As a gay man, I think this privilege debate is kind of ridiculous.

[RainDog]

25. I think people are just expressing their anger

And people have plenty to be angry about, justifiably - as do members of the GLBT community.

I generally don't participate in any of those threads b/c I have long agreed with the understandings of privilege as they are expressed in society, even while certain individuals may take issue they are not recipients.

Occasionally I will talk about this to those people - but, if you ever scan these threads, it's often the same people who continually take issue with the idea. They dig in their heels for whatever reason - and, realizing this, I don't continue to discuss such things with them because it's a waste of time. As I noted at one such point - the phrase has long been part of "discourse" - in a particular context - outside of that context - I would rather simply talk about ways to overcome what exists.

It's unrealistic to think that everyone is going to acknowledge the idea - so if people bring this up because they think they will change the opinion of the entrenched - well, that's a fool's errand.

History demonstrates changes for the better will occur - and, even as they do - there will be those who "don't get it." As someone with a vested interest in civil rights as a member of a particular group - you know this, I'm sure.

I think it's better to post research and the lived experiences of people - a record to demonstrate a reality.

But if others want to talk about this as they do - they will - and I'll do things in a way that makes the most sense for me, too. I generally don't enjoy back and forths with people who have shown they're not at a place or of a mindset that can hear others' truths.