Privilege Analogy #1: Entitlement In Action

[bellatrys]

Let's say you're at a shindig of some sort - an office holiday party, a department function, the post-lecture refreshments, a gallery opening, a con, any place where there are a lot of other people, most of whom you don't know personally or well, and a lot of milling around

Comments

[acaciaonnastik]

Oh dear, more fandom race wank.

Have the people arguing that the meaning has changed seriously ever heard the word "miscegenation" used in a modern context? Because if I'd seen it anywhere in my life except a) historical discussions and b) neo-Nazi websites, I probably wouldn't want to smack them quite so much.

[fledgist]

I've never seen them used in any other contexts. People have been speaking of interracial marriage, mixed marriage and so on for a long time.

(I have occasionally come across 'half-breed' and 'half-caste' always uttered by the the kind of person who delights in being 'politically incorrect' because, after all, good sense, good manners, and understanding are all signs of inferiority.)

Ah, thanks.

[acaciaonnastik]

Always good to hear that one's experience is not a fluke.

Yeah. More fantasy-smackage attends those who complain about "PC"ness- wow, they're using language which doesn't actively reinforce my privilege? Shock, horror...

Wait, which one of us is being oversensitive, again?

Re: Ah, thanks.

[fledgist]

That is generally a good question.

[fledgist]

Some people manage to combine a complete lack of sensitivity to others with a general incapacity to be social, but then claim that those who they hurt are the offenders. Sometimes you feel the urge to educate such people with a two-by-four.

On the other hand, when I think of that I also think of my father's proverb 'Yu put a fool inna mortar an poun him, him come out same fool'.

[megpie71]

On the gripping hand, at least you've got rid of a lot of stress and aggressive feeling in the process. So that's *some* good come out of it, anyway. ;-)

(Context: I've spent about 7 years working tech support. My current allocation of the milk of human kindness is somewhat curdled.)

[fledgist]

Perhaps, but then you're the one who gets hauled into court.

Tech support must have some ups as well as downs.

[megpie71]

Oh, the ups are there - I've done it for about six or seven years now, and it's not something I'd get tired of. But sometimes, the temptation to take whichever user is on the other end of the phone and just bang their head against a convenient hard surface until their brain starts working does tend to overwhelm one.

[violaswamp]

Sucks to be a child, doesn't it? I'm reminded of Margaret Atwood's quote about how people who wax nostalgic about childhood probably don't remember it too well.

And of course, we treat many adults in less-privileged groups as children--the same utter denial of rights and experiences, the same dismissal of thoughts and feelings.

[voxwoman]

Had I not read your footnotes, I would have simply assumed you encountered my second husband at a recent 'con. (perhaps you did, anyway... was this person a redhead by chance?)

Oh dear!

[bellatrys]

I would have simply assumed you encountered my second husband at a recent 'con. (perhaps you did, anyway... was this person a redhead by chance?)

No, it was at academic and/or family functions - I got kind of dinged up at the con I went to, but that was just the harum-scarum of lots of people charging around carrying things.

But I will be wary for my feet of big redheaded guys at cons in the future, thx!

[smurasaki]

I swear some people have enough arrogant stupidity for entire metro-areas. How can they not grasp that you do not stop being in the wrong because you dislike the way it was pointed out? -_- And as for the literal foot-trappers, I'd go with yelling "OW!!!" when they first step on your foot (which should embarrass them) or just whacking them with something. To hell with politeness. (I know it's usually not that easy in real life, but it'd sure be nice.)