Thank you for the thoughtful response. (Reply #47)

In the discussion thread: I keep hearing people talk about privilege. What is it? [View all]

Fri Mar 14, 2014, 09:16 PM

pipoman (16,038 posts)

47. Thank you for the thoughtful response.

I have asked this question before and have only gotten argumentative responses.

I view it as a mistake to label people not being discriminated against as privileged. Privileged indicates, as the definition states, something unearned. We have not all received what we have earned. Those who haven't received what they earned because of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, etc. have, by the definition of discrimination, been discriminated against.

Discrimination can be, has been, battled. Privilege can't be had by all.

Reply to this post

Back to OP Alert abuse Link to post in-thread

Always highlight: 10 newest replies | Replies posted after I mark a forum

Replies to this discussion thread

118 replies	Author	Time	Post
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

Edit History

Please login to view edit histories.