General Discussion

Lizzie Poppet

(10,164 posts)

31. The concept is absolutely real and valid; the term itself is terrible.

Sun Mar 2, 2014, 09:28 AM

Mar 2014

As others have pointed out, the term is far, far too easily misinterpreted. It carries connotations to a reasonable person (that might not be familiar with the academic usage) that are not only likely to be inapplicable, but which are undeniably confrontational. That's counterproductive.

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Is the term "White Privilege" a racially divisive term [View all] pipoman Mar 2014 OP

wha?? boston bean Mar 2014 #1

Anyone who chooses the affirmative is probably either a wingnut or a dumbass. n/t demmiblue Mar 2014 #2

The question isn't whether the term is accurate. Igel Mar 2014 #39

By all means, we must not raise the white man's hackles. Squinch Mar 2014 #78

I think you could word this a little more A-Schwarzenegger Mar 2014 #3

I think the poster may be trying to ask boston bean Mar 2014 #5

Ya think? Heidi Mar 2014 #8

or if it is reverse racism??? boston bean Mar 2014 #11

Sometimes you just have to shake your head. Heidi Mar 2014 #14

I think the term A-Schwarzenegger Mar 2014 #10

This early in the morning? boston bean Mar 2014 #12

It's Saturday Night! A-Schwarzenegger Mar 2014 #13

No rest for the wicked, Heidi Mar 2014 #16

If one is a racist, and doesn't like being called out for it, the answer is surely "yes". Scuba Mar 2014 #4

:thumbsup: Heidi Mar 2014 #9

Amazingly, someone actually alerted on this! Tanuki Mar 2014 #21

Perhaps someone who doesn't understand basic logic. Scuba Mar 2014 #23

Some people can't tell the difference between reading something they don't like to read, and a RC Mar 2014 #56

For the record, I didn't alert on this or any post in the thread.. pipoman Mar 2014 #100

There's no check mark for finding the term 1awake Mar 2014 #6

Only in that debates about it seem to divide the white people I want to know Heidi Mar 2014 #7

Boom! Squinch Mar 2014 #79

Ha!! Number23 Mar 2014 #80

Truth. nt laundry_queen Mar 2014 #84

Is the term "rich" socially divisive? nt Democracyinkind Mar 2014 #15

It is better to convince than to ventilate. I don't doubt for one second that white privilege is Douglas Carpenter Mar 2014 #17

That's the way I see it. pintobean Mar 2014 #19

That is my take on this whole subject on DU and why I have a problem with it. RC Mar 2014 #57

Yes... KansDem Mar 2014 #18

There is a difference between rights and privileges. kwassa Mar 2014 #50

which is exactly why it is a very useful word. bettyellen Mar 2014 #55

right on Quayblue Mar 2014 #62

That's it, absolutely. RC Mar 2014 #58

Depends on how it is used. Scruffy Rumbler Mar 2014 #20

Is "male privilege" a gender-based divisive term? magical thyme Mar 2014 #22

I feel very confident gollygee Mar 2014 #24

+1 Starry Messenger Mar 2014 #25

the reason I asked is because I just struggled with a jury duty... magical thyme Mar 2014 #36

great post! kwassa Mar 2014 #45

Not a fan of the term. It is clumsy, quinnox Mar 2014 #26

Personally I think "racism" is a good word. (nt) Nye Bevan Mar 2014 #27

Well the other poll was an absurdly skewed push poll, Waiting For Everyman Mar 2014 #28

Using academic terminology in a non-academic setting can lead to misunderstandings Fumesucker Mar 2014 #29

Stunned by this thread. Daemonaquila Mar 2014 #30

This trouble that people have is also why this will probably remain a predominantly white ScreamingMeemie Mar 2014 #35

Nailed it! Number23 Mar 2014 #81

The concept is absolutely real and valid; the term itself is terrible. Lizzie Poppet Mar 2014 #31

My sentiments exactly. pipoman Mar 2014 #32

White privilege is always applicable, though. The issue of misinterpretation in on the interpreter. kwassa Mar 2014 #41

