6 ms·

It isn't my argument, but as I try to understand all sides I'll do my best to explain the position anyway. The idea goes something like this. You have white pr

It isn't my argument, but as I try to understand all sides I'll do my best to explain the position anyway. The idea goes something like this. You have white privilege because you are visibly white. By being visibly white you gain an automatic differentiation from those who are non-white. The belief is that the system, being largely run by white people will extend courtesy and nicer treatment to those who look like it whilst those who differ in appearance must "earn" the position you are given by the elements of your birth. It's a bit more complicated than that but that's my understanding of the core of it. I am not trying to strawman the argument and if I have it wrong, please explain where I wandered off course.

golemiprague 5y ago
I don't think he argued that by being white he might have some advantages, although it can be argued especially these days. His point was that there are million of other parameters that can affect ones life experience, so why just one advantage in the skin colour department makes him priviliged when he had so many other disadvantages in other departments.
- metiscus 5y ago
  What I was explaining is my understanding of the point of view of the people who believe he does have privilege for his race. It is not my belief but I try to understand all sides of arguments and did my best to represent it. To continue, briefly. The difference between the various other types of benefits vs "whiteness" is twofold but interconnected. It is obvious who is and is not in the group and the group has institutional power. Most other sets of parameters do not work together in this way. Again this isn't my position so if it is yours and I've misrepresented it, chime in please.
  - golemiprague 5y ago
    I don't care whose position it is and I apreciate your effort to explain it, no need to apologise. Regarding the point itself, rich people or higher classes people as a group also have "institutional power", much more than white people as a group. It is pretty easy to differentiate people background after some sentences as the research shows. So the only difference between those two disadvantages is exchanging some words. Even if it is a significant difference, it still doesn't change or cancel other circumstances in a person life and doesn't make this difference overruling any other difference.
mythrwy 5y ago
`By being visibly white you gain an automatic differentiation from those who are non-white.` Thought experiment. Two crazy looking homeless people approach you yelling. They are dirty in ripped clothes and look to be high on strong drugs. One is black, one is white. Do you feel better about, or differentiate the white person because he is "your people"?
- Muromec 5y ago
  If you are a cop —- the answetis yes, yes of course.
- mjevans 5y ago
  There's probably an unconscious bias, but I'd still be fearful to some degree of both. Homelessness is a problem that must be solved at the highest possible level of government. Since the 'problem' is able to move around the entire country that is the only way to fairly have the collective whole (society) integrate and restore the individual in need to either being a productive member of society, or at least a dignified living solution for when medicine or some other aspect has failed. Seen in an even wider view, much of illegal immigration is quite likely driven by the homeless or persecuted ignoring the borders of nations that have failed them, as they seek the natural birth rights of anyone on their planet.
- ingleswood 5y ago
  That isn't a good thought experiment. Unconscious biases are likely to have much more effect in ambiguous situations where it's harder to try to understand someone's motivations or how to react, than in a situation where those things are clear. Their absence in the latter does not imply their absence in the former.
7129d71b 5y ago
you may find this interesting - https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/apr/20/the-invention-of-whiteness-long-history-dangerous-idea https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/apr/20/the-invention-o...

golemiprague 5y ago

I don't think he argued that by being white he might have some advantages, although it can be argued especially these days. His point was that there are million of other parameters that can affect ones life experience, so why just one advantage in the skin colour department makes him priviliged when he had so many other disadvantages in other departments.

metiscus 5y ago
What I was explaining is my understanding of the point of view of the people who believe he does have privilege for his race. It is not my belief but I try to understand all sides of arguments and did my best to represent it. To continue, briefly. The difference between the various other types of benefits vs "whiteness" is twofold but interconnected. It is obvious who is and is not in the group and the group has institutional power. Most other sets of parameters do not work together in this way. Again this isn't my position so if it is yours and I've misrepresented it, chime in please.
- golemiprague 5y ago
  I don't care whose position it is and I apreciate your effort to explain it, no need to apologise. Regarding the point itself, rich people or higher classes people as a group also have "institutional power", much more than white people as a group. It is pretty easy to differentiate people background after some sentences as the research shows. So the only difference between those two disadvantages is exchanging some words. Even if it is a significant difference, it still doesn't change or cancel other circumstances in a person life and doesn't make this difference overruling any other difference.

mythrwy 5y ago

`By being visibly white you gain an automatic differentiation from those who are non-white.` Thought experiment. Two crazy looking homeless people approach you yelling. They are dirty in ripped clothes and look to be high on strong drugs. One is black, one is white. Do you feel better about, or differentiate the white person because he is "your people"?

Muromec 5y ago
If you are a cop —- the answetis yes, yes of course.
mjevans 5y ago
There's probably an unconscious bias, but I'd still be fearful to some degree of both. Homelessness is a problem that must be solved at the highest possible level of government. Since the 'problem' is able to move around the entire country that is the only way to fairly have the collective whole (society) integrate and restore the individual in need to either being a productive member of society, or at least a dignified living solution for when medicine or some other aspect has failed. Seen in an even wider view, much of illegal immigration is quite likely driven by the homeless or persecuted ignoring the borders of nations that have failed them, as they seek the natural birth rights of anyone on their planet.
ingleswood 5y ago
That isn't a good thought experiment. Unconscious biases are likely to have much more effect in ambiguous situations where it's harder to try to understand someone's motivations or how to react, than in a situation where those things are clear. Their absence in the latter does not imply their absence in the former.

7129d71b 5y ago

you may find this interesting - https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/apr/20/the-invention-of-whiteness-long-history-dangerous-idea https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/apr/20/the-invention-o...