General Discussion

Lizzie Poppet

(10,164 posts)

44. Agreed. It's needlessly confrontational.

Sun May 11, 2014, 11:25 AM

May 2014

In most cases, anyway (some folks won't get the point w/o a bit of confrontation).

A minimum wage (white) worker, struggling to get by on a serf's income and hoping the GOP doesn't yank their food stamp pittance out from under them, living one paycheck away from homelessness, is pretty damned likely to say fuck you" to any suggestion that they're privileged. Even those who will admit, upon reflection, the existence of white privilege will correctly point out that it hasn't done much for them in any material way.

Blurting out "check your privilege" to people in that sort of situation carries accusatory implications, a subtle (well...not really very subtle) way of saying "despite this advantage, you're a failure." That's downright GOP-like, to be blunt. For them, being free from the humiliation that racism heaps upon people of color (and that's a very real thing, don't get me wrong) is scant solace when you're worried about having enough to eat.

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Aaargh. Wading into it: I'm grateful for my "white privilege". I wish everyone had it. [View all] cali May 2014 OP

It's painfully obvious to me that you are correct steve2470 May 2014 #1

It's that simple n/t malaise May 2014 #2

TBH RainDog May 2014 #3

same with those who deny other forms of privilege Supersedeas May 2014 #7

that's a given n/t RainDog May 2014 #9

It's a particularly tin-eared way of saying there is still a lot of institutional racism Fumesucker May 2014 #4

I won't disagree with that at all. I don't think it's a helpful turn of phrase. cali May 2014 #5

Agreed. It's needlessly confrontational. Lizzie Poppet May 2014 #44

Unfortunately, many whites at the bottom have been taught Jackpine Radical May 2014 #55

Sad but true. AverageJoe90 May 2014 #109

fwiw RainDog May 2014 #112

Those Whites on the bottom need an education in the truth.... VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #147

Is "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas" needlessly confrontational too? LanternWaste May 2014 #140

Oh, yeah, those are totally the same thing. Lizzie Poppet May 2014 #151

oubliette, great word lol nt steve2470 May 2014 #6

I'm one of those weird kids who read the encyclopedia for fun.. Fumesucker May 2014 #10

it's a word? I thought she was French n/t griloco May 2014 #23

one of the strongest arguments against its use RainDog May 2014 #8

I may be imagining it Fumesucker May 2014 #11

I don't know RainDog May 2014 #13

"...it's a perfect distraction for the Wall Street crowd..." Lizzie Poppet May 2014 #45

It is constantly applied incorrectly by non-academic posters pipoman May 2014 #14

I'm not an academic although I'm pretty good at parsing academic language if I care to Fumesucker May 2014 #15

At this point in the process.. Orrex May 2014 #16

Message auto-removed Name removed May 2014 #77

As a white male I disagree with you. William769 May 2014 #78

Message auto-removed Name removed May 2014 #81

I call it like I see it. William769 May 2014 #83

Message auto-removed Name removed May 2014 #87

That person did not respond to me, you did. William769 May 2014 #88

Message auto-removed Name removed May 2014 #89

Well then you are not going to like this. William769 May 2014 #91

Message auto-removed Name removed May 2014 #92

Cool Story, Bro.... The Magistrate May 2014 #93

Shouldn't that be "Cool Story, Sir...."? :-P Guy Whitey Corngood May 2014 #164

I Am Not Polite To Everybody, Sir.... The Magistrate May 2014 #165

Sure, I just thought you could have your own internet meme. Of course we Guy Whitey Corngood May 2014 #166

Golly! What did I miss? Orrex May 2014 #107

You missed a match if wits between MIRT & trolls last night. William769 May 2014 #113

Thank You For The Laugh, Sir The Magistrate May 2014 #80

+1 nt Damansarajaya May 2014 #145

Why? Because the words are truthful? VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #35

Because it's ripe for misunderstanding and there are better and less divisive means of saying it Fumesucker May 2014 #51

What's to be misunderstood VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #54

Try telling it to someone who has lost their job, their home and their family Fumesucker May 2014 #56

Has racism ended because we have a Black President? VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #67

