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Half white person here. I think that is the same kind of thinking that leads to people saying that minorities can't be racist, or that women can't be sexist.

Half white person here. I think that is the same kind of thinking that leads to people saying that minorities can't be racist, or that women can't be sexist. I think all lives matter too.

js2 10y ago
It's not the same kind of thinking. Black lives matter doesn't mean other lives don't. It doesn't mean white lives don't matter or that blue lives don't matter. It's a response to systematic racism. As a white male, I've never had to worry or been bothered by black racism or female sexism because I live in a society where the white male has power. The reality is that this is America today: http://i.imgur.com/zrTnEkW.jpg http://i.imgur.com/zrTnEkW.jpg
- TheSpiceIsLife 10y ago
  What is that a picture of?
- adekok 10y ago
  > I live in a society where the white male has power What power do I have as a white male? Please be specific. Don't show how I'm treated better than others, show how I have power. I've never shown up at a job interview unqualified... and been told "Yup, you get the job because of your skin color and your genitals". While there are systemic racial differences in the US, they're not always what you think. Which race has the highest average income? Is that because that race is part of the majority? It's not. So... how come if society is here to keep "white men" in power, that Asian-Americans have the highest average income? Are they the secret power behind the throne? [1] Well, no one on their right mind would say so. Yet people are happy to claim that there's some kind of conspiracy to keep another race in power. I dunno... I've never been contacted and asked to join the conspiracy. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_wage_gap_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_wage_gap_in_the_United_...
  - FullMtlAlcoholc 10y ago
    Let's see... For starters, If you're convicted of a crime, you are much more likely to receive a shorter prison sentence than a minority. The sentencing difference between whites caught with cocaine and blacks caught with crack is an example of this. In general, when interacting with law enforcement for whatever reason (traffic stop, suspicion of drug possession of marijuana, etc.), you are much more likely to receive a warning and not be arrested or given a ticket compared to a minority. Also, when driving across the panhandle of Texas, the police are less likely to stop you. Whenever I've driven through there, police take one look at me and like clockwork, pull me over, often times calling their K9 unit out. On dating websites, you're more likely to appeal to more women than a minority. And if you date outside of your race, the parents of your significant other are more likely be more accepting of you than someone who is black. If you were accepted to a prestigious university or received a job offer for a lucrative position, you wouldn't have to endure people questioning your abilities and whispering "He's only here because of affirmative action." I've experienced this despite scoring above the mean in all relevant categories. If you want a recent example of this type of behavior on HackerNews, look here and ctrl-f for gydfi: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13779165 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13779165 > "Yup, you get the job because of your skin color and your genitals". I don't think anyone has ever said this specifically. I believe that you're falling into the same trap as the individual that I pointed out above, assuming that you are at a disadvantage for a job because you don't get extra consideration for being a woman or a minority. There is no advantage. In fact, it is still a disadvantage. Even in Silicon Valley, a woman gets paid less for doing the same work as their male colleagues. If you want a recent example, look at the revelations coming out of the sinking ship that is Uber. That not withstanding, In my experience as part of the team that does hiring where I work (tech company), I