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

[The Straight Story]

57. And what is it people want to come from such discussions?

A simple question that seems to get asked over and over.

The general idea coming forth from DU'ers is "Yeah racism/classism/etc exists, we are democrats, progressives, we are all for changing things for the better for everyone". When someone brings up white privilege it is assumed it is for discussion about the idea and what to do about it.

What is it that DU'ers should do about the issue that people don't see that they are already doing? White people - both men and women, have it easier than those of other races overall on a broad scale. We get that. On an even bigger scale we know that the wealthy get a lot more privilege than anyone else, so even a privileged white person is often a victim of privilege themselves.

We are all victims of the very select few (those in power/wealth). Pointing out that I have more generic privilege than someone else is all fine and dandy - but since I am not myself doing anything to perpetuate that in my life I don't feel guilt over it at all.

So what do you want others you don't know but are cursed with privilege that they cannot change to do about it? Vote for a progressive party? Check.

The reactions people get on DU over this is similar to other things really. Meta is gone, we want to try to call out others who are not showing enough outrage over an issue so we toss something out there directed at the people on DU and then pounce when they don't seem pure enough. "You aren't as upset as I am!".

I have been posting about the Nigerian school girls like crazy. That covers everything from privilege to sexism to the media to international issues and the role of the US. Barely a peep. Real issue involving lots of issues but it is not about DU'ers and their reactions so the most vocal on those issues just pass on by.

Had it been a few hundred white kids taken in a mostly white country you bet the news would be on it. Republicans would be all over Obama for not doing more. But the news ignores it. Up until people got vocal we didn't see much from anyone on it. And here on a progressive board where a subject is filled with all the things we say wrong with things is on display it gets ignored as well -- maybe because people aren't as interested in the issue and this problem but want to spend more time grinding axes and trying to show others how bad a place DU is.

A real issue, real people, but not meta enough to fan flames. Make it about DU itself and the posters here and suddenly it is important enough to hop into.