face, but claiming one and not the other is wrong.

Wrong or right doesn't really come into play. The blogger isn't arguing for that preconception anymore than he is arguing that arabs deserve to be automatically assumed to be terrorists.

He's just talking about the reality of things.
 
D

Deleted member 17706

Unconfirmed Member
I'll agree with that, but what this means is that this will never go away, correct? Until the majority becomes the minority and the roles reverse and then we'll just have it the opposite way. And so on ad infinitum. Maybe it's a realistic way of looking at it but it sure is a depressing one.

Sure it will go away. As soon as people stop being bigoted toward one another. I think it's more important that privileged exercise more effort in this area.
 

Risible

Member
To me, it means that before we can reach an ideal, positive equality, we need to find ourselves on the same social level (however uncomfortable), which will probably push a more empathic mentality.
I think it can be seen as a painful first step to a more fair and positive society.

This makes more sense.

The author's thesis of "all black men are judged on the actions of the rotten minority therefore white men must all be pre-judged by their own rotten minority" is wrong. It may be realistic, but it won't lead to any sort of solution to the problem.
 
D

Deleted member 17706

Unconfirmed Member
This makes more sense.

The author's thesis of "all black men are judged on the actions of the rotten minority therefore white men must all be pre-judged by their own rotten minority" is wrong. It may be realistic, but it won't lead to any sort of solution to the problem.

You've got it all wrong. That's not the thesis.

We have documented history of black men being pre-judged and treated unfairly by the majority. I think you would have a hard argument if you want to say that it was only a minority of white men that treated them this way.
 

Risible

Member
Wrong or right doesn't really come into play. The blogger isn't arguing for that preconception anymore than he is arguing that arabs deserve to be automatically assumed to be terrorists.

He's just talking about the reality of things.

Yes he is arguing for that preconception, explicitly, unless I'm crazy. "No matter what it will be assumed that you are racist, misogynist, homophobic, etc. until proven otherwise." He is saying that white people should be viewed as racists, misogynists, and homophones until they can prove otherwise. That's just as bad as assuming all Muslims are terrorists or that all black people drive rap cars.
 

Risible

Member
You've got it all wrong. That's not the thesis.

We have documented history of black men being pre-judged and treated unfairly by the majority. I think you would have a hard argument if you want to say that it was only a minority of white men that treated them this way.

I feel like you and I are starting to monopolize the thread, so if you're interested in discussing this more feel free to PM me and I'd be happy to continue. I don't want to overrun the thread and drown out other people. It's an interesting topic :).
 
Yes he is arguing for that preconception, explicitly, unless I'm crazy. "No matter what it will be assumed that you are racist, misogynist, homophobic, etc. until proven otherwise." He is saying that white people should be viewed as racists, misogynists, and homophones until they can prove otherwise. That's just as bad as assuming all Muslims are terrorists or that all black people drive rap cars.

Uhh, no. He's saying that's the reality of the matter, not that they SHOULD be. You're completely misunderstanding him. Read his last paragraph

Ask any Indian or Arab person what it's like to be assumed to be a terrorist. Ask any woman what it's like to have to make sure that she doesn't do anything to “invite” men to harass or attack her. Ask any Black woman what it's like to have to measure their words so that they are not viewed as being “angry.”

He's saying that's the white equivalent of these things. I think your main confusion is that you think he's advocating for white men to be judged by these things. What you don't understand is he's saying white men are already being judged by these things.


So while I find it frustrating that the actions of others of "my kind" are potentially causing a detriment to me through their actions, I'm going to continue doing what I can to live in a way that doesn't perpetuate what others are doing. I can't understand why it's so hard for people as a whole to do that -- it doesn't take me a huge amount of effort to not be an asshole.

Which is what most minorities deal with and have been dealing with for a while now...that's literally the point of the article
 
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