find other members show a bias for those who resemble their culture, that culture being people familiar with dank memes and who play video games. They don't realize that when choosing their preferred candidate that they have a preference. It doesn't mean they are racist, sexist, etc. It just means that they have a cognitive bias that they may not be aware of. > Yet people are happy to claim that there's some kind of conspiracy to keep another race in power. I dunno... I've never been contacted and asked to join the conspiracy. It's not a conspiracy headed by some cartoonish, mustache twirling villain. It is just the historical remnant of a time when the social order was segregated by race. Just because the civil rights act was passed in the 1960's does not magically wash away the effects of institutionalized racism. Institutions take time to change. It's certainly better than it was, but it's not perfect.
thelock85 10y ago
Racism and sexism are by default perpetuated by the oppressive group, especially at an institutional level (I'm not so arrogant to delve into other's individual issues). Yes, people of color can be color-biased and women can be gender-biased, but I think it's exceptional see a person of color or woman using their status within a system to subjugate a white man in America. For every verifiable example where that's true there are disproportionately more examples white men subjugating women and people of color (intentionally/maliciously or not) simply because of privilege granted by the racist/sexist system. As a black man, I imagine that's difficult for a white person to take in without getting defensive, but there are literally powerful white men on the record throughout our country's existence stating that the system was built for white men.
- adekok 10y ago
  > Racism and sexism are by default perpetuated by the oppressive group, especially at an institutional level So... which sex is more likely to be arrested, charged, convicted, sentenced to prison time, and less likely to be let out on parole? I'll give you a hint. It's not women. And what is larger? Race differences in sentencing? Or sex differences? Hint: One is larger than the other by about a factor of six. And which sex is more likely to die on the job? By about a factor of 20... If find the whole notion of "patriarchy" to be bizarre. It is either a pretty much a tautology (most of the people in power are men), or a conspiracy theory that would make 9/11 truthers blush with embarrassment. i.e. "Patriarchy is a system where men rule the world for their own benefit". Uh... right. Where 95% of workplace deaths are male. Where 99% of war deaths are male. Where 3/4 of suicides are male. Where the criminal courts treat men many times worse than women. Where the family courts treat men like scum who deserve to pay and never see their kids. Really? If that's a system run for the sole benefit of men, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you. > I think it's exceptional see a person of color or woman using their status within a system to subjugate a white man in America Largely because they don't have power. That's statistics, not "one race is better than another". A simpler statement is to say "people in power tend to abuse the people who don't have power." That happens everywhere. It's human nature. > simply because of privilege granted by the racist/sexist system So.. Bill Gates treats me well because we're both white males? I don't think so. > As a black man, I imagine that's difficult for a white person to take in without getting defensive, As a man, you should be well aware the the largest oppression you face is not because you're black, but because you're male. > but there are literally powerful white men on the record throughout our country's existence stating that the system was built for white men. So? There are many people saying many delusional things. That doesn't mean they're true. I think you're also missing a key point here. The system is run by RICH people who run it for their friends and relatives. As the son of penniless immigrants, I have no more hope of getting into that power structure than you do.

