The Problem with Being Privileged

[formerlurker]

Sun Feb 24, 2013, 01:22 PM

Star Member MineralMan (50,676 posts)

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The Problem with Being Privileged
I am privileged to a large degree. As a white, straight, male, able-bodied, college-educated, married, man with no criminal convictions who also is a military veteran, financially solvent and over the age of 65, much privilege accrues to me automatically. Because of that privilege, I can:

Walk down the sidewalk without being looked at suspiciously.
Drive through any area without being stopped for no reason.
Shop in whatever stores I wish without being considered a potential thief.
Avoid being shunned or attacked for my sexuality.
Never worry about a potential employer or client wondering if I'll get pregnant or marry.
Never be told to smile by some moron who thinks he's irresistibly attractive.
Be taken seriously if I want to refinance my mortgage.
Be given great attention if I go into a car dealership or hardware store.
Enter buildings after climbing stairs and pulling open heavy doors.
Park away from crowded areas in parking lots and walk.
Receive single-payer healthcare from my government.
Receive a payment each month from Social Security.
Get special treatment for home mortgages.
Get care in a Veteran's hospital or nursing home if I'm destitute.
Avoid being treated like a criminal at traffic stops.
Go anywhere, do anything, and not be noticed unless I wish to be noticed.
Do, be, and get many more things than described above.


That is my privilege. Most of it accrues to me simply because I was born who I am, where I was born, and to whom I was born. Frankly, I often forget that I have a big bunch of privilege following me around wherever I go. But, then I see someone else who is not me, doesn't match my description, and who did not automatically start with that big pile of privilege. I see people every day for whom parts of the list above simply does not apply. For some, almost nothing in that list applies. Then I remember my privilege and am humbled by it. I didn't earn it, for the most part. It simple accrues to me by accident of birth, mostly. I try to remember that, but often forget. That's the problem with being privileged. I often forget.

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/10022421717

 

[Dori]

DUmmie white guilt wasn't wasted on this guy. 

Of course it has nothing to do with his life's choices, but all do to the fact that he's white, male and educated.

[GOBUCKS]

But DUmmy RockHead is a DUmp democrat, which earns him scorn and contempt from normal people.

So it's not all sunshine and privilege.

[Chris_]

Be taken seriously if I want to refinance my mortgage.

Nobody takes you seriously, dumbshit.

[Delmar]

Never be told to smile by some moron who thinks he's irresistibly attractive.

The smiling thing again.  Wasn't there a post just a couple weeks ago about the smiling thing.  Do women really get told to smile by men so often that it is a common problem that deserves complaint?  I have no memory of ever in my life trying to coax a woman into smiling--aside from taking pictures.  A couple of times in my life I've encountered a crying woman and asked if everything was okay or if I could help.  But asking a grumpy woman or a woman with a neutral expression to start smiling?  I can't say that that's something that I've noticed.  Maybe it happens, but not in my experience.  It sounds like it happens in the pestering kind of way that a boozer will try to get someone to join them in a drink--or one more drink.  But an act of a privileged person keeping someone else down?  Whatever you say Mineral Man.

[longview]

So much wrong with his list of supposed priveleges.  Just to make a response/rebuttal more brief:  Many Occupoopers (white, educated, with extra cash to waste) would have a problem with many items on his list.  If he hasn't been stopped while driving anywhere he wanted, he obviously avoided some areas where the cops will darn sure stop a middle-aged white dude.  If he hasn't been asked to smile by some narcissist, he didn't hang out at radically gay bars.
And while you do have to be a vet to be treated in a VA (except during a crisis), there are lots and lots of people being treated in nursing homes, acute hospitals, and LTACs all over the country without paying (or even being citizens of this country or here legally).

There is no special treatment for being qualified for a mortgage.  In fact, look at the creative mortages that were made to people who couldn't qualify, people of all colors, and look where that got us all.

Racist.

[BEG]

   I couldn't even get through all that drivel.

[AprilRazz]

Wonder what would happen if he told nads to smile?

[Mr Mannn]

This is a liberal theme: just being white means you are a bigot. The simple benefits of a normal life is now an unfair privilege you are denying others.
---Being white means you are guilty of crimes you never committed.

This is why I despise Democrats. Martin Luther King wanted to end segregation, and unite the US into one people. Democrats are separating us by class and race and setting the groundwork for a race war. Innocent people are going to die for nothing more than a democrat power play.

[Delmar]

Now we're up to our long distance dedication.  This one goes out to all the lurking ladies from democrat underground.  Let's turn those frowns upside down.
Signed, Delmar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN8oLGBNXpE

Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars!

[Freeper]

You DUmmies can take this white guilt Bull Shit and shove it right up your asses.

[JohnnyReb]

This is a liberal theme: just being white means you are a bigot. The simple benefits of a normal life is now an unfair privilege you are denying others.
---Being white means you are guilty of crimes you never committed.

This is why I despise Democrats. Martin Luther King wanted to end segregation, and unite the US into one people. Democrats are separating us by class and race and setting the groundwork for a race war. Innocent people are going to die for nothing more than a democrat power play.

If we're going to be constantly accused of bigotry, why not just let go with the bigotry and enjoy it?

[ScubaGuy]

From the world UNIVERSE famous TimInTib

DollarBillHines (1,618 posts)
9. It's funny, we take things for granted that others could never hope for.

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I'm glad you posted this, MM.

In my case, it goes a bit further. I have long hair and a gray beard, dress like a farmer and have no particular schedule. While never persecuted, there is always this attitude that most people have when meeting me for the first time.

But when they find out where I live and realize that they have seen my property and house before, there is a quick about-face - almost every time. That is usually the moment when I decide not to continue with them.

We should all thank our lucky stars, every day.

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Response to DollarBillHines (Reply #9)

Sun Feb 24, 2013, 05:49 PM

Star Member greytdemocrat (1,341 posts)
51. You're just so special!!!

[Vagabond]

What is this drivel?  Is MM trying to get laid by a female DUer or something?

[BEG]

  GreytDeomcrat

[98ZJUSMC]

  I couldn't even get through all that drivel.

Nope.  Gag reflex kicked in.

[Jasonw560]

Every time Some DUmmy posts something longe than 1 sentence, my eyes glaze over and I hear Charlie Brown's teacher. kind of like with vesta's posts.

[Traveshamockery]

Well, RockHeadMineral Man - if you are so privileged, why are you not giving away your fortunate to those who are way less fortunate than you? 

[Skul]

@rockboy
Cool story, bro.

[Chris_]

Well, RockHeadMineral Man - if you are so privileged, why are you not giving away your fortunate to those who are way less fortunate than you? 

That's crazy talk.

[chitownchica]

After getting outed as a freeper,  MM has been posting  ridiculous OPs to reestablish his street cred. 

No one buys it.

[Skul]

After getting outed as a freeper,  MM has been posting  ridiculous OPs to reestablish his street cred. 

No one buys it.

Ah ha. That's why the lad went hard-nose.
Makes perfectly good sense now.

[chitownchica]

Ah ha. That's why the lad went hard-nose.
Makes perfectly good sense now.

Yep. He got spanked several times over it.

Gah- he is about as boring as the retarded LanternWaste primitive.

[Skul]

Yep. He got spanked several times over it.

Gah- he is about as boring as the retarded LanternWaste primitive.

It's mighty slim pickin's for mole over there.
Getting hard to find something substantial.

[RobJohnson]

65 years old and he owes money on his house??????? I know it happens, times are tough.

Be taken seriously if I want to refinance my mortgage.