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A couple other commenters have mentioned this but in case the author is reading I want to emphasize the importance of winning the rhetorical war before you proc
by iandanforth 14y ago
A couple other commenters have mentioned this but in case the author is reading I want to emphasize the importance of winning the rhetorical war before you proceed to fight the fight you actually care about.
As with any story a reader wants to like the characters they are reading about. It's hard to like someone who is constantly angry, depressed, sarcastic, and bitter. You, as a person may feel these things, and be completely correct to feel them, however you make it hard to read your story without a contrast. For example, "I love games" or "I love the way I feel in Oakland" or "I am so proud of my necklace I don't care what others think." People can empathize with pain, but they also need joy, hope, and a reason to like you.
Another way to win the rhetorical battle is to use humor. Your reactions to the abuse are shock, horror, rage, and sarcasm. Feel free to interject a joke or two. In ten years you will be telling jokes about these ignorant people. Make them into caricatures, lampoon them, exaggerate their folly so that people will not just be angry at them on your behalf but seem them as an absurd throwback to a time you wish had passed.
Tell a story that demonstrates the moral high ground. What I remember from your post is that you tried to say something, gave up, then went home, got high and watched Netflix. People want to be inspired to take action, and if you have a story, even if it means talking to HR, that is incredibly powerful. How does your behavior model an appropriate response for others who might be in your shoes? A lawsuit may be appropriate, but from reading your story it seems like a dramatic escalation, you need to lead people into it.
I can't say I understand what you're going through, but I do support your effort and I'm disgusted on behalf of white-straight-geeks everywhere. If an apology means anything I'm sorry you are going through this.
- rmc 14y agoThat's good advise for rhetorical speeches, but maybe he's just tired. Maybe he's been putting up with a stressful and hard-to-deal-with workplace and he's just had enough and he wants to vent.
- luchak 14y agoIf you sympathize with the author: do not post things like this. Listen to him. What makes you think you were the intended audience? What makes you think you know why he was writing? Do you see the irony in you trying to "educate" a black person on talking about racism? If you actually want to help, first listen.
- nollidge 14y agoSpeak for yourself. I want to hear his pain and frustration. I want to identify with his despair in the face of a type of idiocy I will never personally experience as a straight white cis male. I want to hear the shrill, flawed voice of melancholy. He's not MLK, Jr. He's a guy telling a personal story. The world needs a plurality of voices to advance; the despondent and downtrodden remind us where we are, and the transcendent and hopeful show us a way out.
- Detrus 14y agoWell obviously with 100+ upvotes the author is likable enough and didn't need to use slimy positivity or other tricks.