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A new invention of the SJW community. "The term “microaggression” was used by Columbia professor Derald Sue to refer to “brief and commonplace daily verbal, be

A new invention of the SJW community. "The term “microaggression” was used by Columbia professor Derald Sue to refer to “brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults toward people of color.”" Like when they say white male. Oh, nevermind that does not qualify because it is against whites and males, so it is ok. Sorry a little confusing here... :)

jakub_h 11y ago
On a near-noise level, virtually all conversation or interaction can and mostly does contain shades of meaning expressing things that when verbalized explicitly would be considered rude or inappropriate. From that POV, the term appears meaningless or redundant. Otherwise we'd communicate like Vulcans. EDIT: I find it also peculiar that the explanation you've cited only mentions "racial slights", despite neither "micro-" nor "-aggression" containing this meaning. But it's comforting to know that one is at least safe from committing such things across all the other social boundaries! /s
- istvan__ 11y ago
  It is kind of sad that these things are getting traction in the society, even on HN, see how they are downvoting us without any comment.
  - pessimizer 11y ago
    > Like when they say white male. Oh, nevermind that does not qualify because it is against whites and males, so it is ok. The kindest way to interpret this is that it is your opinion, and if it is, it is wrong. It is not ok to harass white males for being white males. A more likely way to interpret it is that you're putting words into other people's mouths, then sneering at those words. I feel like this is obvious enough that it's not worth commenting about. Do these wasted words qualify me to downvote you?
- kazinator 11y ago
  Is that a fresh summer breeze blowing through my hair? Or is it a sinister micro-hurricane?
chongli 11y ago
The difference is that white males are rarely a minority in their schools and workplaces. So no, it's not just small expressions or aggressions, there's an overarching social-structural context.
- istvan__ 11y ago
  You say in Africa where black are majority it is ok to be racist against them? Your logic is so broken I don't even know where to start.
  - deleted 11y ago
    [deleted]
    - istvan__ 11y ago
      But your logic suggests that racism is not the dictionary definition but it has to do who is in minority or who is in majority. That is wrong. The definition "the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races." Until you change it in the dictionary this will be the definition and it has nothing to do with who is in majority and your "social constructs".
      - deleted 11y ago
        [deleted]
      - codygman 11y ago
        I prefer to go by this definition of racism: "Racism, however, describes patterns of discrimination that are institutionalized as “normal” throughout an entire culture. It’s based on an ideological belief that one “race” is somehow better than another “race”. It’s not one person discriminating at this point, but a whole population operating in a social structure that actually makes it difficult for a person not to discriminate." Racial slurs not backed by institutionalized racism are just laughable. For instance if someone called me "Cracker" I'd laugh about it since there isn't a huge past history of people lynching, raping, and harming my race while they chant "Cracker". You can't say the same about the N-word however. 0: http://racismschool.tumblr.com/Racism:Definitions http://racismschool.tumblr.com/Racism:Definitions
codygman 11y ago
Anecdotally speaking I used to think microaggressions were utter BS. Then I got into an interracial relationship (I'm white, she's black) and the way I was treated when with my girlfriend and alone were very noticeably different. I noticed being physically tired after going somewhere with my girlfriend as well as many looks, weird tones people took with me I'd never experienced, and generally ruder people. > Like when they say white male. Oh, nevermind that does not qualify because it is against whites and males, so it is ok. Sorry a little confusing here... :) I experienced microagressions as a result of being in a relationship with a black female, so it is possible.

jakub_h 11y ago

On a near-noise level, virtually all conversation or interaction can and mostly does contain shades of meaning expressing things that when verbalized explicitly would be considered rude or inappropriate. From that POV, the term appears meaningless or redundant. Otherwise we'd communicate like Vulcans. EDIT: I find it also peculiar that the explanation you've cited only mentions "racial slights", despite neither "micro-" nor "-aggression" containing this meaning. But it's comforting to know that one is at least safe from committing such things across all the other social boundaries! /s

istvan__ 11y ago
It is kind of sad that these things are getting traction in the society, even on HN, see how they are downvoting us without any comment.
- pessimizer 11y ago
  > Like when they say white male. Oh, nevermind that does not qualify because it is against whites and males, so it is ok. The kindest way to interpret this is that it is your opinion, and if it is, it is wrong. It is not ok to harass white males for being white males. A more likely way to interpret it is that you're putting words into other people's mouths, then sneering at those words. I feel like this is obvious enough that it's not worth commenting about. Do these wasted words qualify me to downvote you?
kazinator 11y ago
Is that a fresh summer breeze blowing through my hair? Or is it a sinister micro-hurricane?

chongli 11y ago

The difference is that white males are rarely a minority in their schools and workplaces. So no, it's not just small expressions or aggressions, there's an overarching social-structural context.

istvan__ 11y ago
You say in Africa where black are majority it is ok to be racist against them? Your logic is so broken I don't even know where to start.
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
  - istvan__ 11y ago
    But your logic suggests that racism is not the dictionary definition but it has to do who is in minority or who is in majority. That is wrong. The definition "the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races." Until you change it in the dictionary this will be the definition and it has nothing to do with who is in majority and your "social constructs".
    - deleted 11y ago
      [deleted]
    - codygman 11y ago
      I prefer to go by this definition of racism: "Racism, however, describes patterns of discrimination that are institutionalized as “normal” throughout an entire culture. It’s based on an ideological belief that one “race” is somehow better than another “race”. It’s not one person discriminating at this point, but a whole population operating in a social structure that actually makes it difficult for a person not to discriminate." Racial slurs not backed by institutionalized racism are just laughable. For instance if someone called me "Cracker" I'd laugh about it since there isn't a huge past history of people lynching, raping, and harming my race while they chant "Cracker". You can't say the same about the N-word however. 0: http://racismschool.tumblr.com/Racism:Definitions http://racismschool.tumblr.com/Racism:Definitions

codygman 11y ago

Anecdotally speaking I used to think microaggressions were utter BS. Then I got into an interracial relationship (I'm white, she's black) and the way I was treated when with my girlfriend and alone were very noticeably different. I noticed being physically tired after going somewhere with my girlfriend as well as many looks, weird tones people took with me I'd never experienced, and generally ruder people. > Like when they say white male. Oh, nevermind that does not qualify because it is against whites and males, so it is ok. Sorry a little confusing here... :) I experienced microagressions as a result of being in a relationship with a black female, so it is possible.