The Harbinger of Ferocity

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

Would it be reasonable then, given we are out of order now, to fire one last arrow before addressing the rest of the situation, @Hekazu? It seems we have a bit of a prisoner dilemma on our hands again, but that isn't my primary concern. We've made it through once. Just more so if our escapee is determined to get away by fate's permission.

Frokane's Mildly Politcal Hangout Thread

All we can hope is that your return is sooner rather than later, @Dynamo Frokane. Regardless of your reasons for departing, it has been a pleasure all the same.

Frokane's Mildly Politcal Hangout Thread

The magical power of historical inertia perhaps. And its ok, people can fail to capitalize on their privilege just as some of us succeed in spite of it.

@Penny

With where I hail from, people are truly as equal as they could be barring a need for a social hierarchy. The only division was by authority. Race, age, gender - none of the go-to issues were in play. We all had the same requirements and duties asked of us; the immaterial​ concept of "privilege" held no ground there, for which I am thankful. Even before then, when I was young, no one spoke about privilege. Why, one might wonder?

We all lived in the same neighborhood and willingly followed the same social lies. In fact, I never heard the argument of this "privilege" until it confronted me know the internet years ago. It still proves to be some unfounded argument that focuses on division, pitting people against one another, than any forward thinking concept of unity. It asks nothing of equal opportunity and demands "equality" in a nation where all people are afforded that chance.

In brief, I cannot capitalize on something that does not effectively exist, because if it did, why did I not get preferential treatment for all of my "oppression points"? Just being a "white male" has not granted me anything; I earned everything I kept, woe or weal.

If we want to harp on history and how "whites" and "men" in the past had actual power beyond others in a great number of ways, then certainly, that is a valid statement. But that root died a long, long time ago.

Frokane's Mildly Politcal Hangout Thread

I will be brutally honest, even if it means bloodying the water, @POOHEAD189. I have neither shame not fear in my opinion or the points I take side in. Hopefully it gave you the insight you were looking for as well as my perception on the matter rather than any assumptions you may or may not have had.

Frokane's Mildly Politcal Hangout Thread

@Penny, I have told you long, long before that in my experience I have not witnessed anything of the sort. I still am and will be of the belief that individual qualities and personhood will define more than anything else. I do not believe white men have some magical special qualities others do not get - if they do, please refer me to them so I can claim what apparently rightfully belongs to me.

Frokane's Mildly Politcal Hangout Thread

As far as I am concerned, @POOHEAD189? Yes, and that is my answer. You know my philosophy on the matter from there and why I perceive it that way; that is the context to support my understanding.

Frokane's Mildly Politcal Hangout Thread

Do you sincerely think, that in America, minorites are afforded all of the same treatment and opportunities with the same ease as white men?

@POOHEAD189

Can you provide me with a place where these opportunities are any better? There are several places on this world where the caste system still exists by and large. To this I add that nothing can be or ever will be perfect, but the United States and what it represents in this area is damned close, if not almost perfectly on this mark. For added salt in the wound, as far as I am concerned, anyone who disagrees with that should attempt to live wherever they think this Utopia to be.

This "racism" and "privilege" game is not an argument I am going to take seriously; it certainly has no impact on those I find myself interviewing, instructing or supervising. Those who have or have not advanced did so under their own merit.

Frokane's Mildly Politcal Hangout Thread

Why the fuck do they need to prove they are just as worthy of respect? What in all of creation makes it ok to make them prove themselves that extra mile?

@POOHEAD189

As I said to @Penny, everyone has the responsibility to prove their worth. No one is excused from that. But if you really want to dispel people's mindsets, blow them away with individual qualities. Again, and I restate this, this should be the goal for anyone but especially those who think they are at a disadvantage.

If one is not willing to do something that extra mile, in any task in life, perhaps it better they might not do it at all, but that is beside the point. So to address the rest of your statement, here is my counterargument;

I do not care.

Seemingly heartless, I know, but giving anyone special treatment or added favor I find morally wrong. You can read it here from me in the past, but if there is to be any question on it, I simply am aloof to it. This is not to say I will not donate, assist or support, but that is under my own volition. I do not discriminate.

I can sympathize with having a bad start, having that scenario played out as you described it, but if you told me that was your life and what could you do to improve it, I would tell you, "Go join the military." People don't like to hear that option of course, just like they do not like to hear "Go apply for student loans, just be sure to finish your degree and do a stint of internship or volunteering to get on the job experience and possibly a way into that work place." I could sit here and rattle back arguments - I could even argue the reverse racism or misandry I have experienced because of "diversity" mandates where less qualified candidates were chosen over myself.

My point is, will be as well as I freely admit my mind will not be changed, that there is no shortage of fighting and clawing people need to do for what they want. The challenges aren't going to be the same so cease comparing them.

Frokane's Mildly Politcal Hangout Thread

You have very selective reading ability, @Penny. I clearly do not limit my statement or response to just those people. In fact, I believe I say something explicitly along the lines of and I quote;

These could apply to anyone, really - they are not exclusive or limited to.

@The Harbinger of Ferocity

Strange, it is almost as though I accounted for that argument! As if I have heard it before. If you do not want to be stereotyped as anything then do not be that thing. This becomes a problem in our day and age because there are a bunch of people running around, rushing to so called "social justice", claiming everyone but "white males" is under some kind of prejudice.

You do realize "white males" are not significant enough by themselves to utterly and wholly eclipse every other minor group in combination, correct? No less, by making this claim, you do realize this too is reverse discrimination that is somehow validated because of nebulous "privilege", right? Furthermore, this does not hold true accrosd the board at all. We have several white males in this very topic who are proof enough, living proof, that they are not living on the ritz.

This is a "feels good" argument because it feels good to blame others than overcome individual difficulties. Why change or adapt anything when I can just cry out, "He's so privileged! There is no way I can catch up in life!" and welcome applause as if I made some sort of profound revelation? It would be much too hard to do a self assessment, identify strengths and weaknesses and exploit them to my own advantage so I can achieve what I want.

Frokane's Mildly Politcal Hangout Thread

@POOHEAD189, I understand very well exactly what they mean, thank you, because the way people execute it and use it. "Checking your privilege." has become synonymous with saying "It's just so much easier for you so shut your mouth." It has evolved well beyond any "race" context and origin it had, which in itself I find to be a lie in this day and age, especially given just how much opportunity there is for anyone.

People invent their own hurdles or stick to those crafted for them in preconception. You are a woman? Prove that your gender doesn't determine you, your caliber of person as an individual does. An immigrant? Show that you are as American as anyone who was born here, if not more than through your hard work, dedication and loyalty. Minority? Make everyone look foolish for entertaining stereotypes by being whoever you are first and avoiding those things you do not wish to be. These could apply to anyone, really - they are not exclusive or limited to. I simply do not buy and will never buy the notion of "white privilege"; I certainly had none of it.

As a later addition to this post, I do not conscribe to the idea of "minority oppression". You have equal opportunity, act on it. Use initiative and determination.