Use your privilege
November 1, 2013 6:50 PM Subscribe
"Imagine arranging the lives of every person who has ever lived, in order of how much opportunity they had in their time, to do the kind of work they wanted to do and live the kind of life they wanted to live. Where do you think you fit?" Use your privilege.
This post was deleted for the following reason: This doesn't seem substantive enough to warrant its own post. -- restless_nomad
More seriously:
It's weird how these deconstructionist tools, like the concept of privilege, rise up from obscurity to become the favorite tool of armchair sociologists for a couple months.
I first heard the term used in the early 90's, so it's not a new concept, but suddenly privilege comes up in every Internet discussion of social issues. For example, every fifth goddamn post on Metafilter since last spring.
When it's used in evaluating the relative success and interaction of ethnographic entities, privilege is often a valuable tool. When it's used in the second-person, it's generally an infuriating device designed to elicit an emotional response like guilt or resentment, and instead of a deconstruction tool becomes a rhetorical weapon that hobbles discourse. Misuse of 'privilege' has made a lot of the potentially interesting discussions on Metafilter (and probably elsewhere) unreadable, which is irritating, but I know it'll pass eventually.
With that in mind, I thought it was interesting that the author both substantiated his use of the term, and used it in a manner that I find positive. I'm too cynical to really get moved to action, but I have a hard time disagreeing with it and admire the author's perspective. Even if you take it as 'things could always be worse,' that's generally true. It's kind of fun to see a slightly dark-edged motivational speech on that.
posted by Mayor Curley at 7:17 PM on November 1, 2013 [5 favorites]
It's weird how these deconstructionist tools, like the concept of privilege, rise up from obscurity to become the favorite tool of armchair sociologists for a couple months.
I first heard the term used in the early 90's, so it's not a new concept, but suddenly privilege comes up in every Internet discussion of social issues. For example, every fifth goddamn post on Metafilter since last spring.
When it's used in evaluating the relative success and interaction of ethnographic entities, privilege is often a valuable tool. When it's used in the second-person, it's generally an infuriating device designed to elicit an emotional response like guilt or resentment, and instead of a deconstruction tool becomes a rhetorical weapon that hobbles discourse. Misuse of 'privilege' has made a lot of the potentially interesting discussions on Metafilter (and probably elsewhere) unreadable, which is irritating, but I know it'll pass eventually.
With that in mind, I thought it was interesting that the author both substantiated his use of the term, and used it in a manner that I find positive. I'm too cynical to really get moved to action, but I have a hard time disagreeing with it and admire the author's perspective. Even if you take it as 'things could always be worse,' that's generally true. It's kind of fun to see a slightly dark-edged motivational speech on that.
posted by Mayor Curley at 7:17 PM on November 1, 2013 [5 favorites]
Imagine arranging the lives of every person who has ever lived, in order of how much opportunity they had in their time, to do the kind of work they wanted to do and live the kind of life they wanted to live.
But all that's going to tell you is which periods of time in history afforded people the greatest opportunities. It would be more interesting and informative to chart what was actually done with the opportunities available, and in particular to examine the lives of those who came closest to reaching their full potential. Seems to me that's really the point of the article, to wake up to the potential you already have ("privilege") and assess what you're doing with it.
posted by JParker at 7:49 PM on November 1, 2013
But all that's going to tell you is which periods of time in history afforded people the greatest opportunities. It would be more interesting and informative to chart what was actually done with the opportunities available, and in particular to examine the lives of those who came closest to reaching their full potential. Seems to me that's really the point of the article, to wake up to the potential you already have ("privilege") and assess what you're doing with it.
posted by JParker at 7:49 PM on November 1, 2013
I am so sick of getting earfucked about privilege by sanctimonious internet loudmouths. Jesus Christ, make it stop.
posted by jayder at 7:51 PM on November 1, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by jayder at 7:51 PM on November 1, 2013 [2 favorites]
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Right now, I'm imagining this said with the voice of the late infomercial king Don LaPre. It's pretty marvelous.
posted by Mayor Curley at 6:55 PM on November 1, 2013