# Another White Male Perpetrates a Another Mass Shooting **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 22, 2021, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-white-male-perpetrates-a-another-mass-shooting/938463 "2021-03-22T22:39:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-white-male-perpetrates-a-another-mass-shooting/938463/141 "2021-03-24T19:26:55Z")
I’m sure John Quentin Smith would also need to start worshipping a different god…WAIT A MINUTE! ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-white-male-perpetrates-a-another-mass-shooting/938463/142 "2021-03-24T19:33:18Z")
I don’t get it. One the one hand, you say it’s a flawed and idiotic system of racial classification of which you disapprove. On the other hand, you are quite determined to accept its conclusion in declaring the individual as non-white. How can you be sure of this conclusion? ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-white-male-perpetrates-a-another-mass-shooting/938463/143 "2021-03-24T19:38:42Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > But you’re extremely stupid, so I see how you’ve mistaken your convenient fantasy for the truth. I’m only at 127 of 142 on this post so far, but I’d just like to ask why it’s necessary to call someone “extremely stupid”? If they are actually extremely stupid, it would be obvious. If they are intelligent and just disagree or have different opinions, that is obvious too. ---
**Author:** ![ZosterSandstorm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e0b2c6/32.png) [@ZosterSandstorm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZosterSandstorm)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-white-male-perpetrates-a-another-mass-shooting/938463/144 "2021-03-24T19:39:24Z")
As soon as you start invoking concepts like “white male” shooters you are diving into the whole system of racism. Again, none of these things are real in an objective, natural science sense. The entire notion of “whiteness” or “race” is just as socially constructed as any other aspect of the system of racism. You can’t ask how that system would categorize some person and then object to the answer because you find it racist - you’re accepting the racist premise by asking the question. It’s not on me to justify to you why Muslims and immigrants are more likely to be read as “Arabs therefore nonwhite therefore inferior” by white racists. I don’t claim that there is any justification for it. I’m simply rejecting the notion that you or I get to personally decide who is or is not “Arab” based on what we would prefer for political conclusions, or based on some sort of scientifically quantified DNA test. That is not how racism works, and _any question about “what race someone is” is asking “what race do white racists thinks they are.”_ Because the entire notion of “race” is invented by, and sustained for the purposes of, white racists. Getting performatively upset that someone would answer the question “what race is this person” by stating “white racists would categorize him as follows…” is absurd. There is no other type of answer to “what race is this person” because the entire notion of race is part of white racism. Don’t ask the question if you don’t like that. Once again it’s absolutely incredible, in the most literal sense, that I should have to explain any of this to a group of allegedly liberal, anti-racist people. The notion of social construction of race by white supremacists is the first day of any class that addresses these topics. The only reason you’re pretending to be unaware of this is because you’re incapable of admitting that all of your premature speculation about the “white shooter’s” white motives is now irrelevant and you got suckered into believing unreliable reporting because it fit the narrative you wanted to push. Take the L and give yourself a learning experience about critical use of media, for fuck’s sake. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-white-male-perpetrates-a-another-mass-shooting/938463/145 "2021-03-24T19:40:13Z")
I smell a “no true white man” fallacy in the making. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-white-male-perpetrates-a-another-mass-shooting/938463/146 "2021-03-24T19:44:09Z")
> [@ZosterSandstorm](#): > > Because the entire notion of “race” is invented by, and sustained for the purposes of, white racists. So it’s all the fault of White people and no one else can be racist? Yeah, uh, I’m not sure you understand prejudice in a more global sense. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-white-male-perpetrates-a-another-mass-shooting/938463/147 "2021-03-24T19:44:24Z")
> [@EastUmpqua](#): > > I’m only at 127 of 142 on this post so far, but I’d just like to ask why it’s necessary to call someone “extremely stupid” Short answer? It’s the Pit. Longer answer? Because said poster is a shit storm and ‘extremely stupid’ rather than ‘perniciously disingenuous & a troll’ was a kindness. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-white-male-perpetrates-a-another-mass-shooting/938463/148 "2021-03-24T20:18:52Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Is there _anyone_ in this thread who thinks that this murderer’s racial identity in the US is an uncomplicated “White” identity? Uncomplicated? Nope. But he’s definitely White. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals said so. Well, “white”, but it was a different time, as the racists like to say… ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-white-male-perpetrates-a-another-mass-shooting/938463/149 "2021-03-24T20:51:11Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > But he’s definitely White. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals said so. Well, “white”, but it was a different time, as the racists like to say… That’s from 1915, right? The social construction of race has changed a bit since then. And even if it hadn’t, unless Bricker’s decided to start posting again only under your account, I’m not sure a court decision is binding on a discussion like this. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-white-male-perpetrates-a-another-mass-shooting/938463/150 "2021-03-24T20:52:52Z")
