It absolutely does when that person's race is habitually, systematically never perceived and seen as the "default" human.
Look at how many people assumed the OP was white. That's a worrying thing.
-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
Anyone else increasingly uncomfortable with "straight white male" as a derogative?
- Thread starter Kinitari
- Start date
- Status
It absolutely does when that person's race is habitually, systematically never perceived and seen as the "default" human.
Look at how many people assumed the OP was white. That's a worrying thing.
Massive Duck. C.M.
Banned
I didn't find it offensive, it's textbook Kintari
this, in addition to recognizing that the straight white male demographic in particular is oblivious to society's ills, is really the only way that "straight white male" can be seen as derogatory
as such: if you don't like it, change it
PdotMichael
Banned
What kind of butthurt reaction is that?
-COOLIO-
The Everyman
i really do think that it's starting to discourage straight white males from entering the conversation for any kind of social issue.
could you elaborate. what's textbook kintari? it always seemed to me that the guy holds a wide range of unique opinions.
could you elaborate. what's textbook kintari? it always seemed to me that the guy holds a wide range of unique opinions.
n00bsauce87
Member
Don't participate in oppression olympics. Because it'll never top enslaving/colonizing an entire continent with the help of at least 5 European countries and USA for over 400 years. We all know it, no need to feed into it.
freeofgreed
Member
Yeah but that has nothing with him saying white privilege is an American only thing. Aren't you Dominican? If so you should know first hand that isn't the case.
Funyarinpa
Member
Not that I have any specific examples, but I can see it making me uncomfortable if used derogatorily. I try to remind myself that other ethnicities and genders suffer far worse than I do with this stuff, and overcome it that way. Doesn't mean I accept or tolerate its usage in a hypothetical derogatory fashion, and it would still annoy me and lower my opinion of the person using it unironically. But every time such a thing makes me uncomfortable, I try to see through that annoyance to see if a general point (perhaps the constructive criticism of a demographic) is made or if there is some true sexism/racism going on.
Also on GAF, I've seen people saying things like "This is the whitest post." fully seriously, so yeah, it happens.
Also on GAF, I've seen people saying things like "This is the whitest post." fully seriously, so yeah, it happens.
Inferno313
Banned
That's not a butthurt reaction at all, he's explaining the concept of white privilege.
freeofgreed
Member
Butthurt? Wth are you even talking about? Do you have an actual response to me or do you just want to shit post?
PdotMichael
Banned
Attacking Europeans is pretty much a butthurt reaction.
Easy mode? I need to make sure my life is on the right setting!
The line between the two is increasingly slim.
Massive Duck. C.M.
Banned
Let's be honest though
Does anyone really expect any decent conversation about race on Gaf anymore
Does anyone really expect any decent conversation about race on Gaf anymore
The way how sensitive some here react to white privilege is a nice indication.
freeofgreed
Member
How did I attack Europeans?
I dunno. I always go back to the idea of passion for justice. If a white dude is discouraged from struggling to remove white supremacy from our government and society by someone flippantly dismissing their opinion, then maybe their struggle was more about them and less about justice.
Like I said, I'm going to fight for equality regardless because the fight is righteous, not because I want my voice to be respected. White dudes (the hypothetical hypersensitive ones we're discussion) need to get over their own egotism and realize that this fight is more than just them.
wat
First of all, Hispanic isn't a race in the United States. Hispanic just means someone has Latin American or Iberian ancestry. You can be white and Hispanic. You can be black and Hispanic. etc.
And you're trying to suggest that the concept of being White doesn't exist in Europe? Is that what you're really trying to go with right now?
I'm only annoyed when it's used by people who clearly don't know what they're talking about and are just trying to dismiss an arguement or point (regardless of its validity) with as little work as possible. It's similar to the overuse of troll. I've only actually seen this being done online so it's a pretty insignificant annoyance. People are generally far more respectful and understanding in person when it comes to discussing anything race/gender related.
PdotMichael
Banned
You didn't reply to my post about different terminology, definitions in other countries and cultures. But just posted something about arrogant Europeans thinking Europe is an Utopia etc..
I've literally never seen the term "cis" used ever. What does it mean?
n00bsauce87
Member
An interaction between a black and white man - Boondocks
This is how I thought most, if not, all white people saw themselves in the realm of people of different races
This is how I thought most, if not, all white people saw themselves in the realm of people of different races
Count Dookkake
Member
Kinitari, I think that you are pretty cool for a straight, white guy.
Don't let the haters get you down.
Don't let the haters get you down.
Doesn't bug me at all. We've had a pretty good run so it's hard for me to complain.
Since people are bringing up the cis thing, that doesn't bother me either and I don't think of it as being used in a derogatory sense at all. That being said, there is like... no chance it is going to catch on as a common term that everyone uses.
Since people are bringing up the cis thing, that doesn't bother me either and I don't think of it as being used in a derogatory sense at all. That being said, there is like... no chance it is going to catch on as a common term that everyone uses.
radios shipping overview
Member
It doesn't bother me, because if somebody uses the term as a derogative, it says more about them than it does about me, and while I'm aware of my privilege, I'm confident enough in my identity that I don't feel threatened by generalizations.
It means your gender matches your sex.
Inferno313
Banned
"Cis" is to "trans" what "straight" is to "gay" that's all it means. A "cismale" is just a male that was born as a male.
