A False Step

[poliphilo]

I got a savaging on a Feminist forum the other day. It was my own stupid fault. I'm too old to run with that particular crowd. Besides, I didn't study the subject at university and I don't use- or respect- the jargon.

I consider myself a feminist. If feminism means believing in the equality of the sexes, I'm enthusiastically for it. 

But I should have realised that the gnomic, slightly mischievous comments I go in for aren't going to wash on this particular site (with its ginormous rulebook)- and that you can't challenge someone (especially if if you're a white male) in that culture of victimhood without being accused of  "exercising privilege" and "silencing" them. 

A black American woman had accused a white European woman of racism. The white European woman had replied that the black American woman wasn't taking cultural differences into consideration and that her view was "US-centric". At least I think that's what had happened. The mods then intervened to rule that if a black person accuses a white person of racism that is gospel and no comeback is possible. The white person must take her whipping in patience and humility and afterwards kiss the rod.

I said I thought this was unfair- and that US-centrism is a real issue.  Are black American women really so fragile that they need protecting from all disagreement? Isn't it kind of insulting to assume they can't hold their own in debate?

I'll admit I didn't express myself as clearly or fully at the time. I spoke off the cuff. I should have been more careful- not that it would have made much difference if I had.

I thought I'd stir up a bit of controversy. I was wrong. The pack turned on me and tore me to shreds.

I am- among other things- a white, cracker racialist who likes to wave his dick around.

I'm talking about this here because after a while I realised there was no point in trying to explain myself over there. No-one  was interested in debate, only in parading their righteousness and calling me names. When you're in a hole it's foolish to go on digging.

I'll admit I felt a bit sorry for myself at first- but I'm over it now. I took a nice walk round a lake yesterday and had fish and chips in a garden centre and visited with my niece and nephew and that sort of cleared my head. 

Comments

[red-girl-42.livejournal.com]

Somehow I missed this thread when you posted it, but solar_diablo pointed me to it.

I dropped the feminism community a long while back for reasons such as these. I despise the culture of victimhood that silences all debate. The claims of being "silenced" are in and of themselves silencing. It basically says, "I can say whatever I want, but if you disagree with me I will accuse you of silencing me and you'll be forced to shut up."

I was called a troll on there because I disagreed with some premise that was being spouted. **eyeroll**

That community isn't interested in a free exchange of ideas. As a woman and a feminist, I believe that I should be allowed to think for myself and question the party line. I also don't need protection from people's opinions.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

"Silencing" is what's happening to the opposition in Zimbabwe. If you're not being hit with sticks or thrown into prison you're not being silenced. If someone disagrees with you it's just that- the start of an argument- and the self-respecting response is either to ignore them or to argue back.

[red-girl-42.livejournal.com]

Yes! Exactly!

Seems like complaining that someone is "silencing" you by politely expressing their disagreement is to TOTALLY ignore your privilege over people like those in Zimbabwe, doesn't it?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

These people exist in a bubble, I think- with very little idea of how things are in the larger world.