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For everyone arguing "honest mistake" or "just chance", think about the person at the receiving end. For the person making that mistake, it could be their first
by darth_avocado 6y ago
For everyone arguing "honest mistake" or "just chance", think about the person at the receiving end. For the person making that mistake, it could be their first, but for the person at the receiving end it could be the hundredth, and that too, not without consequences. The first 3-4 times I got "randomly selected" for additional screening at the airport, I was like whatever. But years later after my probably 100th "random selection", I am mostly just upset. Watching traveler after traveler go around you, staring at you, while you're being subjected to additional search, your baggage laid out open in front of everyone, while being asked questions like "have you recently been in contact with any chemicals?" and so on. It is humiliating. And this is just one aspect of their life. Imagine having to face "honest mistakes" everyday in all kinds of different aspects of your life.
- DenisM 6y agoHave you tried applying for Global Entry? That may end your torment. Just a thought.
- charlesu 6y agoSo he should pay to be treated with dignity at the airport?
- AaronFriel 6y agoThere is sadly nothing more American.
- newen 6y agoIf I could pay some money to not be subjected to that, I would do it instead of waiting for systemic racism to end.
- sfj 6y agoDid you ever think it might be the way you dress or your demeanor? Obviously, it could be racial also, but how could you know that?
- gowld 6y agoWhy would that matter?
- sfj 6y agoIsn't the implied assumption that he is being treated that way simply because he's black?
- isatty 6y agoHis clothes or demeanor can’t possible be the same for n > 100, but his race sure is. Let’s face it, the TSA blatantly discriminates against race and it’s not a secret.
- sfj 6y agoAssuming it is race, do you really think the whole TSA does? Wouldn't it have to be codified in order for them to do so? I think it would probably be more likely a few racist employees he unfortunately has to deal with.
- Kiro 6y agoOh, but it can. I used to have dreadlocks and wear saggy clothes and I was randomly selected each and every time.
- titzer 6y agoYou are being downvoted because this is a soft form of victim blaming [1]. As tone and context are difficult to transmit in such a short reply, it might be a good idea to phrase things in a more empathetic way in the future. And for the record, no, no this isn't because of how they dress. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victim_blaming https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victim_blaming
- sfj 6y agoI disagree with the premise of “victim blaming”. If we can't look at all sides of an issue for fear of being publicly shamed for going against a narrative, we'll end up with wrong conclusions a lot of the time. I did acknowledge racism could also play a part, but I don't see how we are supposed to be able to accept that one can read the minds of those that affront him. I also don't give a damn about the “monkey no like, hit 'you are bad' button” people seem to care about.
- s1artibartfast 6y ago>It is humiliating This is a common theme in a number of stories in this thread that I don't understand. How and why does being a victim of racism translate into shame? When I am subject to injustice, my emotional reaction has always been fury and frustration.
- lawn 6y agoI imagine the feeling of humiliation is a normal human reaction, no matter if the cause is racism, domestic abuse, rape or what have you. The first few times it happens you might get angry, but when it's the 100th time you'll instead feel tired, sad and humiliated.
- s1artibartfast 6y agoI understand sad and tired, but still not humiliation/shame. Is it because the recipient is warn down starting to internalize the narrative of the aggressor?
- calf 6y agoBecause fury and frustration requires energy.
- s1artibartfast 6y agoThen why feel shame opposed to nothing?
- darth_avocado 6y agoHave you truly ever felt nothing in your life?
- darth_avocado 6y agoFury and frustration are part of the experience, but that doesn't exclude humiliation. From a quick Wikipedia search: "It is an emotion felt by a person whose social status, either by force or willingly, has just decreased."