# Video: Whites are privileged, and that's unfair **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 22, 2012, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928 "2012-06-22T11:36:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/321 "2012-06-27T01:15:11Z")
But of all the white people in prison, what percentage of them do you think came from poverty? I’m betting it’s a pretty high percentage. > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Economics are one piece of the sandwich, and if you’re poor, that’s a big old turd in your sandwich. But if you’re black in the US, you also get a booger in that sandwich. All I’m saying is that it’s a mighty big assumption that poor whites aren’t getting similar boogers (what a disgusting analogy). ---
**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:** [June 27, 2012, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/322 "2012-06-27T01:37:15Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > All I’m saying is that it’s a mighty big assumption that poor whites aren’t getting similar boogers (what a disgusting analogy). My favorite ever job interview question was, “If you had to eat a scab sandwich or swim in a pool full of boogers, which would you choose?” I didn’t get the job, but to this day I’m convinced that if I’d said, “I can only choose one?” I would have. Anyway. The entire point is that poverty imposes one set of obnoxious social conditions on you, and being the wrong race imposes a different, related set of obnoxious social conditions on you. If you’re black and wealthy, you’re probably better off than poor and white. But you get more grief for being poor than for being rich, AND you get more grief for being black than for being white. Although those griefs are related, it’s possible to talk about them separately and evaluate them separately. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/323 "2012-06-27T01:59:19Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > Hey look, a snotty **Ibn Warraq** post I didn’t read. If you’re going to criticize my post I recommend you choose a more appropriate word than “snotty” since it wasn’t. Anyway, I’m not sure what you’re upset with me about since in the post I was responding to, you stated you hadn’t been following the thread and then proceeded to prove it by putting up a post which seemed to imply that “white privilege” referred to economics when it didn’t. If you don’t like people criticizing you for not bothering to read a thread or pay attention to the arguments people are making, I recommend you not admit you haven’t bothered reading them, or better yet, read them and then respond. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/324 "2012-06-27T02:01:43Z")
It’s funny how I’ve got respectful dialogues going on with two other posters, yet you can’t seem to figure out what the problem is. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/325 "2012-06-27T02:10:11Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > It’s funny how I’ve got respectful dialogues going on with two other posters, yet you can’t seem to figure out what the problem is. It’s not my fault that you react badly to people criticizing you when, by your own admission you decide to post in a thread without, by your own admission, bothering to read it. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/326 "2012-06-27T02:13:32Z")
So? What do you care if I didn’t read the whole thread? Did I overlook some brilliant point you made on page 4 and hurt your feelings? ---
**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:** [June 27, 2012, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/327 "2012-06-27T02:16:51Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > So? What do you care if I didn’t read the whole thread? Did I overlook some brilliant point you made on page 4 and hurt your feelings? To be fair, although his post really was snotty, you’re reiterating some of the exact same arguments made by various other posters throughout the thread; I’m responding to you because I’ve been thinking a lot about this thread over the last week. It’s kind of sad when literally days of reflection and the best I can come up with is metaphors about poop-and-booger sandwiches. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/328 "2012-06-27T02:32:09Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > So? What do you care if I didn’t read the whole thread? Did I overlook some brilliant point you made on page 4 and hurt your feelings? I don’t believe I’ve made any brilliant points on this topic and you didn’t hurt my feelings, you merely annoyed me because I think it’s stupid to post on a topic without bothering to read the topic and even stupider to brag, as you have done, about not reading the thread. Now, I don’t know why you’re all worked up about some fairly mild criticisms particularly since I don’t recall us ever arguing before nor have you ever made much of an impression on me. No insult is intended by the last comment. