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> If someone tries to dismiss an opinion by calling someone a "privileged white male" how would that be any better than dismissing someone's opinion for being b

> If someone tries to dismiss an opinion by calling someone a "privileged white male" how would that be any better than dismissing someone's opinion for being black? Context matters... if you are in the position of privilege and saying things that you can only say because of your position. Then I can see why some people would dismiss it. The difference is: if you try to dismiss someone in a minority position for saying things that would be okay to say in a privileged position. Then you are just doubling down on that privilege. This isn't about "white privilege" vs "black privilege" this about privilege in general. Really empathy is the answer and understanding where they are coming from will help you not inadvertently offend them.

ttt0 6y ago
Not in this context. When "let's not base our judgements on race" is responded with "you're a privileged white male", we're never going to reach any agreement. It's simply not going to happen.
- Fogest 6y ago
  Yeah this is exactly the kind of idea I am getting at. How can someone ever try and understand other peoples point of view if they are told "you don't understand" anytime they try and understand. Whenever my opinion is dismissed using my race/gender/or perceived privilege it instantly creates divide. It naturally is going to make me feel more correct in my views and more correct avoiding those kinds of people. This is exactly why we see such a huge divide now in America. People are unable to discuss stuff. And this is also probably partially due to the fact that often times people don't actually have any stats to back up what they think. Often times people are just following trends now and copying what their favourite woke influencer does. I find little people I engage with actually grasp what they are talking about and just regurgitate the same lines over and over. I've got to the point where I barely ever comment on any political sounding reddit post because I know the conversation is going to go nowhere and be filled with name-calling. And I hate that I feel like this. I want to be able to converse with people and try and understand their point of view. But unfortunately I just feel constantly attacked. Hell I mod a couple subs over there. If I make a comment that sounds conservative leaning upset banned users will go post it on subs I mod on acting like I am a "racist mod". Now I have to delete my reddit history often and use alts a lot more. Nowadays you can barely say anything without offending someone.
Fogest 6y ago
Then why would race be relevant? Why would someone not just say "you're too privileged to understand"? Why would they instead say "you're just a privileged white male and don't understand"? I disagree with that logic you are using. Your logic seems racist to me. You are assuming a black person = less privileged and a white person = more privileged. I view both of these assumptions as racist. I think it is wrong to associate a race with a level or privilege. I think it is wrong to assume someone's race, gender, and level of privilege due to a view someone holds. I think it is even more wrong to then use someone's race and gender to dismiss their points. If someone is having a discussion what positive effect would calling someone those derogatory (and in my opinion: racist) terms be helpful? It's not going to make me see their point of view. No matter how good of a rebuttal and explanation they may have had for me I am no longer going to care. Once someone is making assumptions and calling you names the whole conversation loses substance and value. This kind of bullshit just continues to propagate further divide and hatred between races. I think it is perfectly valid to think that maybe someone holds a viewpoint because of their status in life. But I don't think that is a valid reason to attack them. I would rather look at that as an opportunity to exchange views and have a conversation. But unfortunately especially on sites like Reddit I no longer am able to do that. I used to be able to, but now anytime I have a view that is slightly conservative leaning I am called names or called racist. And what's ironic is that I really couldn't give a shit about political sides or parties. I have a lot of views that would be classed as pretty "liberal" while I also have a lot of views that would be classed as pretty "conservative". For some reason there always has to be a divide. It always has to be an Us versus Them mentality. So people will assume status, race, gender in order to create an imaginary enemy and destroy any conversation that could be had. Whether you think someone's viewpoint is something typical of a "privileged white male" is not relevant to almost any conversation. If someone gives me a recipe online I don't assume they are a chef. Nor do I assume they don't know what they are talking about if they are not a chef. Someone being white or a male doesn't imply they are privileged. They may have had a harder life than most black people. I don't like using a stereotype to dismiss what someone else has to say. I think it is incredibly toxic and creates further hatred and divide. Nobody will ever understand the other "side" if they are viewed like an enemy they can't talk to.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]

ttt0 6y ago

Not in this context. When "let's not base our judgements on race" is responded with "you're a privileged white male", we're never going to reach any agreement. It's simply not going to happen.

Fogest 6y ago
Yeah this is exactly the kind of idea I am getting at. How can someone ever try and understand other peoples point of view if they are told "you don't understand" anytime they try and understand. Whenever my opinion is dismissed using my race/gender/or perceived privilege it instantly creates divide. It naturally is going to make me feel more correct in my views and more correct avoiding those kinds of people. This is exactly why we see such a huge divide now in America. People are unable to discuss stuff. And this is also probably partially due to the fact that often times people don't actually have any stats to back up what they think. Often times people are just following trends now and copying what their favourite woke influencer does. I find little people I engage with actually grasp what they are talking about and just regurgitate the same lines over and over. I've got to the point where I barely ever comment on any political sounding reddit post because I know the conversation is going to go nowhere and be filled with name-calling. And I hate that I feel like this. I want to be able to converse with people and try and understand their point of view. But unfortunately I just feel constantly attacked. Hell I mod a couple subs over there. If I make a comment that sounds conservative leaning upset banned users will go post it on subs I mod on acting like I am a "racist mod". Now I have to delete my reddit history often and use alts a lot more. Nowadays you can barely say anything without offending someone.

Fogest 6y ago

Then why would race be relevant? Why would someone not just say "you're too privileged to understand"? Why would they instead say "you're just a privileged white male and don't understand"? I disagree with that logic you are using. Your logic seems racist to me. You are assuming a black person = less privileged and a white person = more privileged. I view both of these assumptions as racist. I think it is wrong to associate a race with a level or privilege. I think it is wrong to assume someone's race, gender, and level of privilege due to a view someone holds. I think it is even more wrong to then use someone's race and gender to dismiss their points. If someone is having a discussion what positive effect would calling someone those derogatory (and in my opinion: racist) terms be helpful? It's not going to make me see their point of view. No matter how good of a rebuttal and explanation they may have had for me I am no longer going to care. Once someone is making assumptions and calling you names the whole conversation loses substance and value. This kind of bullshit just continues to propagate further divide and hatred between races. I think it is perfectly valid to think that maybe someone holds a viewpoint because of their status in life. But I don't think that is a valid reason to attack them. I would rather look at that as an opportunity to exchange views and have a conversation. But unfortunately especially on sites like Reddit I no longer am able to do that. I used to be able to, but now anytime I have a view that is slightly conservative leaning I am called names or called racist. And what's ironic is that I really couldn't give a shit about political sides or parties. I have a lot of views that would be classed as pretty "liberal" while I also have a lot of views that would be classed as pretty "conservative". For some reason there always has to be a divide. It always has to be an Us versus Them mentality. So people will assume status, race, gender in order to create an imaginary enemy and destroy any conversation that could be had. Whether you think someone's viewpoint is something typical of a "privileged white male" is not relevant to almost any conversation. If someone gives me a recipe online I don't assume they are a chef. Nor do I assume they don't know what they are talking about if they are not a chef. Someone being white or a male doesn't imply they are privileged. They may have had a harder life than most black people. I don't like using a stereotype to dismiss what someone else has to say. I think it is incredibly toxic and creates further hatred and divide. Nobody will ever understand the other "side" if they are viewed like an enemy they can't talk to.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]