What does that have to do with what I said about speaking so people will listen? Fumesucker May 2014 #68

You mean "speaking in such a way that White men will not have their sensitive feelings hurt" VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #70

If you cut me do I not bleed? Fumesucker May 2014 #73

Some apparently are.... VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #76

If one follows this thread, from the outside it appears xocet May 2014 #106

Exactly right. Is it privilege or injustice that we want to solve? n/t lumberjack_jeff May 2014 #137

Message auto-removed Name removed May 2014 #84

the point that people are trying to make RainDog May 2014 #101

Message auto-removed Name removed May 2014 #79

Ding! ding! ding! ding! winner! Damansarajaya May 2014 #143

If "white privilege" is another name for pipoman May 2014 #12

The whole idea of identifying social privilege is not to bring those who have it down Major Nikon May 2014 #22

Yeah... pipoman May 2014 #24

"white privilege" manifestly personalizes "institutional racism," and not Eleanors38 May 2014 #31

is it a personal construct or a social construct? Supersedeas May 2014 #150

The construction is a personalization of an already abstract, Eleanors38 May 2014 #152

BECAUSE White people do not realize that they ARE reaping the rewards of that privilege VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #36

And the way you've chimed in about it demonstrates your overwhelming desire.... CANDO May 2014 #59

bullshit....speaking my mind on a political forum... VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #63

And also being obnoxious and insulting to boot! CANDO May 2014 #71

oh yes....I just "convinced you against White Privilege" VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #72

"....I don't have a problem with speaking the truth...." But do you really? Or do you just THINK it? AverageJoe90 May 2014 #104

I don't know their agenda... CANDO May 2014 #111

You may be an exception to the rule...BUT that doesn't change the rule VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #117

I guess maybe you don't get it. CANDO May 2014 #120

If you do not have to overcome the hurdles of racism or sexism.....then you ARE privileged. VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #148

Wow, that is some heavy baggage you like to carry around. CANDO May 2014 #149

No I know it.... VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #116

You haven't convinced me one way or another. CANDO May 2014 #123

+1 NCTraveler May 2014 #121

Many years ago I bought a pickup truck from a neighbor. tecelote May 2014 #17

same thing around her, but mopinko May 2014 #21

I don't believe in white privilege myself, TBH(not anymore, anyway). AverageJoe90 May 2014 #18

so the good news, then RainDog May 2014 #27

You are White and YOU don't suffer for your skin color or your gender... VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #38

"Ever notice that it is mainly White men who do this denying?" You and I seem to have different..... AverageJoe90 May 2014 #41

No we don't....one of us is just in denial... VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #47

"guess which one is in denial?" Not me. nt =) AverageJoe90 May 2014 #48

Yes you are...AND VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #49

Um.......what? AverageJoe90 May 2014 #52

Then why do you GAF about the term White Male Privilege.... VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #53

See post 18. Read it. Then come back to me. nt AverageJoe90 May 2014 #57

Don't need to read your drivel about this subject... VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #65

You benefit from white privilege. NCTraveler May 2014 #122

Yes I have...... VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #146

Very interesting that you cannot say it without adding the caveat. NCTraveler May 2014 #159

I can say it quite easily....White privilege exists VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #162

For the love of God Bobbie Jo May 2014 #133

No we don't....you are just in denial... VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #114

Maybe Because RobinA May 2014 #129

The truth is not condescending.... VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #141

"Ever notice that it is mainly White men who do this denying?" TM99 May 2014 #110

Actually YES VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #115

Believe what you want to, but TM99 May 2014 #124

I am not pretending and believe me ....I am noting whom are disagreeing.... VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #142

You make a lot of assumptions in this thread. TM99 May 2014 #154

Have my assumptions been wrong so far? VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #155

With me personally, absolutely! TM99 May 2014 #156

Did you read what I said....exceptions do not change the rule.... VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #157

Your arogance and condescension TM99 May 2014 #158

I speak the truth....you just call it arrogance and condesencion VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #160

You speak 'a' truth. TM99 May 2014 #163

I do not care WHAT your racial make up is..... VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #167

What an arrogant and obnoxious person you are. TM99 May 2014 #168

I am not making assumptions.....I am just pointing out the truth... VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #169

