3 ms·

"""People who fly an American flag from their pickup; but park that pickup under a Confederate flag are traitors. And should be put down like rabid dogs.""" -

by olefoo 8y ago

"""People who fly an American flag from their pickup; but park that pickup under a Confederate flag are traitors. And should be put down like rabid dogs.""" - Diogenes Might be a sentiment I agree with, but is not one I would express openly without a certain rhetorical distancing for fear of the retaliation that would be attached. Opinion based violence is a thing. Check your privilege levels; what opinions would people feel unsafe expressing in your vicinity?

subjectsigma 8y ago
>Check your privilege levels; what opinions would people feel unsafe expressing in your vicinity? This is a new and perverse way of thinking about "privilege" that I've never seen before. I am someone that certain people would consider "privileged" and I've never had anyone ask me that question. (Guess my background.) There's plenty of opinions that I would fear expressing based on my circumstances, things I only talk about with very close friends. And legitimate fears - being fired or evicted. To me, it seems like people who talk about "privelege", especially "white privilege", sometimes over-estimate how far that takes one (he's literally immune to self-censorship!!1!). Maybe some are, but I really doubt it.
- olefoo 8y ago
  Privilege is always a matter of context and a consequence of the power you can or could exert over those around you. Becoming aware of the privilege you hold gives you all sorts of insight into how the world around you really functions. That insight does not unfortunately; have a moral valence. There are plenty of people who use their insight into the exercise of social power purely for self-interested gain. They can do enormous damage to the organizations that allow such people to accrue power if their self-interest differs from the organizations intended goals.

3 ms·

"""People who fly an American flag from their pickup; but park that pickup under a Confederate flag are traitors. And should be put down like rabid dogs.""" -

by olefoo 8y ago

subjectsigma 8y ago
>Check your privilege levels; what opinions would people feel unsafe expressing in your vicinity? This is a new and perverse way of thinking about "privilege" that I've never seen before. I am someone that certain people would consider "privileged" and I've never had anyone ask me that question. (Guess my background.) There's plenty of opinions that I would fear expressing based on my circumstances, things I only talk about with very close friends. And legitimate fears - being fired or evicted. To me, it seems like people who talk about "privelege", especially "white privilege", sometimes over-estimate how far that takes one (he's literally immune to self-censorship!!1!). Maybe some are, but I really doubt it.
- olefoo 8y ago
  Privilege is always a matter of context and a consequence of the power you can or could exert over those around you. Becoming aware of the privilege you hold gives you all sorts of insight into how the world around you really functions. That insight does not unfortunately; have a moral valence. There are plenty of people who use their insight into the exercise of social power purely for self-interested gain. They can do enormous damage to the organizations that allow such people to accrue power if their self-interest differs from the organizations intended goals.