5 ms·

It's almost as if we're all individuals, generalizations be damned.

by loopz 6y ago

Viliam1234 6y ago
Well, intersectionality doesn't go that far. First, not every difference counts as oppression. What does, that depends on... what the woke people agree on today (which may differ from what they agreed on yesterday or tomorrow). Race, gender, sexual orientation = yes. Being left-handed, or being poor = no. Being a demisexual, or otherkin = depends on whom you ask; probably yes in college, but no anywhere else. Disability = generally yes, but not autism, because reasons. It's complicated. So there are N categories, and 2^N groups. Within each group, people are considered the same. For example, all black straight able-bodied etc women, whether they are millionaires or homeless, are considered to have the same experience.
- loopz 6y ago
  I surmised as much. Favouritism is another word for the same. The problem with intellect is its need for reductionism. I understand there are strong feelings "supporting" the narratives as well, even if they don't really generalize to everyone. The Middle Way looks more attractive than ever.
- novia 6y ago
  > Being left-handed, or being poor = no That's not true. Intersectionality takes those things into account, it's just that in US law those traits are not illegal to use discriminately. They should be, but they're not protected classes. > Disability = generally yes, but not autism, because reasons. That's also not true, being neurotypical is acknowledged as a factor that makes your life easier. Since autism is included in the definition of disability under US law, it is also a protected class.
  - Viliam1234 6y ago
    I was trying to describe intersectionalism, not the US law. I have never seen anyone targeted by an online mob just because they said something bad about left-handed people. I am not aware of people being extra careful lest they accidentally offend someone left-handed. Maybe that's just my bubble. Among the woke people, discussions of poverty are always framed in context of some discriminated group. Like, you can talk about the poverty of women, or poverty of black people. But you don't talk about poverty of poor people in general. Poverty is considered a bad thing that happens to oppressed people, but it is not a thing that makes one oppressed. No one cares about a homeless cishet white male... unless you say he probably has some mental problem, in which case it becomes an example of ableist oppression. This is the reason why hardcore Marxists (such as Zizek) complain when people say that social justice warriors are Marxists. Marxism is about class conflict. Intersectionalism is about all kinds of conflicts... except for the class conflict! Intersectionalism is about having more female CEOs, more gay CEOs, more transsexual CEOs. Marxism is about eliminating the CEOs. To put it bluntly, intersectionalism is about things that can also happen to rich kids. The problem with autism is that people on autistic spectrum are often quite bad at social skills... such as political correctness (think: James Damore). Which makes them unpopular among the woke people.
rswskg 6y ago
If only!

It's almost as if we're all individuals, generalizations be damned.

by loopz 6y ago

It's almost as if we're all individuals, generalizations be damned.

Well, intersectionality doesn't go that far. First, not every difference counts as oppression. What does, that depends on... what the woke people agree on today (which may differ from what they agreed on yesterday or tomorrow). Race, gender, sexual orientation = yes. Being left-handed, or being poor = no. Being a demisexual, or otherkin = depends on whom you ask; probably yes in college, but no anywhere else. Disability = generally yes, but not autism, because reasons. It's complicated. So there are N categories, and 2^N groups. Within each group, people are considered the same. For example, all black straight able-bodied etc women, whether they are millionaires or homeless, are considered to have the same experience.

loopz 6y ago
I surmised as much. Favouritism is another word for the same. The problem with intellect is its need for reductionism. I understand there are strong feelings "supporting" the narratives as well, even if they don't really generalize to everyone. The Middle Way looks more attractive than ever.
novia 6y ago
> Being left-handed, or being poor = no That's not true. Intersectionality takes those things into account, it's just that in US law those traits are not illegal to use discriminately. They should be, but they're not protected classes. > Disability = generally yes, but not autism, because reasons. That's also not true, being neurotypical is acknowledged as a factor that makes your life easier. Since autism is included in the definition of disability under US law, it is also a protected class.
- Viliam1234 6y ago
  I was trying to describe intersectionalism, not the US law. I have never seen anyone targeted by an online mob just because they said something bad about left-handed people. I am not aware of people being extra careful lest they accidentally offend someone left-handed. Maybe that's just my bubble. Among the woke people, discussions of poverty are always framed in context of some discriminated group. Like, you can talk about the poverty of women, or poverty of black people. But you don't talk about poverty of poor people in general. Poverty is considered a bad thing that happens to oppressed people, but it is not a thing that makes one oppressed. No one cares about a homeless cishet white male... unless you say he probably has some mental problem, in which case it becomes an example of ableist oppression. This is the reason why hardcore Marxists (such as Zizek) complain when people say that social justice warriors are Marxists. Marxism is about class conflict. Intersectionalism is about all kinds of conflicts... except for the class conflict! Intersectionalism is about having more female CEOs, more gay CEOs, more transsexual CEOs. Marxism is about eliminating the CEOs. To put it bluntly, intersectionalism is about things that can also happen to rich kids. The problem with autism is that people on autistic spectrum are often quite bad at social skills... such as political correctness (think: James Damore). Which makes them unpopular among the woke people.

rswskg 6y ago

If only!