One of the things I think is happening is... fear of systematic defense, rather than ad hoc
Yes. Well, there's always been that, I think. The belief that minority groups get some sort of fun or benefit out of calling out privilege, to the point where they can be expected to just start making things up and attacking the privileged at random. Because we're all irrational and oversensitive, you know?
Also? There's predominantly a theme of this fear of the privileged members being silenced. Which blows my mind, as we've sort of talked about. Having to think before (generic) you speak is not the end of the world; in fact, most folks already have to do so! The fact that you never have is itself a sign of your privilege. Not a sign that you're being picked on. (But of course it's impossible to know how to combat that, in a situation like you've got there. The "right to free speech" of certain groups is SO systemic and invisible. The whole point of being privileged is that people who look and live like you usually get to be heard, and be right, you know? and the entire planet is designed to back that up.)
It's all well and good to fight for social justice. Until it Becomes Too Big, you know?
*nod* Yeah. It was very noticeable how many folks would state, yeah, the transphobic comment was bad...and then follow it up with a string of buts. But not that bad, but the trans members overreacted, but the trans members should have been more polite, etc. Transphobia is bad! But not so bad that anyone actually needs to do anything. (Except for the transfolk, who need to adjust their attitudes so that the privileged don't have to think about them anymore.)
So yeah... where's the idea of a campaign against this mysterious targeted group come from? It's such a fantasy.
I guess if you've never been asked to be quiet before, the only reason anyone would want you do so now would be if there was some sort of conspiracy afoot? I get, intellectually, that for a lot of people there's just this wall of experience in place. But it doesn't make it any less frustrating.
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Yes. Well, there's always been that, I think. The belief that minority groups get some sort of fun or benefit out of calling out privilege, to the point where they can be expected to just start making things up and attacking the privileged at random. Because we're all irrational and oversensitive, you know?
Also? There's predominantly a theme of this fear of the privileged members being silenced. Which blows my mind, as we've sort of talked about. Having to think before (generic) you speak is not the end of the world; in fact, most folks already have to do so! The fact that you never have is itself a sign of your privilege. Not a sign that you're being picked on. (But of course it's impossible to know how to combat that, in a situation like you've got there. The "right to free speech" of certain groups is SO systemic and invisible. The whole point of being privileged is that people who look and live like you usually get to be heard, and be right, you know? and the entire planet is designed to back that up.)
It's all well and good to fight for social justice. Until it Becomes Too Big, you know?
*nod* Yeah. It was very noticeable how many folks would state, yeah, the transphobic comment was bad...and then follow it up with a string of buts. But not that bad, but the trans members overreacted, but the trans members should have been more polite, etc. Transphobia is bad! But not so bad that anyone actually needs to do anything. (Except for the transfolk, who need to adjust their attitudes so that the privileged don't have to think about them anymore.)
So yeah... where's the idea of a campaign against this mysterious targeted group come from? It's such a fantasy.
I guess if you've never been asked to be quiet before, the only reason anyone would want you do so now would be if there was some sort of conspiracy afoot? I get, intellectually, that for a lot of people there's just this wall of experience in place. But it doesn't make it any less frustrating.