Not, I'd argue, when it's the more intuitive interpretation. Lizzie Poppet Mar 2014 #63

I don't agree. kwassa Mar 2014 #68

That's not what I said. Lizzie Poppet Mar 2014 #72

then start the discussion with privilege, and what it means. kwassa Mar 2014 #74

Words mean something pipoman Mar 2014 #92

How is your poll more valid than the poll where 93% said that white privilege is real? kwassa Mar 2014 #95

The number in the other poll pipoman Mar 2014 #96

I think you are the one playing with words, in this instance. kwassa Mar 2014 #97

1/3 of respondents in the poll disagree apparently. . pipoman Mar 2014 #99

Who is the audience? You can blame the audience all you like but they aren't who gets the downside TheKentuckian Mar 2014 #89

Funny how that works. kwassa Mar 2014 #91

Exactly. Putting up barriers to even grasping the situation is counterproductive by definition. TheKentuckian Mar 2014 #104

How could it not be? Mojo Electro Mar 2014 #33

Even if it is true? We shouldn't speak the truth? kwassa Mar 2014 #40

Same Reason RobinA Mar 2014 #87

That Boom Sound 416 Mar 2014 #94

Nope. Iggo Mar 2014 #34

I would imagine Boom Sound 416 Mar 2014 #37

what a bizarre statement. kwassa Mar 2014 #44

I think the two are closely related. Boom Sound 416 Mar 2014 #54

Not related at all, really. kwassa Mar 2014 #71

Nice post Boom Sound 416 Mar 2014 #93

I don't think so, and I don't recall it getting a lot of attention until recently WhaTHellsgoingonhere Mar 2014 #38

No, you forgot "White MALE Privilege" itsrobert Mar 2014 #42

Heterosexual white male non-disabled full-head-of-hair privilege (nt) Nye Bevan Mar 2014 #51

Hey now, I resemble that outrage. RC Mar 2014 #64

No, it's simply a matter of fact nt MrScorpio Mar 2014 #43

Exactly ismnotwasm Mar 2014 #102

Meanwhile, in the real world... Comrade Grumpy Mar 2014 #46

It has increasingly become a highly charged term and... NYC_SKP Mar 2014 #47

+1 Blue_In_AK Mar 2014 #53

Yes, it is. But that is hardly decisive. cthulu2016 Mar 2014 #48

If all whites could just acknowlege their privilege 3 times a day, every day, Nye Bevan Mar 2014 #49

You might be right. kwassa Mar 2014 #52

I personally don't think the term is racially divisive, ZombieHorde Mar 2014 #59

No. To believe there is no white privelege is to believe there is no racism. TransitJohn Mar 2014 #60

^^^ THIS ^^^ etherealtruth Mar 2014 #61

What's the difference between the two? pipoman Mar 2014 #65

You're either being TransitJohn Mar 2014 #66

I have no idea why you wouldn't answer that pipoman Mar 2014 #67

What do you think is divisive about this term, since you started this OP? kwassa Mar 2014 #85

amen. nt La Lioness Priyanka Mar 2014 #69

Thread. Winner Number23 Mar 2014 #83

people who like to pretend white privilege doesn't exist La Lioness Priyanka Mar 2014 #70

Yes, unfortunately, it kinda has become that way. AverageJoe90 Mar 2014 #73

It is after a fashion el_bryanto Mar 2014 #75

We're already divided Warpy Mar 2014 #76

more concerned about whether or not it is accurate nt Deep13 Mar 2014 #77

Add any racial term to the word "privilege" and it becomes about race Corruption Inc Mar 2014 #82

yep Puzzledtraveller Mar 2014 #86

only to the willfully ignorant bobduca Mar 2014 #88

Other: Ask the audience. TheKentuckian Mar 2014 #90

Well, excuse me for telling you that your skirt is showing. Baitball Blogger Mar 2014 #98

Just about everyone has privilege The Straight Story Mar 2014 #101

The term was created in order to divide MO_Moderate Mar 2014 #103