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/329 "2012-06-27T13:41:10Z")
> [@florez](#): > > What do I want whites or anyone else to do about it? Many people of all colors are already aware that undoing institutionalized racism will probably involve more decades of muti-cultural collaboration and speaking out against racism and other forms of oppression. Also helping to empower groups that take action against it, or joining such groups and making it a priority would be a good thing. Okay, speak out against racism. Check. Join a group. Check. > [@](#): > > I would hope that certain white people try to take into consideration that racism is not always the personal problem of a race card carrying cry baby with a skewed view, and that to assume such might be comparable to victim blaming. And I’m saying that PSAs like this one and the abuse of the term “white privilege” risks making that perception worse, not better. > [@](#): > > And that it is important to clearly recognize who is disadvantaged and who is not Hence me pointing out that you CANNOT just point to a white and say “advantaged” and a black and say “disadvantaged!” That’s incredibly simplistic. > [@](#): > > when it comes to light that racial bias still exists, for example racial profiling, sentencing and conviction rates, disparities in education, housing and loan practices,etc. It doesn’t matter. Racism is wrong, we should stop it. Racism againts white people, if you find it, is just as wrong. The societal advantages associated with race dont’ change that. > [@](#): > > And discussions like this on the OP of white privilege is addressing the issue in a constructive way, even if it brings out disagreement and some frustration. IMO it is good to know where others are coming from, and how many white people do understand the issue and want fairness to prevail. Most people want fairness. This is about what fairness means, and what actions are appropriate to bring it about. The range of options is big, so it’s important to discuss it further. One thing I have encountered elsewhere is people claiming that if you dare question your privilege, or any policies based on that idea, it means you are just trying to keep it - and therefore you shouldn’t oppose anything they say. That’s bullying, and I didn’t like it. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/330 "2012-06-27T14:43:08Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Would you take it seriously? How can I take it seriously when I haven’t seen it yet and don’t know what it’s about? ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/331 "2012-06-27T14:53:38Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > How can I take it seriously when I haven’t seen it yet and don’t know what it’s about? You know exactly what it’s about. I told you. I’ve made my point. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/332 "2012-06-27T14:55:13Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiNXXM2mn9Y) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/333 "2012-06-27T15:08:17Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > You know exactly what it’s about. I told you. > > I’ve made my point. You told me it might be about… > [@](#): > > …male or female privilege (there are both), blonde privilege, tall privilege, thin privilege, attractive privilege, good-dresser privilege, good-taste-in-hair style privilege, young/old privilege, nice car privilege, speaks without a weird accent privilege… Some of these are legitimate social concerns, and some are not. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/334 "2012-06-27T15:16:56Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Some of these are legitimate social concerns, and some are not. Which are? And how do you decide? ---
**Author:** ![Incomprehension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5ac83/32.png) [@Incomprehension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incomprehension)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/335 "2012-06-27T15:41:14Z")
Caucasians are not privileged. They have it just as hard as anyone else. Africans actually commit more crimes on average than Caucasians. There is a reason they are racially profiled sometimes. I don’t agree with it though. If anything Caucasians have it worse than other minority’s. Due to this hail immigrants mindset whites are becoming a minority in their own country. Pablo is having eight kids, while Walter is only having two kids. Minority’s have a easier time finding a job due to laws that require company’s to hire x amount of colored people. They have an easier time getting better interest on a loan, and also get special treatment for being, “suppressed”. This goes along with all of that feminist nonsense that exists now days. Caucasian females actually have more power than Caucasian males, and not a equal amount. If anything White Caucasians are the most suppressed. People need to be proud of their race, especially people of the Caucasian race that will soon be extinct. