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comment by _refugee_
_refugee_  ·  3122 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: When White Poets Pretend to be Asian

Guys! Look! An article about a white cis male co-opting 2 minority identities in one of a very few scenarios in which that co-opting might bring him an advantage becomes a "disappointing discussion" if you talk about how the guy's a white cis male!

In fact, it'd be better if I just used the article to drive "shameless self promotion" instead of discussing, you know, the whole reason why this co-opting is so problematic!

But you know what's better than paying attention to any of that, dawg?





user-inactivated  ·  3122 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Hey. Woah. Sorry. Things just got cranked up to 11 pretty quick so I thought I'd just post something cute.

_refugee_  ·  3122 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I get the sentiment. However, I don't want this conversation to become diffused via derailing.

The point of my last comment is a point I would've made to whoever happened to weigh in on this next - which is that somehow in the discussion of a white man co-opting minority identities when his white identity didn't do, in order to get what his white male self wanted (no matter what), it's "disappointing" to bring up that white male identity.

As far as opinions go, that one is richer and whiter than cheesecake, my favorite dessert.

I also won't have users "would-have-shared-but" thrown out there like they aren't intended to impact what I write or how I write it - as if there isn't an implied, "Next time, keep the white comments out of it, and I'll help you be a little more popular."

"Next time, keep the white comments out of it, and your post will deserve more attention."

__

So sure. Share your pictures of puppies. That's fine. But puppies aren't going to make me forget or let go of the fact that some internet rando thought that his disappointment and his lost share were significant enough to me, should be significant enough to me, that I should know about them, so that next time, I would sit down and stop talking like that.

Because those - the rando opinions of strangers - are things that should matter to me more than the issues I see in the article I posted . Clearly.

Killerhurtz  ·  3122 days ago  ·  link  ·  

It goes both ways, buddy. You can't expect anyone to think you matter when you can't make other people matter.

Also, funnily enough - how good is white privilege if he needed to use the visibility privilege of a minority to publish?

Seriously - this is less of a race issue than it is an issue of terrible publishing practices.

I'd be completely down with you if this were a post about how cultural differences negatively affected the african-american ghettos (even though I personally disagree with a lot of the ghetto culture). I'd be down with you if the post was about American consumerism being driven by sweatshops in oriental countries. Hell, I'd be right down there with you on the white privilege if this post was about American obesity. But no - this is just a single guy taking an identity that's not his to promote himself. As it stands, he's the one who ACTUALLY didn't have the privilege.

Equality works both ways. Just like on the Internet some people pretend to be a white cis male to avoid unsavory discussions, he used an asian female persona to increase visibility because people like YOU want these people to have increased visibility.

But if you're going to put under the "white cis patriarchy" umbrella everything that a white man does, I'm not going to promote your point of view. You're not entitled to anything.

I find it especially sad considering how you could have made a point about how, as your first paragraph seemed to steer towards, how nationality, sexual identity and all of these traits shouldn't matter in publications unless relevant. And yet it does, simply because some groups have worked to increase the visibility of some other groups. You've made a weapon out of minorities' identities - don't complain when it's used against you, and instead fight for true equality for all. Everyone has their issues, no matter how privileged they may seem - and claiming anything else is completely blind - especially considering that, in all technicalities, the most privileged people in the world are not caucasian.

_refugee_  ·  3122 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Is a poem being accepted for publication because you are believed to be a minority really, in any way, an advantage? A privilege?

Or is it an insult, which this man managed to take advantage of?

user-inactivated  ·  3122 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    (even though I personally disagree with a lot of the ghetto culture)

REF STOP IT'S NOT WORTH IT.

Meriadoc  ·  3122 days ago  ·  link  ·  

It's really amazing the number of people I've muted over the summer. I used to be so careful with it. Now it's me singing "fuck ooooooooff!" as soon as I get a whiff they're they're gonna go off about ghetto culture and "militative minorities" at some point in the future.

user-inactivated  ·  3122 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Yeah, there's not room for a trigger finger that isn't itchy, not anymore, lol. "Militant Minorities" is actually one of my new favorites. Like, straight up that is some Bill o'Rilley levels of bigot, bruh.

arguewithatree  ·  3122 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I just... Wow... Right??

user-inactivated  ·  3122 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Yeah I went full Civ Ghandi and swung around from anger to complete calm again. Just too satirical for my taste, not enough ignorance. I guess actual full-blown racism is easier to get over, lol.

Killerhurtz  ·  3122 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Yes, yes it is. And this man proves it - what if, instead of poems, it was a documentary about some point of view, or some other controversial work? Or even propaganda? He would get visibility while his "normal self" would not.

Visibility is powerful and nothing you can say can change that. And if you honestly believe that having higher visibility is an insult... I have nothing to say to this much delusion. Especially considering it wasn't SPONTANEOUS attention - as I said, people like you WORKED, FOUGHT for this much visibility. So does that mean you fought to insult yourself?

_refugee_  ·  3122 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    He would get visibility while his "normal self" would not.

Well, yes, and if you're a member of the Jersey Shore cast, then that'll be enough for you.

    Visibility is powerful and nothing you can say can change that.

Sure. But the visibility of a porn star is not the visibility of a politician? Would one want the other's? There's this thing called "reputational risk" that adults - I mean, sorry - business owners and people who work in businesses are aware of. It's the cost of lost business that negative publicivity can create. Are you saying visibility can't create negative publicity? All visibility is good? Tell that to Subway's Jared.

No woman or minority fights for the 'privilege' that lesser quality work will be lauded over better product simply for the country of the issuer's origin.

