General Discussion

yewberry

(6,530 posts)

73. I confess I do not understand your objection to the term.

Sat Mar 1, 2014, 12:58 AM

Mar 2014

This issue is not really the same thing as oppression or discrimination, and it doesn't fully line up with 'minority vs majority' thinking. Institutionalized advantages are a real thing in this world, and that's what we're talking about. 'Privilege' doesn't mean a free pass to the golf club, and it doesn't mean that anyone succeeds or fails simply because of what body they were born with.

What, specifically, is your objection? What word or words would be acceptable to you, with the caveat that those words would have to address the reality that there are advantages to being a member of certain groups? Understand, please, that the argument here is *not* that being a member of any group guarantees a life of bliss, but that there are some advantages to being, for example, citizen/male/white/upper-class/physically able/hetero/christian/cis in the United States. (And if there is any doubt there, would you prefer to be undocumented/female/black/poor/disabled/lesbian/muslim/trans if given the choice?)

Sorry, it really, really isn't simple.

Thanks.

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Poll re white privilege [View all] gollygee Feb 2014 OP

Of course it's a real thing. HappyMe Feb 2014 #1

I read in a thread gollygee Feb 2014 #3

I only posted in a couple of those threads. HappyMe Feb 2014 #4

most of those threads are filled with people who already agree it exists. 1awake Feb 2014 #17

I was inspired by this gollygee Feb 2014 #19

People get hung up on the one word thinking it means what it doesnt. 1awake Feb 2014 #27

Yes, people tend to think "privilege" means the privileged group has something positive MH1 Mar 2014 #87

A "privilege" that still allows for one to be treated horribly for a variety of other reasons Chathamization Mar 2014 #92

2 of those voting "no": 1 has zero posts at DU, another has 1 post at DU CreekDog Mar 2014 #131

Crawling out from under the bridge, I guess. HappyMe Mar 2014 #132

So what? Gormy Cuss Mar 2014 #137

It's an interesting debate el_bryanto Feb 2014 #2

Of course, it's real. Iggo Feb 2014 #5

I reject framing the issue as a matter of privilege badtoworse Feb 2014 #6

...even when it clearly is. ScreamingMeemie Feb 2014 #7

Nope. Not being discriminated against is a right, not a privilege. badtoworse Feb 2014 #9

Nope. It's a privilege as it stands in society today. ScreamingMeemie Feb 2014 #10

Definition of privilege from Merriam Webster badtoworse Feb 2014 #13

Merriam's definition fits white privilege to a T. ScreamingMeemie Feb 2014 #15

Your neighbors' sons are experiencing injustice badtoworse Feb 2014 #18

No, my son is experiencing the many benefits of white privilege. ScreamingMeemie Feb 2014 #22

What makes you think I'm uncomfortable? badtoworse Feb 2014 #25

Assuming you are white ... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2014 #53

That is not in question. The issue is why frame it in an intellectually dishonest way. badtoworse Feb 2014 #56

Pretty much this. nt AverageJoe90 Feb 2014 #66

I guess were one stands on this issue depends on where one sits. eom. 1StrongBlackMan Mar 2014 #90

Are you one of those people who argue you can't be a homophobe because you are not "afraid" of gays? Hassin Bin Sober Feb 2014 #48

The short answer is no. badtoworse Feb 2014 #49

Me too. In fact, I liked what you pointed out earlier: AverageJoe90 Feb 2014 #65

you prefer to think you ran to 1st base. CreekDog Mar 2014 #127

You don't know a damn thing about me or how I got to where I am now. badtoworse Mar 2014 #133

that's irrelevant CreekDog Mar 2014 #134

I don't consider that privilege badtoworse Mar 2014 #136

Then again, CreekDog is a user who apparently believes..... AverageJoe90 Mar 2014 #139

He's not a poster I'd spend much time with badtoworse Mar 2014 #140

are you sure you are allowed to post about this? i think not. i have seen you seabeyond Feb 2014 #8

