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What explains this obsession with engaging in mental gymnastics just to call oneself “marginalized”? Is it to explain away shortcomings? Seek reparations? The

What explains this obsession with engaging in mental gymnastics just to call oneself “marginalized”? Is it to explain away shortcomings? Seek reparations? The feeling of being part of a group? Or simply attention seeking?

danaris 5y ago
I'm not trying to call myself marginalized. I am a cisgender straight white man. Referring to marginalized groups is recognizing the very clear fact that certain groups of people have been historically, and still are, treated less well than those considered the "default" in-group due to aspects of themselves that are outside of their control. The purpose is to become mindful of the biases that has introduced to our society, both conscious and subconscious, and do our best to consciously take those into account to counteract them. ...So let me ask you: What explains this obsession with engaging in mental gymnastics just to avoid calling people "marginalized"? Is it to avoid having to change the way one thinks? Hold onto a perceived position of high status? The feeling of being part of a superior group? Or simply attention seeking?
- bequanna 5y ago
  > What explains this obsession with engaging in mental gymnastics just to avoid calling people "marginalized"? Because I feel no need to bring nonsense labels and politics into an environment that should be a straight up meritocracy. This is more often than not just an excuse for someone to prove “what a great guy” he is. Nothing more. There is almost no value to the discussion except for self satisfaction gained by the “white knights”/“white saviors”. I expect people to go to work to work, not to try to gain cool points for being so woke. I have direct reports that are culturally, racially, blah blah blah very different from me. That comes up in our organization exactly never because it doesn’t matter. We hire people that demonstrate they will be successful and fire people that aren’t. Expect special treatment because of some real or imagined injustice in the past? Please go somewhere else that is happy to make virtual signaling part of their PR strategy.

danaris 5y ago

I'm not trying to call myself marginalized. I am a cisgender straight white man. Referring to marginalized groups is recognizing the very clear fact that certain groups of people have been historically, and still are, treated less well than those considered the "default" in-group due to aspects of themselves that are outside of their control. The purpose is to become mindful of the biases that has introduced to our society, both conscious and subconscious, and do our best to consciously take those into account to counteract them. ...So let me ask you: What explains this obsession with engaging in mental gymnastics just to avoid calling people "marginalized"? Is it to avoid having to change the way one thinks? Hold onto a perceived position of high status? The feeling of being part of a superior group? Or simply attention seeking?

bequanna 5y ago
> What explains this obsession with engaging in mental gymnastics just to avoid calling people "marginalized"? Because I feel no need to bring nonsense labels and politics into an environment that should be a straight up meritocracy. This is more often than not just an excuse for someone to prove “what a great guy” he is. Nothing more. There is almost no value to the discussion except for self satisfaction gained by the “white knights”/“white saviors”. I expect people to go to work to work, not to try to gain cool points for being so woke. I have direct reports that are culturally, racially, blah blah blah very different from me. That comes up in our organization exactly never because it doesn’t matter. We hire people that demonstrate they will be successful and fire people that aren’t. Expect special treatment because of some real or imagined injustice in the past? Please go somewhere else that is happy to make virtual signaling part of their PR strategy.