#fuckingrowupmang

Killerhurtz  ·  3122 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    Sure. But the visibility of a porn star is not the visibility of a politician?

Pornhub and Brazzers disagree.

Also, all visibility that's not critically bad is good. Jared cost Subway some reptutation. Rockstar paid money for GTA to have "bad visibility" and it increased sales.

And no, they're not - at least most of them - but they ARE, however, try to pass off as incredibly discriminated against and victimized most of the time.

user-inactivated  ·  3122 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I hear ya and I feel ya. I do. Next time I'll double think the appropriateness of derailing through fuzzy animals. I promise.

Though, in my defense, that puppy is pretty damn cute.

Killerhurtz  ·  3122 days ago  ·  link  ·  

You did nothing wrong. That puppy was adorable, AND you were trying to avoid a nasty thing. But it was inevitable - I'm a subborn argument-causing person, and they are a militative "minority" that feels wronged at every corner.

arguewithatree  ·  3122 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    militative minority

Killerhurtz  ·  3122 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I know I know, I just don't have any better term for them. They fight for minorities' visibility and... "privilege". Militative minority. Any better ideas?

arguewithatree  ·  3122 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Yeah I'm not agreeing with you, ya know...

Killerhurtz  ·  3122 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I know, but I figured that since you were on Hubski you had something relevant to contribute.

arguewithatree  ·  3121 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Nope. Been here for almost 900 days (2.5 years) and I've never once contributed anything. I get daily messages asking me please for the love of God just submit something of value and I send them cat memes in response.

All ribbing aside, I have nothing to say to someone who puts privilege in scare quotes and tries to dogwhistle his way out of a hole he made trying to sidestep fundamental issues of racial and gender inequality.

Killerhurtz  ·  3121 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Alright, enjoy your echo chamber then. (Maybe you'd like Tumblr better though)

Quatrarius  ·  3121 days ago  ·  link  ·  

lol dude are you even real

Who are you to tell somebody to leave the site that's been here almost 10 times as long? Is that smug-ass bullshit the best you can come up with to end an argument?

Killerhurtz  ·  3121 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I'm not TELLING them to leave. I'm saying that for the type of content they're consuming and posting, Tumblr is more tailored towards that.

_refugee_  ·  3122 days ago  ·  link  ·  

"Human being."

A person who fights for the visibility of minorities and their "privilege."

By God when a group of twenty-something-year-old boys got together and decided their best insult for me was my "man eyebrows" I thought 'this is it, this is the least insulting insult I'll have levied at me' and man I had not lived long enough at that point clearly because now, ladies and gentlepugs, we are at it. I believe we have hit the wall.

Killerhurtz  ·  3122 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Except human beings is too wide.

Reminder, it's also human beings who you claim have the privilege. It's human beings who are "putting you down". It's human beings that are insulting you.

We ALL are human beings. From assholes to saints, from the whitest white man to the darkest person of color. To the most masculine man to the most feminine woman, and from the most feminine man to the most masculine woman. We all bleed the same blood, breathe the same air, bask in the warmth of the same sun.

"A person who fights for the visibility of minorities and their "privilege"" is too much of a handful. It's a good way to stop being talked about if people have to remember that much. Name another group that has done any form of change with a name that long.

And as for that quote? I used privilege in that way because guess what? It's a privilege that you have an internet connection to complain about your status. It's a privilege to be even ABLE to worry about such thing instead of worrying about food.

What you're looking for is not privilege. Privilege is a word tumblrites and other socially inept people use to describe how "unfair" everything is. The word you are looking for is "advantages", "rights", "recognition".

Most white people are actually on YOUR side. Hell - most white men are. That is until you demonize them. No positive change has occurred by shunning people and painting them as devils. Assholes comes in all shapes, colors, genders and identities. So do allies - try to find them. IT IS a very important fight you're fighting - so fight it right, and fight it for everyone.

I don't mean to patronize or insult you. However, Hubski is a place of discussion - I disagree with your methods, at the moment, and so I seek to either make you understand my point of view or make you understand mine. Though I will be the first to admit I do not filter anything at all - I feel it is against the concept of discussion, because it prevents the hard questions from being asked.

jleopold  ·  3122 days ago  ·  link  ·  

So, I've got a question on your semantics, and I really don't want you to take this the wrong way. It's not saying you're wrong, I just want to know about the word "minority" in this context. Is it considered synonymous with underprivileged, or should it be reserved for physical minorities. For example, I often see women refered to as a minority (as you did in this case), but as a whole across the US, there is a practically equal number of males and females.

Also, when you, and others in the US use the word minority, does it mean only in the US? Western World? First World? Developed nations?

Again, don't take this the wrong way, just looking for an education.

_refugee_  ·  3121 days ago  ·  link  ·  

So honestly, I could have used better words than "minority" there, for instance "disadvantaged/historically disadvantaged," "underprivileged," etc. Minority isn't technically wrong perse, but it feels less accurate than I'd like.

I'd typically use minority to refer to people of non-white skin tone/culture (for instance immigrant Russians or Slavs might be white but contextually in the US culture I think could be considered a minority). It's not really about a physical minority vs majority share, for instance there are some cities in the US that comprise a majority population of minority classes (so white people are technically a minority, but would probably never be referred to as such).

It can generally be taken as synonymous with underprivileged.

I mean, generally as a US speaker I speak from a US paradigm. However I would still use the word "minority" to express "underprivileged class" or whatever if I was speaking about stuff going on in the UK, Europe, etc because that's the verbiage I'm used to.