It looks like she's in charge of it, so... ScreamingMeemie Feb 2014 #11

well, geez screaming, someones gotta be. nt seabeyond Feb 2014 #12

+1 bravenak Feb 2014 #28

Yeah. This here being downtown and all. ScreamingMeemie Feb 2014 #31

Me too! We better run Bravenak. JustAnotherGen Mar 2014 #120

I passed because I think the OP is just trying to stir up trouble with polls like this. yellowcanine Feb 2014 #14

The OP is not trying to "stir up trouble." ScreamingMeemie Feb 2014 #16

What IS the trouble? hfojvt Feb 2014 #20

In your opinion no. In my opinion yes. yellowcanine Feb 2014 #24

Rosa Parks....she was just stirring up trouble!!! Cali_Democrat Feb 2014 #47

I call BS on the comparison. The OP isn't putting anything on the line. yellowcanine Mar 2014 #122

I'm not putting anything on the line gollygee Mar 2014 #130

"White privilege" is too elusive a concept for a good poll. yellowcanine Mar 2014 #135

Is there something special about the OP's author that I should know? MrMickeysMom Feb 2014 #62

An aside: I love the disclaimer on the poll. gollygee Feb 2014 #21

It is a real thing. That is until you get old............... wandy Feb 2014 #23

Everyone agrees that minorities face discrimination LittleBlue Feb 2014 #26

that is a bit superficial. Warren Stupidity Feb 2014 #33

If word choice is superficial LittleBlue Feb 2014 #36

I'd love to see your question answered. badtoworse Feb 2014 #37

your analysis is superficial. Warren Stupidity Feb 2014 #39

You cite what amounts to a blog LittleBlue Feb 2014 #42

OK, so no dialog here. You will reject the word used and pretend that Warren Stupidity Feb 2014 #44

I asked two questions of you LittleBlue Feb 2014 #45

You're dodging the question badtoworse Feb 2014 #43

Yes ... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2014 #54

I confess I do not understand your objection to the term. yewberry Mar 2014 #73

There are people who use the example that some blacks have it way better than a good portion cui bono Mar 2014 #95

Very true. AverageJoe90 Mar 2014 #106

I went to a segregated schools, rode in white only bus seating, drank from white CTyankee Feb 2014 #29

Really? I drank from the older, funky "colored" fountain when nobody was looking Warpy Feb 2014 #30

I was always terrified that I would get in trouble... CTyankee Feb 2014 #35

You should ask the same questions re male and straight Warren Stupidity Feb 2014 #32

Fascinating result, so far. kwassa Feb 2014 #34

For some reasons they don't like to declare themselves in polls BainsBane Feb 2014 #38

There are some significant holdouts. Starry Messenger Feb 2014 #40

yes, the most vocal opponents have not participated in the poll. kwassa Feb 2014 #46

White Privilege is the new Original Sin. n/t cherokeeprogressive Feb 2014 #41

Ha! funny. (nt) Inkfreak Feb 2014 #50

Jesus Christ... Gravitycollapse Feb 2014 #57

No I'm just Chris. Jesus Christ minus the Jesus, and the t. Yeah, pretty much just Chris. cherokeeprogressive Feb 2014 #59

They're exactly alike as long as you don't know what it means to have white privilege. Gravitycollapse Feb 2014 #60

You are right, and I was wrong. I apologize. cherokeeprogressive Feb 2014 #64

"What you're describing is the mirror image of Original Sin." AverageJoe90 Feb 2014 #67

False equivalency in the extreme LostOne4Ever Mar 2014 #86

climate change denier doesn't think racism hurts minorities and helps whites CreekDog Mar 2014 #128

Are you honestly fucking serious about this shit? Really? AverageJoe90 Mar 2014 #138

Then you probably don't understand original sin or mirrors. Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #69

Yada yada yada yada yada yada yada Ad nauseam... cherokeeprogressive Mar 2014 #80

