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One of the key points in this article is that when you divide people into identity groups, some of those groups are going to feel neglected. As you get at, some
by Kalium 10y ago
One of the key points in this article is that when you divide people into identity groups, some of those groups are going to feel neglected. As you get at, some of those groups that feel neglected are groups you and I would consider privileged and protected.
Yet... other people don't vote based on what you and I think or feel. They vote based on what they think and feel. If people are treated in a way that makes them feel like they are out-group, regardless of structural power, those people will tend to act like an out-group instead of a powerful in-group.
tl;dr: You can tell people that they're an enfranchised in-group, but if they don't feel that way it might backfire.
- jshevek 10y ago> You can tell people that they're an enfranchised in-group... This is not (and should not be) very meaningful for the individual.
- throwanem 10y agoMany disagree. Consider the possibility that they might not be wrong in so doing.
- Kalium 10y agoYou're right! Many people rightly consider this very relevant to the lives of individuals. This is something that should always be considered. Yet, the issue remains - if you tell someone that they are an enfranchised member of an in-group and their lived experience seems to contradict that, two things are likely to happen. First, they will tend to favor their lived experience over your carefully considered claims. Second, they will tend to discount and disregard anything further you might say, as you have damaged your credibility by invalidating their lived experiences. So, please, consider the possibility that what one expects to be meaningful to a person's life and what that person considers meaningful to a person's life may differ in potentially significant ways.
- throwanem 10y agoSorry, I wasn't clear. My intent was precisely in accord with what you say, and I appreciate you clarifying the point in the way which I should have but did not.