Weaponizing "Woke"ness
Even the social justice troops are starting to recognize the ways the "language of social justice" is being used.
Though I'm sure there are some well-meaning people, in practice, the social justice movement is so often just another racket: a nifty means to unearned power over others.
Frances Lee, in this piece at YesMagazine, "Why I've Started to Fear My Fellow Social Justice Activists," writes:
I am also concerned about who controls the language of social justice, as I see it wielded as a weapon against community members who don't have access to this rapidly evolving lexicon. Terms like "oppression," "tone policing," "emotional labor," "diversity," and "allyship" are all used in specific ways to draw attention to the plight of minoritized people. Yet their meanings can also be manipulated to attack and exclude.
Calling somebody "racist" is currently the most effective way to shut anybody up and -- often -- to get others to pile on to do it, too, and then ostracize the person.
Even innocent questions can get your life pulled out from under you, as a student at Reed College learned. Joe Kolman at Spiked writes of the innocent question (and absolutely understandable response from a guy the followed) that ruined his college career:
At the beginning of the first semester, as he was going to dinner with a friend, he read a Facebook post from the leader of a Latina group who wrote that her group planned to 'Stop Trump' and asked fellow students for support in a school funding survey. He was curious and considered getting involved. After he asked her a couple of times to be more specific about how the group planned to stop Trump, she accused him of being a racist for challenging a Latina student support group. He responded that if her group called people racist just for asking questions, he had no intention of voting to fund it.
In saner times, this would be normal conversation. Now it leads to what I call "prosecution by mob," which is exactly what happened.
Hunter went back home to Oregon City and moved into a trailer on the edge of his parents' farm. Gradually, he got back on his feet. Today he's making $20 an hour as a carpenter, framing houses. 'I was the first person in my family to go to college', he said. 'My father told me that when I got accepted to Reed, it was the proudest moment in his life. That was my best shot. I could have been someone who got an awesome education. Now I'm a construction worker.'Looking back, he was still trying to make sense of what happened to him. His accusers, he said, 'seem to be angry at the world and each other and wanted to focus on that. They have a lot of misplaced indignation and they need some source to take it out on.'
via @CathyYoung63
This is a story about actual White Privilege. Because of his skin color, and since he doesn’t have a trust fund to feel guilty about, he can be discriminated against without consequence, by any crybully who claims victimhood. Get used to it kid. This is the fruits of identity politics. You have a lifetime of this to look forward to.
Wfjag at October 15, 2017 11:23 PM
This "Amanda" sounds insane. Her arguments was "I" feel this, "I" think this. It was all about her, narcissism run amok.
Conan the Grammarian at October 16, 2017 6:06 AM
As shitty as it was to be treated that way, I don't quite see why this is going to stop him from ever getting a college education. Either go back and stand up for yourself, or ignore it, or find another college.
stormy at October 16, 2017 7:01 AM
Like all Marxist cults, the SJW movement, having silenced all dissent, is now starting to Trotskyize its own. Must continue The Struggle!
And stormy, I was wondering the same thing myself... I do find it interesting that the author named Dillman but was willing to grant "Amanda", who is presumably well known at Reed, anonymity. It may be that Reed put something on his transcript that is preventing him from being accepted by another college in Oregon. And it sounds like his economic circumstances are such that he can't afford to go to school out of state. Being a white male non-athlete, he probably doesn't have much of a chance at a scholarship.
Cousin Dave at October 16, 2017 7:53 AM
Now I'm a construction worker.
You say that like it is a bad thing, young man. Advantages:
What would Mike Rowe do?
I R A Darth Aggie at October 16, 2017 7:57 AM
It may be that Reed put something on his transcript
They better not have.
His transcript should be the results of his first semester, and and for the second should simply note withdrawal from Reed.
Besides, just enroll in the local community college and not breathe a word of Reed. Side note: Wikipedia lists tuition and fees at $51,850 per year in 2016. Keep swinging that hammer, pay off that debt.
I R A Darth Aggie at October 16, 2017 8:08 AM
he can't afford to go to school out of state
Anyone can with a bit of planning. This is the way to get in-state tuition.
I R A Darth Aggie at October 16, 2017 8:13 AM
'My father told me that when I got accepted to Reed, it was the proudest moment in his life. That was my best shot. I could have been someone who got an awesome education.
Well, that wouldn't have happened at Reed anyway.
There's nothing wrong with being a $20/hour construction worker, and there's nothing preventing him from going to another four-year college if he chooses to do so.
Dillman had moved into his own apartment and planned to take some community college classes while working full-time. He told me he’s trying to stay upbeat but he’s no longer interested in pursuing a career in science. ‘I’ve changed’, he said. ‘I’m more into randomness.’
OK then. Not sure what that means, but good luck.
Kevin at October 16, 2017 8:35 AM
If he lets this set back derail his whole life, then he is at fault for that.
stormy at October 16, 2017 9:53 AM
Sayeth Ms. Lee:
Restated: "They're starting to use these words against me, and I don't like it."
Old RPM Daddy (OldRPMDaddy at GMail dot com) at October 16, 2017 9:59 AM
Stormy, I won't disagree with you very much. "I'm more into randomness" is young-guy speak for "I don't know what the F I want to do with my life". I'll bet that a year of swinging a hammer will clarify his thinking a lot. Not necessarily that he'll go back to college; the skill trades pay good money. You can make a lot of money welding.
Cousin Dave at October 16, 2017 12:17 PM
Telling quote:
More good quotes on this topic here:
http://davidthompson.typepad.com/davidthompson/2017/10/elsewhere-250.html
Ben David at October 17, 2017 1:00 AM
> "I'm more into randomness" is
> young-guy speak for "I don't
> know what the F I want to do
> with my life".
☑
Crid at October 17, 2017 3:23 AM
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