> [@EastUmpqua](#): > > I’m only at 127 of 142 on this post so far, but I’d just like to ask why it’s necessary to call someone “extremely stupid”? If they are actually extremely stupid, it would be obvious. If they are intelligent and just disagree or have different opinions, that is obvious too. Just to see if I’m understanding how that works, someone might go to the part of the messageboard designed for insults and read an insult there, and then read your post questioning why an insult was posted in the part of the board designed for insults, and they’d be able to figure out that your question is extremely stupid even without my pointing that out? Like, it’s so obvious that I need say nothing? Making sure I understand. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-white-male-perpetrates-a-another-mass-shooting/938463/151 "2021-03-24T21:04:44Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > That’s from 1915, right? The social construction of race has changed a bit since then. The social construction wasn’t even in accord _then_, that’s why the court cases. You should know I, of all people on the Dope, don’t give a fuck about government classification of race. But if someone is outright racist enough to just come out and say “Syrians aren’t White” (and leave the “because they’re Muslim” part very much audible to dogs), I would hope pointing out that they’ve been considered legally White ever since back in the day might give them pause. _When_ did they _stop_ being White to people like him? _Why_ was that? etc. But I might be hoping for too much introspection, I’ll admit. Sometimes I just like watching Right Wing nutjobs piss all over the law they otherwise slaver over, it outs them for the hypocrites they are. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-white-male-perpetrates-a-another-mass-shooting/938463/152 "2021-03-24T21:07:01Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > But if someone is outright racist enough to just come out and say “Syrians aren’t White” (and leave the “because they’re Muslim” part very much audible to dogs), I would hope pointing out that they’ve been considered legally White ever since back in the day might give them pause. _When_ did they _stop_ being White to people like him? _Why_ was that? etc. Fair, except there was no dog-whistle component to the “because they’re Muslim” part: > [@ZosterSandstorm](#): > > Syrian-born Muslims named “Ahmad” are nonwhite Arabs in America. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-white-male-perpetrates-a-another-mass-shooting/938463/153 "2021-03-24T21:08:00Z")
True, it did become more and more overt. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-white-male-perpetrates-a-another-mass-shooting/938463/154 "2021-03-24T21:10:34Z")
> [@ZosterSandstorm](#): > > As soon as you start invoking concepts like “white male” shooters you are diving into the whole system of racism. Again, none of these things are real in an objective, natural science sense. The entire notion of “whiteness” or “race” is just as socially constructed as any other aspect of the system of racism. You can’t ask how that system would categorize some person and then object to the answer because you find it racist - you’re accepting the racist premise by asking the question. This is nonsense. Socially-constructed phenomena are real _within the society that constructed them_. Sports teams are socially-constructed, as are their fandoms; but those fandoms are real. Language is a social construct that has real effects. Recognizing how these things function within their societies not only doesn’t require accepting their premise, it’s actually vital if you want to be able to address their effects. > [@ZosterSandstorm](#): > > Once again it’s absolutely incredible, in the most literal sense, that I should have to explain any of this to a group of allegedly liberal, anti-racist people. Here I agree with you: it’s absolutely incredible. As in, you’re an idiot for giving any credence to the idea that you need to explain things to anyone. > [@ZosterSandstorm](#): > > Take the L and give yourself a learning experience about critical use of media, for fuck’s sake. And this is why using your irony meter on the Internet voids the warranty. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-white-male-perpetrates-a-another-mass-shooting/938463/155 "2021-03-24T21:12:53Z")
Well, those fucking racists at the US Census Bureau seem to think that “Arabs” are “White”. They briefly considered the inclusion of MENA but decided it was more of a category of ethnicity than a race and lumped them all in with the white people. Which probably also means that the FBI crime database will be lumping this guy in with the other “white male mass shooters”. I don’t know what to tell ya. A strongly worded letter is probably in order. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-white-male-perpetrates-a-another-mass-shooting/938463/156 "2021-03-24T21:18:02Z")
9th District just ruled States may restrict open-carry Article: > **[Amid gun control debate, federal court rules states may restrict open carry...](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-03-24/9th-circuit-appeals-court-panel-rules-states-may-restrict-open-carry-guns)** > > 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upholds a Hawaii regulation, ruling states may restrict the open carrying of guns NRA’s response: > ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-white-male-perpetrates-a-another-mass-shooting/938463/157 "2021-03-24T21:29:12Z")
This is why ZosterShitstorm is one of the two posters I have on ignore. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-white-male-perpetrates-a-another-mass-shooting/938463/158 "2021-03-24T21:44:29Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Here I agree with you: it’s absolutely incredible. As in, you’re an idiot for giving any credence to the idea that you need to explain things to anyone. I have two things to add: 1. Thanks for carrying most of the water for this ridiculous **ZS** show 2. Remind me not to get into any arguments with you, unless I have copious aloe for all the excellent burns. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-white-male-perpetrates-a-another-mass-shooting/938463/159 "2021-03-24T22:54:19Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > _When_ did they _stop_ being White to people like him? _Why_ was that? Just a shot in the dark, here, but I’m guessing it was, “When we found out there was oil under Muslim-majority countries,” and “Because they wouldn’t let us come in and just take it.” ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-white-male-perpetrates-a-another-mass-shooting/938463/160 "2021-03-24T23:01:12Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Just to see if I’m understanding how that works, someone might go to the part of the messageboard designed for insults and read an insult there, and then read your post questioning why an insult was posted in the part of the board designed for insults, and they’d be able to figure out that your question is extremely stupid even without my pointing that out? Like, it’s so obvious that I need say nothing? I have backyard BBQ’s with friends every summer. No topics are off limits, but there is mutual respect and friendship, even after beers. Maybe the SD BBQ Pit would be better named ‘Seepage Pit’. But understood, I don’t belong here. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-white-male-perpetrates-a-another-mass-shooting/938463.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-white-male-perpetrates-a-another-mass-shooting/938463.md?page=9)