Passing as white and being white are the same thing. Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #83

Wow. Empathy. Heard of it? Buy some maybe? cherokeeprogressive Mar 2014 #85

Then again you may simply be choosing to be racially divisive pipoman Mar 2014 #98

White privilege isn't a new term. You know that, right? Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #99

I'm sure it has been used by the racially divisive for a long time. pipoman Mar 2014 #102

If you wish to accuse me of something, at least have the courage to say it directly. Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #104

I'll take that as, pipoman Mar 2014 #105

What you have taken is not what I've said nor what I believe. Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #108

"why do you need to refer to racial discrimination as 'white privilege'?" Number23 Mar 2014 #109

Can't answer a question with a question. . pipoman Mar 2014 #110

lol No, you WON'T answer. Instead you'll continue with these tired little games Number23 Mar 2014 #112

Someone who quoted a question without answering pipoman Mar 2014 #114

Keep playing. Again, fooling no one. Number23 Mar 2014 #115

Lol pipoman Mar 2014 #116

of course it's real Skittles Feb 2014 #51

as one, of course. There is a wealth privilege as well. There is a bully privilege and a male Kip Humphrey Feb 2014 #52

Hooray for unnecessary categorical hierarchies. Gravitycollapse Feb 2014 #61

.... handmade34 Feb 2014 #55

See, this is why there's so much resistance to the term. WatermelonRat Mar 2014 #121

Personally I agree it exists now I do think there are degrees to it Arcanetrance Feb 2014 #58

White privilege Check list ismnotwasm Feb 2014 #63

Yet people will keep insisting they have no significant advantage over anyone else. nomorenomore08 Feb 2014 #68

Yes. A whole 7%. Bonobo Mar 2014 #70

Who's denying degrees of whiteness? Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #71

I didn't say "denying" it GC, just that it was being ignored Bonobo Mar 2014 #74

We can talk about it if you want. Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #75

I'd like to, especially if it wouldn't label me as a "white privilege denier" Bonobo Mar 2014 #76

As a person of Jewish ancestry, who displays stereotypical physical traits, I agree. Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #77

Well said and I completely agree. nt Bonobo Mar 2014 #78

Yes, so one could ask, as others have, what should be done with such information? Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #79

excellent post! kwassa Mar 2014 #91

The people who have been arguing the issue haven't even responded to the poll BainsBane Mar 2014 #81

I can think of a few reasons. Bonobo Mar 2014 #82

In my case I believe that poll is flawed pipoman Mar 2014 #113

I'm not sure I understand gollygee Mar 2014 #119

51. whistler162 Mar 2014 #101

The fact that it's a real thing misses the point lumberjack_jeff Mar 2014 #72

Agree. Blue_In_AK Mar 2014 #84

All you have to do is turn on Faux Newz rbrnmw Mar 2014 #88

Funny LostOne4Ever Mar 2014 #89

That is what inspired this gollygee Mar 2014 #93

Ahhhh LostOne4Ever Mar 2014 #94

Thanks so much for this poll and for your posts on the matter Number23 Mar 2014 #97

Thanks! gollygee Mar 2014 #118

The academic concept is valid. WatermelonRat Mar 2014 #96

It is a racially divisive term pipoman Mar 2014 #103

Lucky enough to be born in the west is by far my biggest privilege. KentuckyWoman Mar 2014 #100

Scary: that this question has to be asked. Scarier: The (currently) 8% saying they don't buy it. moriah Mar 2014 #107

It's refreshing to see these numbers in the poll Quixote1818 Mar 2014 #111

"I don't buy it" is picking up steam. A-Schwarzenegger Mar 2014 #117

This message was self-deleted by its author MrScorpio Mar 2014 #123

It's a misleading term used to refer to a real thing. Donald Ian Rankin Mar 2014 #124

The issue is gollygee Mar 2014 #125

what a surprise, mostly white, males answering "no" CreekDog Mar 2014 #126

this. nt La Lioness Priyanka Mar 2014 #129