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It has nothing at all to do with guilt. Guilt is too strong of term. But it is very much used as a kind of penalty box, or way of distancing the receiver from

by vanusa 5y ago

It has nothing at all to do with guilt. Guilt is too strong of term. But it is very much used as a kind of penalty box, or way of distancing the receiver from the speaker. And as far as enlightening those who supposedly need uplifting to the higher, more evolved plane that the speaker inhabits -- it just doesn't do much.

borski 5y ago
I agree people often misuse it, in the same vein that people often misuse other “you are the other” type arguments like equating conservative with Trumper or liberal with “socialist” or pick your favorite. But it’s misuse shouldn’t change the meaning of its intent. At least I hope it doesn’t, because I believe there is still value in empathy.
- anamax 5y ago
  > But it’s misuse shouldn’t change the meaning of its intent. The use is the intent. And it's used as a weapon. Notice when it's used, and when it isn't. (You'd never say it to a black or brown person. Did I have "privilege" when I lived in a labor camp?) > At least I hope it doesn’t, because I believe there is still value in empathy. There is value in empathy, but "check your privilege" isn't empathy. You know nothing about my "privilege". You have no basis for telling me to "check my privilege" and saying that only proves that you not only have no empathy for me, you have no interest in me except to accomplish your political goals.
  - borski 5y ago
    I absolutely would, and have, said it to people of color when it applied. (Although, admittedly, I have never phrased it as “check your privilege” because of precisely this vitriolic response which defeats the purpose; I normally phrase it as a question about if any exists) I didn’t say anything about your privilege. Were I to, I would be asking. There is nothing here to be defensive about. I have no political goals here. We’re having a non-political discussion.
    - vanusa 5y ago
      "I absolutely have said it ... but actually I've never said it"? "This is not a political discussion" when in fact it's about one of the most hot-button political topics ever devised? I'm lost.
      - borski 5y ago
        Privilege as a concept, and acknowledging what privilege one has, is what we’re discussing. The particular phrasing is less important than the idea, and that appears to be the disconnect. Use whatever phrasing you want, and it doesn’t have to be politicized. But when describing an experience, and particularly when trying to provide advice to others to do similarly, or when trying to glean information from your experiences that might be applicable to others… yes, check your privilege to see how said privilege may not apply to others’ lives. That is all. What we’re discussing isn’t, at its core, a “hot-button political topic.” You are making it that.
        anamax 5y ago
        > That is all. What we’re discussing isn’t, at its core, a “hot-button political topic.” You are making it that. The phrase was invented as a political tool. Disagree? Provide cites. I'll start - https://checkyourprivilege.co/ https://checkyourprivilege.co/ , https://www.amazon.com/Check-Your-Privilege-Live-into/dp/0990522334 https://www.amazon.com/Check-Your-Privilege-Live-into/dp/099... , and https://www.amazon.com/Check-Your-Privilege-Lean-discomfort/dp/173523432X https://www.amazon.com/Check-Your-Privilege-Lean-discomfort/... .
        anamax 5y ago
        > But when describing an experience, and particularly when trying to provide advice to others to do similarly, or when trying to glean information from your experiences that might be applicable to others… yes, check your privilege to see how said privilege may not apply to others’ lives. I teach people how to do things and "privilege" doesn't come into it. It is neither necessary nor sufficient. There are always lots of folks with "privilege" yet the only thing that actually matters is whether you can do the work and actually do.

by vanusa 5y ago

borski 5y ago

I agree people often misuse it, in the same vein that people often misuse other “you are the other” type arguments like equating conservative with Trumper or liberal with “socialist” or pick your favorite. But it’s misuse shouldn’t change the meaning of its intent. At least I hope it doesn’t, because I believe there is still value in empathy.

anamax 5y ago
> But it’s misuse shouldn’t change the meaning of its intent. The use is the intent. And it's used as a weapon. Notice when it's used, and when it isn't. (You'd never say it to a black or brown person. Did I have "privilege" when I lived in a labor camp?) > At least I hope it doesn’t, because I believe there is still value in empathy. There is value in empathy, but "check your privilege" isn't empathy. You know nothing about my "privilege". You have no basis for telling me to "check my privilege" and saying that only proves that you not only have no empathy for me, you have no interest in me except to accomplish your political goals.
- borski 5y ago
  I absolutely would, and have, said it to people of color when it applied. (Although, admittedly, I have never phrased it as “check your privilege” because of precisely this vitriolic response which defeats the purpose; I normally phrase it as a question about if any exists) I didn’t say anything about your privilege. Were I to, I would be asking. There is nothing here to be defensive about. I have no political goals here. We’re having a non-political discussion.
  - vanusa 5y ago
    "I absolutely have said it ... but actually I've never said it"? "This is not a political discussion" when in fact it's about one of the most hot-button political topics ever devised? I'm lost.
    - borski 5y ago
      Privilege as a concept, and acknowledging what privilege one has, is what we’re discussing. The particular phrasing is less important than the idea, and that appears to be the disconnect. Use whatever phrasing you want, and it doesn’t have to be politicized. But when describing an experience, and particularly when trying to provide advice to others to do similarly, or when trying to glean information from your experiences that might be applicable to others… yes, check your privilege to see how said privilege may not apply to others’ lives. That is all. What we’re discussing isn’t, at its core, a “hot-button political topic.” You are making it that.
      - anamax 5y ago
        > That is all. What we’re discussing isn’t, at its core, a “hot-button political topic.” You are making it that. The phrase was invented as a political tool. Disagree? Provide cites. I'll start - https://checkyourprivilege.co/ https://checkyourprivilege.co/ , https://www.amazon.com/Check-Your-Privilege-Live-into/dp/0990522334 https://www.amazon.com/Check-Your-Privilege-Live-into/dp/099... , and https://www.amazon.com/Check-Your-Privilege-Lean-discomfort/dp/173523432X https://www.amazon.com/Check-Your-Privilege-Lean-discomfort/... .
      - anamax 5y ago
        > But when describing an experience, and particularly when trying to provide advice to others to do similarly, or when trying to glean information from your experiences that might be applicable to others… yes, check your privilege to see how said privilege may not apply to others’ lives. I teach people how to do things and "privilege" doesn't come into it. It is neither necessary nor sufficient. There are always lots of folks with "privilege" yet the only thing that actually matters is whether you can do the work and actually do.