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VanillaRhapsody

(21,115 posts)

8. And the dictionary says...

Fri Mar 14, 2014, 08:26 PM

Mar 2014

priv·i·lege
ˈpriv(ə lij/Submit
noun
1.
a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group of people.
"education is a right, not a privilege"
synonyms: advantage, benefit; More
something regarded as a rare opportunity and bringing particular pleasure.
"I have the privilege of awarding you this scholarship"
synonyms: honor, pleasure More
(in a parliamentary context) the right to say or write something without the risk of incurring punishment or legal action for defamation.
noun: absolute privilege; plural noun: absolute privileges
the right of a lawyer or official to refuse to divulge confidential information.
historical
a grant to an individual, corporation, or place of special rights or immunities, esp. in the form of a franchise or monopoly.
synonyms: immunity, exemption, dispensation More
verbformal
verb: privilege; 3rd person present: privileges; past tense: privileged; past participle: privileged; gerund or present participle: privileging
1.
grant a privilege or privileges to.
"English inheritance law privileged the eldest son"

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I keep hearing people talk about privilege. What is it? [View all] functioning_cog Mar 2014 OP

Did you take any history classes? Rex Mar 2014 #1

I learned about discrimination but not privilege functioning_cog Mar 2014 #61

OH. So you mean privilege in the PAST... maced666 Mar 2014 #94

Just so happens that you should mention that... MrScorpio Mar 2014 #2

Excellent explanation. Maedhros Mar 2014 #31

Privilege involves a social, economic or legal system which inherently favors specific groups. Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #3

Glad you asked that question customerserviceguy Mar 2014 #4

So you mean like White Guilt? VanillaRhapsody Mar 2014 #5

Sure customerserviceguy Mar 2014 #9

How about American Guilt? Do we even acknowledge American Privilege, the kind that allows us sabrina 1 Mar 2014 #87

sigh.... VanillaRhapsody Mar 2014 #89

Indeed, it's a heavy burden for privileged Americans to be asked to at least think of sabrina 1 Mar 2014 #91

that is NOT what the sigh is for.... VanillaRhapsody Mar 2014 #92

No, that's a strawman. NuclearDem Mar 2014 #6

Ah, yes, the "strawman" argument customerserviceguy Mar 2014 #15

No. Nobody is expecting you to feel guilt. NuclearDem Mar 2014 #21

OMG, you just played the "reverse racism" card. How did you last this long at DU? geek tragedy Mar 2014 #23

Did you read this? Maedhros Mar 2014 #32

facts can easily be insulting hfojvt Mar 2014 #99

"There's a big difference between guilt and responsibility." PoliticalPothead Mar 2014 #55

No, you are not treestar Mar 2014 #101

That sounds like the definition of discrimination? pipoman Mar 2014 #36

The lack of discrimination is privilege. NuclearDem Mar 2014 #42

Thank you for the thoughtful response. pipoman Mar 2014 #47

fact is not a mistake...fact is fact. VanillaRhapsody Mar 2014 #90

Apparently you didn't understand what I wrote. . pipoman Mar 2014 #108

Apparently you don't understand the meaning of the word... VanillaRhapsody Mar 2014 #118

That isn't the definition of privilege. Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #7

I have a feeling customerserviceguy Mar 2014 #10

I don't believe it's a wise or ethical practice to craft definitions for other's biases. Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #12

Ok, so then don't customerserviceguy Mar 2014 #16

The ethical is the universal. Which means it applies to you. Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #20

Definitions evolve. pipoman Mar 2014 #40

There's a difference between linguistic evolution and someone changing it to their fancy. Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #41

Definitions evolve because people use a word pipoman Mar 2014 #43

Person =/= People. Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #49

The application of the word "privilege" to describe pipoman Mar 2014 #111

No you weren't ... 1StrongBlackMan Mar 2014 #45

And the dictionary says... VanillaRhapsody Mar 2014 #8

So why highlight what you did when the guy is obviously asking about the next definition WhaTHellsgoingonhere Mar 2014 #25

He said he KNEW and understood that one... VanillaRhapsody Mar 2014 #84

Synonym "advantage" treestar Mar 2014 #102

thanks for the insight, did you hear that on Rush? geek tragedy Mar 2014 #11

I don't listen to that windbag customerserviceguy Mar 2014 #17

You sound just like him on the issue of white privilege. geek tragedy Mar 2014 #22

Privilege isn't about guilt, and if you think it is, you don't understand the concept. kwassa Mar 2014 #37

That would be ignored customerserviceguy Mar 2014 #46

The problem we are having ... kwassa Mar 2014 #48

It is a 'glass half empty' approach. . pipoman Mar 2014 #110

isn't it funny hfojvt Mar 2014 #116

Complete silence? Well that's progress, I suppose. Zenlitened Mar 2014 #74

No one says you are personally responsible treestar Mar 2014 #103

+1,000 alcibiades_mystery Mar 2014 #67

lol Sheldon Cooper Mar 2014 #13

please tell me you forgot a sarcasm tag Kali Mar 2014 #18

Frankly, I usually avoid these threads customerserviceguy Mar 2014 #24

So you don't believe systemic racism exists? You don't believe prejudice can be codified? Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #26

