Question for white male Dems

[Sympthsical]

78. What herd?

White men don't typically see themselves through the prism of identity politics in the same way other groups may be inclined. Some might say that's majoritarian privilege, and perhaps it is. But group identities are typically forged by a mixture of culture, ethnicity, economic background, and social flexibility. Minorities have fewer options in these areas, and it is often more to their benefit to be more loyal to the group in order to advance themselves.

My identity, such as it is, is shaped far more by growing up working class poor and blue collar than any other singular experience. Yes, my family was Irish Catholic. But I'm also gay. My parents were poor and uneducated for a long time, but they were union Democrats. However, I didn't vote how I do simply because of them. I'm not particularly religious. I no longer move in particularly LGBT circles outside of my friend groups.

There is zero pressure on me to identify any which way. Some people always try. "You're gay, so you must think this way." Pfft. What are they going to do, excommunicate me? Tell people on Grindr? Who gives a shit?

People pressure themselves to be a certain way. They identify where they feel there is safety in numbers or benefits of the tribe.

Since white men already have a lot of benefits, they have a different psychology about things. The white pride types are an extreme minority in this country. Loud, but not anywhere close to being a common sentiment in real life.

It's as simple as people not wanting their apple cart upset. And since white men have been rather advantaged by the current cart configuration, they'll typically vote to keep it that way.

Since I don't particularly give a fuck what people think about me - no matter what group it is - I just do my own thing. It's neat, and I think more people should try it. Group identity internalized as self-conscious identity is a willful surrender of self. That's not for me if I can avoid it.