White people are uncomfortable with the term Lex May 2014 #66

Exactly Lex....THIS is what Randi Rhodes is saying we MUST do... VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #118

White privilege exists whether you believe in it or not. kwassa May 2014 #74

Exactly....I find it quite interesting just WHO feels "attacked" by this simple truth.... VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #144

Well said. Skidmore May 2014 #19

There's a massive advantage to being born white sufrommich May 2014 #20

Agreed... VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #39

wait a minute Fred Drum May 2014 #58

I understand White privilege because I am a White female.....being female VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #64

Notice it is mostly White Males that are having an issue with the term.... VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #119

aaargh, wading into it also heaven05 May 2014 #25

To not be discriminated against is the RIGHT of everyone... Faryn Balyncd May 2014 #26

Yeah, this pretty much. AverageJoe90 May 2014 #28

I agree... The implications are not intentional. Faryn Balyncd May 2014 #29

The Implications RobinA May 2014 #131

Nice distinctions, good approach. Eleanors38 May 2014 #33

How does one convince those not subject to the mistreatment that there is such an inequality Gormy Cuss May 2014 #37

"Not a useful turn of phrase". You hit the nail on the head. Nye Bevan May 2014 #30

No it IS a useful turn of phrase.... VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #40

that's not why I don't think it's a useful turn of phrase. I explained that clearly in the OP. cali May 2014 #42

To protect their precious sensitivities? VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #46

either you want to educate people or you want to put them in their place. Californeeway May 2014 #60

Educate them that they ARE in the privileged class yes... VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #62

A very good post. A *VERY* good post. AverageJoe90 May 2014 #103

I definitely have animus BainsBane May 2014 #105

+1 lumberjack_jeff May 2014 #135

Unfortunately, some people here haven't quite figured it out yet. AverageJoe90 May 2014 #43

Cali, I appreciate the OP, and thanx DUers for a good discussion. Eleanors38 May 2014 #32

I recognize my white privilege and few other privileges too. Throd May 2014 #34

By complete genetic luck of the draw... 3catwoman3 May 2014 #50

Message auto-removed Name removed May 2014 #86

i acknowledge mine as well, and my male privilege also. m-lekktor May 2014 #61

Take away the privilege of everyone in the 99% and you have solved the problem Fumesucker May 2014 #69

So called "white privilege" is a curse a lot like "male privilege." McCamy Taylor May 2014 #75

Some good points here, TBH. AverageJoe90 May 2014 #108

Agreed. 3catwoman3 May 2014 #125

If you can afford to shop at Barney's, you got another kind of privilege going yurbud May 2014 #82

I think the expression is pretty useless and even tends to trivilaize racism and racial injustice. Vattel May 2014 #85

you just had to bring up not-being-bald privilege, didn't you? dionysus May 2014 #134

Obama did a fundraiser a few blocks from me a few days agoi alittlelark May 2014 #90

Message auto-removed Name removed May 2014 #94

There is so much WRONG w/your VERY 1st DU post...... alittlelark May 2014 #95

Message auto-removed Name removed May 2014 #96

I'll respond to you. William769 May 2014 #97

A picture for you. uppityperson May 2014 #127

Indeed. William769 May 2014 #128

It took a while to find just the right one, if you look closely. uppityperson May 2014 #130

I did look closely. William769 May 2014 #132

see post #98. nt TexasTowelie May 2014 #99

My only regret is that I didn't get my jury vote in on time to respond to the troll that got their TexasTowelie May 2014 #98

Me, too! pacalo May 2014 #100

Misery loves company. TexasTowelie May 2014 #102

"another way of saying" hfojvt May 2014 #126

Karen Finney on Disrupt on Sunday had a good segment on Does �privilege-checking� shut down debate? Gothmog May 2014 #136

Privilege Katashi_itto May 2014 #138

At this point, I think the only ones offended by the phrase are those who wish to be offended by the LanternWaste May 2014 #139

where have you been? arely staircase May 2014 #153

I think a simple analogy is in order alarimer May 2014 #161

K&R and welcome back warrprayer May 2014 #170

We've missed you! emsimon33 May 2014 #171