Until I go to a store and am told "We don't serve straight white males here", I am followed around a department store by staff for being a "suspicious" straight white male, or I am paid $20k less by my employer for being a straight white male, I don't have a ton to complain about.
Do some people take it a bit far on GAF/the internet? Sure. But it's pretty easy to ignore a few people (or topics) on GAF if I am bothered by them. Usually, the term comes up in the context of privilege, and there's not really an argument against straight white males being a privileged group.
Do some people take it a bit far on GAF/the internet? Sure. But it's pretty easy to ignore a few people (or topics) on GAF if I am bothered by them. Usually, the term comes up in the context of privilege, and there's not really an argument against straight white males being a privileged group.
There is always that pushback for making certain movements "respectable" and "acceptable" to certain people. It never does anything good and just waste time. Cause those people you want to shuck and jive for, never cared anyway
EdibleKnife
Member
Cis is a Latin prefix that is the opposite of trans. It means "same side" and cisgender is that your gender identity matches your biological sex.
evilromero
Member
The victim mentality that the OP is trying to express or at least teasing, establishes a dangerous precedent. I'd argue that this model of thinking is evidence of the individual projecting the kind of perceived discrimination that they feel they are subjecting others to. In other words, masking guilt by deflecting to perceived descrimination.
Whose participating in it? I'm informing him that the suggestion of social privilege is a macro concept. For example, not all men in a Patriarchy society are doing well, but that doesn't change the fact that men on average are propped up by society at the expense of women.
excelsiorlef
Member
PdotMichael
Banned
It doesn't exist the way it does in the USA. Yes, ethnicities is a way more accurate and useful for social discussions than the dubios race concept.
The same way that talking that the black population in the USA and Africa are somehow the same because black doesn't make much sense.
Got it. Thanks to all who answered.
Rushersauce
Banned
It's like all white people are apathic and disconected from reality...
He's black though.
Ziltoidia 9
Member
I have no issue with people calling out a type of person that is ignorant, but it has more to do with their ideas/philosophies and not that they are 'straight white men'. Its counter productive and will just inflame the racist types that do like to oppress people to be more hardline on their views.
Its also against the idea of judging based on character and not color. And its also done by people who generally will say "not all _____".
Its also against the idea of judging based on character and not color. And its also done by people who generally will say "not all _____".
Fragamemnon
Member
The only time I hear this in person is when I'm the one saying it, to make sure that people know in a discussion about race and gender issues that while I am acutely aware of my own privilege , unconscious biases that form after decades of acclimation to that privilege are not easy to recognize and stamp out.
If someone uses it to discredit one of my points, I would think for a bit to question myself and see if there is a conscious/unconscious bias that's driving my viewpoint and if I don't see one, I'd politely ask if they can explain further.
As a white male in his 30s who has benefited from the privileges greatly, you simply must be at least cognizant that privilege has had an impact on your world view, even if you don't know how it manifests all the time in your thoughts.
Note I tend to avoid internet/online conversations that would veer into this kind of talk so I don't have to defend myself much here.
If someone uses it to discredit one of my points, I would think for a bit to question myself and see if there is a conscious/unconscious bias that's driving my viewpoint and if I don't see one, I'd politely ask if they can explain further.
As a white male in his 30s who has benefited from the privileges greatly, you simply must be at least cognizant that privilege has had an impact on your world view, even if you don't know how it manifests all the time in your thoughts.
Note I tend to avoid internet/online conversations that would veer into this kind of talk so I don't have to defend myself much here.
Alex Stroud
Banned
Not particularly. If anything it exposes the user of the term as someone who can't argue effectively enough without using their opponent's skin color and sexual orientation as ammunition.
freeofgreed
Member
How could I have? You never actually expanded on what you meant and just gave "butthurt" response about how American's don't know anything about racism in Europe. If you feel that is the case how about you actually give me some examples of why that is?
PeskyToaster
Member
I guess it comes off as hypocritical. People who are trying to fight racism shouldn't turn around and make broad sweeping statements about an entire race since that's like the whole thing you're trying to stop.
I really don't give a fuck.
Sure, some people try to dismiss my opinions because they see a straight white male and assume my life has been easy. It hasn't been. I know that, and I don't feel the need to justify that to anyone. So when I meet people who think individuals can be neatly filed into little groups based on demographics I just write them off. It's really no great loss to kick those people out of my life.
Sure, some people try to dismiss my opinions because they see a straight white male and assume my life has been easy. It hasn't been. I know that, and I don't feel the need to justify that to anyone. So when I meet people who think individuals can be neatly filed into little groups based on demographics I just write them off. It's really no great loss to kick those people out of my life.
Id be interested to hear what things your privileges have allowed you benefit greatly from. Genuinely curious
Dunno if you can toggle settings after starting your campaign, dawg.
But for real, I'm not saying that us honkies are shitting gold 24/7. Just that being white, straight, and male gives you (general) the benefit of only having to deal with problems unrelated to race, sexual preference, and gender. Whereas a person of color, or a woman, or a gender/sex minority will have to deal with those regular life problems, PLUS discrimination.
entremet
Member
And it sure as hell won't get better statements like this. If you don't want discuss it, bow out.
But you have to be aware that these discussion take tact and patience. These complaints keep things in the cellar.
- Status