Both are very much a reality. But it does not give literal privilege to "white" folks..... AverageJoe90 Mar 2014 #71

I brought those up because I wanted to know if the poster believed in codification. Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #85

No, you gave the answer that white supremacists and homophobes give. NuclearDem Mar 2014 #28

DU is better off without your Republican talking points on race. now that you have revealed geek tragedy Mar 2014 #29

Don't waste your breath... Open racism like this is now permitted on DU... Ohio Joe Mar 2014 #35

you are conflating self-awareness with guilt Kali Mar 2014 #30

How many times have you been told in this thread that it isn't about guilt? gollygee Mar 2014 #52

No it's not ... 1StrongBlackMan Mar 2014 #38

No, it is not treestar Mar 2014 #100

Excellent Idea for a Thread Chum! Warren DeMontague Mar 2014 #14

You're right, it's been too quiet here tonight. Gidney N Cloyd Mar 2014 #19

What, is Google down? LeftyMom Mar 2014 #27

No. It was on January 24, 2014 but it's back up functioning_cog Mar 2014 #76

Then why are you asking DUers to do your work for you? Go read. nt LeftyMom Mar 2014 #77

From the replies it doesn't look like much work was done functioning_cog Mar 2014 #78

I think he's playing dumb A-Schwarzenegger Mar 2014 #81

That's my read too. LeftyMom Mar 2014 #82

Although maybe he's not A-Schwarzenegger Mar 2014 #83

You sure are busy tonight. "Questions". myrna minx Mar 2014 #33

yes Skittles Mar 2014 #34

Maybe perhaps you should kick his reverse racism ass Skittles? NuclearDem Mar 2014 #44

"reverse racism" Skittles Mar 2014 #60

When you stir shit... do you lick the spoon? You should. cherokeeprogressive Mar 2014 #39

That's really gross functioning_cog Mar 2014 #50

And... cherokeeprogressive Mar 2014 #51

oh, you decided to return to your thread. Kali Mar 2014 #53

Yes. I'm sorry to keep you waiting. functioning_cog Mar 2014 #54

Why, oh, why did you do this? Comrade Grumpy Mar 2014 #56

You were free of this ... 1StrongBlackMan Mar 2014 #57

And talking it to death on a discussion board does what? Comrade Grumpy Mar 2014 #62

The exact same thing discussing anything on a message boad does .... 1StrongBlackMan Mar 2014 #65

Perhaps waving away and dismissing the experience of others myrna minx Mar 2014 #86

If you have to ask, you already have it Tom Ripley Mar 2014 #58

Alright...but just curious. If I went to a corner barbershop in Detroit or functioning_cog Mar 2014 #63

Perhaps 2naSalit Mar 2014 #59

Wait. What? That's not at all what people above in thread functioning_cog Mar 2014 #64

Well 2naSalit Mar 2014 #69

Chris Rock said it best, I think rustydog Mar 2014 #66

I'd rather be black and rich than white and poor any day functioning_cog Mar 2014 #68

That might not be so far-fetched, TBH(though I don't necessarily see it that way, quite). AverageJoe90 Mar 2014 #72

Yep, remember Oprah and her experience in Europe treestar Mar 2014 #104

Oh there is overt racism in today's America rustydog Mar 2014 #113

Would you rather be black & poor than white & poor any day? A-Schwarzenegger Mar 2014 #79

Both would suck equally. functioning_cog Mar 2014 #80

It's a rather interesting concept that dates back to the Nixon era. AverageJoe90 Mar 2014 #70

Thanks. I appreciate the more nuanced response functioning_cog Mar 2014 #73

Yeah, that's some nuance there. The Midway Rebel Mar 2014 #95

Tremendously Rollicking Ordnance Languishing Loudly. A-Schwarzenegger Mar 2014 #75

Amateur James Bondish spoon bender. myrna minx Mar 2014 #88

I need to use one of my lifelines. A-Schwarzenegger Mar 2014 #93

What I actually meant was: Truly Responsible Ovation Louder, Louder! myrna minx Mar 2014 #97

Yes, you know, they destroyed over $1000 worth of things A-Schwarzenegger Mar 2014 #98

Just Explaining Real Knowledge The Midway Rebel Mar 2014 #96

Privilege is guaranteed in the Charters of Freedom KansDem Mar 2014 #105

cool story, bro fishwax Mar 2014 #106

Welcome back. Starry Messenger Mar 2014 #107

Nothing to worry or do anything about... Lost_Count Mar 2014 #109

if you have to ask, you're living it... KG Mar 2014 #112

+10000 Lex Mar 2014 #114

And I don't believe you for a nanosecond. cali Mar 2014 #115

privilege mercuryblues Mar 2014 #117