Half white person here. I think that is the same kind of thinking that leads to people saying that minorities can't be racist, or that women can't be sexist. I think all lives matter too.

js2 10y ago

It's not the same kind of thinking. Black lives matter doesn't mean other lives don't. It doesn't mean white lives don't matter or that blue lives don't matter. It's a response to systematic racism. As a white male, I've never had to worry or been bothered by black racism or female sexism because I live in a society where the white male has power. The reality is that this is America today: http://i.imgur.com/zrTnEkW.jpg http://i.imgur.com/zrTnEkW.jpg

TheSpiceIsLife 10y ago
What is that a picture of?
adekok 10y ago
> I live in a society where the white male has power What power do I have as a white male? Please be specific. Don't show how I'm treated better than others, show how I have power. I've never shown up at a job interview unqualified... and been told "Yup, you get the job because of your skin color and your genitals". While there are systemic racial differences in the US, they're not always what you think. Which race has the highest average income? Is that because that race is part of the majority? It's not. So... how come if society is here to keep "white men" in power, that Asian-Americans have the highest average income? Are they the secret power behind the throne? [1] Well, no one on their right mind would say so. Yet people are happy to claim that there's some kind of conspiracy to keep another race in power. I dunno... I've never been contacted and asked to join the conspiracy. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_wage_gap_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_wage_gap_in_the_United_...
- FullMtlAlcoholc 10y ago
  Let's see... For starters, If you're convicted of a crime, you are much more likely to receive a shorter prison sentence than a minority. The sentencing difference between whites caught with cocaine and blacks caught with crack is an example of this. In general, when interacting with law enforcement for whatever reason (traffic stop, suspicion of drug possession of marijuana, etc.), you are much more likely to receive a warning and not be arrested or given a ticket compared to a minority. Also, when driving across the panhandle of Texas, the police are less likely to stop you. Whenever I've driven through there, police take one look at me and like clockwork, pull me over, often times calling their K9 unit out. On dating websites, you're more likely to appeal to more women than a minority. And if you date outside of your race, the parents of your significant other are more likely be more accepting of you than someone who is black. If you were accepted to a prestigious university or received a job offer for a lucrative position, you wouldn't have to endure people questioning your abilities and whispering "He's only here because of affirmative action." I've experienced this despite scoring above the mean in all relevant categories. If you want a recent example of this type of behavior on HackerNews, look here and ctrl-f for gydfi: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13779165 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13779165 > "Yup, you get the job because of your skin color and your genitals". I don't think anyone has ever said this specifically. I believe that you're falling into the same trap as the individual that I pointed out above, assuming that you are at a disadvantage for a job because you don't get extra consideration for being a woman or a minority. There is no advantage. In fact, it is still a disadvantage. Even in Silicon Valley, a woman gets paid less for doing the same work as their male colleagues. If you want a recent example, look at the revelations coming out of the sinking ship that is Uber. That not withstanding, In my experience as part of the team that does hiring where I work (tech company), I find other members show a bias for those who resemble their culture, that culture being people familiar with dank memes and who play video games. They don't realize that when choosing their preferred candidate that they have a preference. It doesn't mean they are racist, sexist, etc. It just means that they have a cognitive bias that they may not be aware of. > Yet people are happy to claim that there's some kind of conspiracy to keep another race in power. I dunno... I've never been contacted and asked to join the conspiracy. It's not a conspiracy headed by some cartoonish, mustache twirling villain. It is just the historical remnant of a time when the social order was segregated by race. Just because the civil rights act was passed in the 1960's does not magically wash away the effects of institutionalized racism. Institutions take time to change. It's certainly better than it was, but it's not perfect.

thelock85 10y ago

Racism and sexism are by default perpetuated by the oppressive group, especially at an institutional level (I'm not so arrogant to delve into other's individual issues). Yes, people of color can be color-biased and women can be gender-biased, but I think it's exceptional see a person of color or woman using their status within a system to subjugate a white man in America. For every verifiable example where that's true there are disproportionately more examples white men subjugating women and people of color (intentionally/maliciously or not) simply because of privilege granted by the racist/sexist system. As a black man, I imagine that's difficult for a white person to take in without getting defensive, but there are literally powerful white men on the record throughout our country's existence stating that the system was built for white men.

adekok 10y ago
> Racism and sexism are by default perpetuated by the oppressive group, especially at an institutional level So... which sex is more likely to be arrested, charged, convicted, sentenced to prison time, and less likely to be let out on parole? I'll give you a hint. It's not women. And what is larger? Race differences in sentencing? Or sex differences? Hint: One is larger than the other by about a factor of six. And which sex is more likely to die on the job? By about a factor of 20... If find the whole notion of "patriarchy" to be bizarre. It is either a pretty much a tautology (most of the people in power are men), or a conspiracy theory that would make 9/11 truthers blush with embarrassment. i.e. "Patriarchy is a system where men rule the world for their own benefit". Uh... right. Where 95% of workplace deaths are male. Where 99% of war deaths are male. Where 3/4 of suicides are male. Where the criminal courts treat men many times worse than women. Where the family courts treat men like scum who deserve to pay and never see their kids. Really? If that's a system run for the sole benefit of men, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you. > I think it's exceptional see a person of color or woman using their status within a system to subjugate a white man in America Largely because they don't have power. That's statistics, not "one race is better than another". A simpler statement is to say "people in power tend to abuse the people who don't have power." That happens everywhere. It's human nature. > simply because of privilege granted by the racist/sexist system So.. Bill Gates treats me well because we're both white males? I don't think so. > As a black man, I imagine that's difficult for a white person to take in without getting defensive, As a man, you should be well aware the the largest oppression you face is not because you're black, but because you're male. > but there are literally powerful white men on the record throughout our country's existence stating that the system was built for white men. So? There are many people saying many delusional things. That doesn't mean they're true. I think you're also missing a key point here. The system is run by RICH people who run it for their friends and relatives. As the son of penniless immigrants, I have no more hope of getting into that power structure than you do.