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Interesting this points out "safe spaces" as part of the infantilzation, when in fact it seems that safe spaces are one of the few things that counter infantili
by jeromebaek 8y ago
Interesting this points out "safe spaces" as part of the infantilzation, when in fact it seems that safe spaces are one of the few things that counter infantilization of Western culture.
In my opinion, the primary reason Western culture infantilizes itself is because it refuses to address racism in any serious way. Rather, Western culture insists on looking the other way, insisting that it is not racist, that racism no longer exists, and so on. Read the book, White Fragility (or just read the New Yorker article here, https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/a-sociologist-examines-the-white-fragility-that-prevents-white-americans-from-confronting-racism https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/a-sociologist-ex...).
Here's a thought. Suppose, just for a second, that racism is, in fact, cruel, absurd, and has no basis in science whatsoever, pseudointellectuals like Sam Harris notwithstanding. (Some of you will have to take quite a leap of faith to suppose this seriously; others, not so much.) If someone avoids something cruel and absurd, what happens to this person? If a traumatized person -- and racism, to all colors including white, is cruel, absurd, and traumatizing -- does not address their trauma, what happens?
The person regresses.
It is very simple psychology, and I cannot believe this great country of innovators and geniuses have still failed to understand this.
- dba7dba 8y agoWestern culture is not the only culture that has racism or issues with racism. I've been called chink by an old grizzled Mexican-American (I think?, not sure). Various Asian cultures have been accused of having racist views. Even against other Asian cultures, like Japanese against Chinese or Chinese against Japanese...
- jack9 8y agoChinese v Singaporean, Spanish v Mexican, it goes on. The belief that abuse occurs is intolerable (no compromise) is just lowering the bar as to who controls what is said and how.
- jack9 8y ago> in fact it seems that safe spaces are one of the few things that counter infantilization of Western culture How is that fact? De facto pronouncing adults unable to deal with reality and/or speech wherein they need to be protected by institution, is infantile. That's why we put children in schools or under guardian care.
- sadamznintern 8y agoLol, it’s not that adults can’t handle it it’s a way of saying adults don’t want to handle the bullshit of juvenile provocateurs
- toasterlovin 8y agoSome counterpoints: 1. Being accused of being a racist can be a career ending event. If you’re a public person, this scarlet letter will follow you for the rest of your life. 2. If you actually go to lower income areas, there is a lot of mingling between the races. In my neighborhood there are Asians, blacks, working class whites, Latinos, etc. We don’t all hang out, but we get along. Meanwhile: 1. It is perfectly acceptable to espouse racist views in public, but only against whites. 2. There is legal discrimination based on race in the United States, but only against whites and Asians. So, while I agree that racism exists, you’ll have to forgive me for not thinking it’s the huge boogeyman you think it is.