White men can't grump

[Soph0571]

Even outwardly non-progressive thinking people can be heard to speak out in favour of the level playing field; generally libertarian types objecting to any attempt by the state or other supervisory body to interfere in what they see as the “natural” processes of society in general and the distribution of wealth and/or opportunity in particular.

What these libertarian types are missing (apart from a proper understanding of the meaning of the word “freedom” – it either applies to everyone or no-one at all, but that’s a rant for another time) is an essential fact about level playing fields: they don’t occur in nature.

If you’re playing on a level field, it means that someone levelled it.
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Because what we’re talking about is not really privilege. It’s not even really advantage, it’s the absence of disadvantage.

However much hardship a straight white guy may have to deal with, there are whole worlds of hardship he’ll never experience. And however meagre his prospects, they are nonetheless (perhaps barely perceptibly) enhanced by the fact that opportunities for happiness and advancement are being actively denied to others. Once people get that this is what we’re talking about, the truth of it is undeniable (that’s not to say it can’t be denied; just not honestly denied). Once we communicate with each other, it’s my experience that most people tend to be on the same page about stuff. We misunderstand each other far more than we actually disagree.

Do we think “check your absence of disadvantage” could catch on as a slogan?

[link:http://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/benn-discusses-privilege-and-the-position-of-white-men-for-the-new-european-1-5552556|

I like that - absence of disadvantage......

[Ferrets are Cool]

1. So? I can't bitch and gripe about tRumpism any longer?

I hate generalizations. And no, it wouldn't catch on, no more than the title of this post. Nothing against you Soph, but I have the right to grump. White men (as well as 99% of Americans) are also being shit upon by this orange piece of offal.

[el_bryanto]

2. that doesn't really have anything to do with the OP though

I mean of course you have a right to complain about all the stuff you want to. But if you are a white guy complaining about an unfair playing field well its a bit like a baseball player saying "Look I used to start on third base, and now I start on second, thanks to all the special rights those minorities (who still, at best, start at home) get"

Bryant