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/336 "2012-06-27T15:41:44Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > Curious: [Do you agree with this PSA’s message](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Do_w2V0-3D0)? Apparently it is part of something called the Un-Fair Campaign, co-sponsored by the NAACP, the YWCA and the League of Women Voters. Poll to follow shortly. > > ETA: In the title I should have specified that white _individuals_ are privileged by virtue of being white, as that’s the message of the video. Agree/? I’m not all that surprised that this thread has gotten as heated as it has on occasion–we certainly know how to brawl on this forum. On the other hand, the actual video was a fairly innocuous observation of a truism with a very mild message: when we see examples of white privilege, speak up against it. That is hardly a call to arms or a demand for an end to all social problems or a condemnation of any person or group. It is simply a message that when we observe a particular type of behavior, we call attention to it so that the person engaging in that behavior will think twice before repeating it. I am pretty sure that the promoters of this video would be equally in favor of speaking up at signs of sexism, age discrimination, religious discrimination, probably sexual orientation discrimination, and other things. The video makes no claim that all white people are villainous racists or that no non-white person can get a fair shake in society. it simply notes that, as the majority, whites occasionally get better treatment (or avoid worse treatment) based on being part of a recognizable majority and such phenomena could be ameliorated by noting them when they happen. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/337 "2012-06-27T15:42:46Z")
> [@Incomprehension](#): > > Caucasians are not privileged. They have it just as hard as anyone else. Africans actually commit more crimes on average than Caucasians. There is a reason they are racially profiled sometimes. I don’t agree with it though. If anything Caucasians have it worse than other minority’s. Due to this hail immigrants mindset whites are becoming a minority in their own country. Pablo is having eight kids, while Walter is only having two kids. Minority’s have a easier time finding a job due to laws that require company’s to hire x amount of colored people. They have an easier time getting better interest on a loan, and also get special treatment for being, “suppressed”. > > This goes along with all of that feminist nonsense that exists now days. Caucasian females actually have more power Caucasian males, and not a equal amount. If anything White Caucasians are the most suppressed. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/338 "2012-06-27T15:44:09Z")
> [@Incomprehension](#): > > Caucasians are not privileged. They have it just as hard as anyone else. Africans actually commit more crimes on average than Caucasians. There is a reason they are racially profiled sometimes. I don’t agree with it though. If anything Caucasians have it worse than other minority’s. Due to this hail immigrants mindset whites are becoming a minority in their own country. Pablo is having eight kids, while Walter is only having two kids. Minority’s have a easier time finding a job due to laws that require company’s to hire x amount of colored people. They have an easier time getting better interest on a loan, and also get special treatment for being, “suppressed”. > > This goes along with all of that feminist nonsense that exists now days. Caucasian females actually have more power than Caucasian males, and not a equal amount. If anything White Caucasians are the most suppressed. I can’t tell if this is a racist rant or merely a well-crafted parody. A fine example of Poe’s law in action. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/339 "2012-06-27T15:45:35Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > On the other hand, the actual video was a fairly innocuous observation of a truism with a very mild message: when we see examples of white privilege, speak up against it. > > That is hardly a call to arms or a demand for an end to all social problems or a condemnation of any person or group. It is simply a message that when we observe a particular type of behavior, we call attention to it so that the person engaging in that behavior will think twice before repeating it. Even that mild-sounding proposition is vague though. > [@](#): > > I am pretty sure that the promoters of this video would be equally in favor of speaking up at signs of sexism, age discrimination, religious discrimination, probably sexual orientation discrimination, and other things. Then why did the focus on whiteness? Why not make a PSA saying “speak against unfair privilege in general?” > [@](#): > > it simply notes that, as the majority, whites occasionally get better treatment (or avoid worse treatment) based on being part of a recognizable majority and such phenomena could be ameliorated by noting them when they happen. I’ll speak out against unfair treatment when I see it - all kinds, not just racial. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/340 "2012-06-27T15:58:30Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Which are? And how do you decide? Has anyone ever lost a job because of their hairstyle, do you think? > [@Incomprehension](#): > > This goes along with all of that feminist nonsense that exists now days. Caucasian females actually have more power than Caucasian males, and not a equal amount. If anything White Caucasians are the most suppressed. People need to be proud of their race, especially people of the Caucasian race that will soon be extinct. Out of the 535 members of the 111th Congress, there are 103 nonwhites - assuming you count all the Jewish and Hispanic members as nonwhite. How many have to be white before you’re not oppressed, exactly? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928.md?page=18)