People would never get away with saying that about [X}!

[aesmael]

Many times I have seen people complain about the way some class they hold membership of (let's call that [Y], because I will want shorthand later) is treated, that others feel entitled to make derogatory or offensive remarks about them without repercussion, and add to their complaint that a similar remark about class [X] would not be allowed to pass. Frequently this is accompanied by (or responded to with) a statement that [Y] is the last or one of the last groups it is still politically correct to mock/hate/whatever openly.

As near as I can tell, it seems a significant or vocal fraction of every societal grouping feels this way. I have seen it said of/by atheists, christians, gay and lesbian folks, trans people, geeks, fat people, furries, feminists, disabled people... probably more I do not recall. No specific recollection of POC saying such things, but the spaces I inhabit tend to be very white so I would not know either way.

Conclusion: annoyed.

Comments

[jessie-c.livejournal.com]

I think that the sentiment is valid. Just because it's not frowned upon to make derogitory statements about class [Y] doesn't make it morally right or acceptable. Bad behaviour is bad behaiour no matter whom it is directed at.

[aesmael.livejournal.com]

I do not think I understand what you are saying.

Also, I am afraid my post is very incomplete - I found myself with a choice between posting what I had written or not posting and chose to have at least that much said rather than none at all. Not thinking that necessarily relates to your comment but wanted it said.

[jessie-c.livejournal.com]

What I saw you saying is that some people think it's acceptable to abuse group [Y] in a manner such that if it were directed at group [X] it would clearly be unacceptable. Members of gorup [Y] point to this fact and say "See, we're the last gropu it's still acceptable to abuse (whether they're truly the last group is irrelevant).

My contention is that their perception of being abused is valid. Abuse is abuse, no matter whether it's still "socially acceptable" or not.

If I jumped in too soon, then reserve judgement on what I've said. Perhaps when you complete your thought I'll have someting different to say about it all.

[lost-angelwings.livejournal.com]

What she meant was that she's annoyed that every group claims that their group is the last acceptable discrimination, that all other groups are either mainstream accepted or have protections, or society frowns upon mocking them. It's a trope I've heard from so many groups :\

Fat activists like to say it a lot that they're the last acceptable prejudice, and that GLBT ppl, disabled ppl, PoC, etc have it so good and that nobody dares make fun of them or discriminate against them... etc

There's somebody who replied to my post in my rant blog talking about how fat ppl are facing a holocaust right now of government taking away their children and how no other group faces anything near the level of discrimination, hate and marginalization by the government and law that they do... etc :\

I think that's the attitude that Trish is complaining about, that every group thinks every other oppressed/marginalized group has it "so good" and so nobody cares about supporting anybody else. It's not that different groups face different challenges, but dismissing other groups challenges or ignoring that they face any all together :\

[jessie-c.livejournal.com]

That's a valid observation. Still, they do have part of it right; it's still "okay" for manistream people to heap abuse on them without other people calling out their BS.

[lost-angelwings.livejournal.com]

But they contribute to the problem by not calling others out when they heap abuse on other groups b/c they believe that those other groups have it fine. :\

So it's a cycle :\ They have part of it right and see ONLY that part.

[lost-angelwings.livejournal.com]

yus :(

everybody is the "last acceptable discrimination" and it just adds to the "us vs them" idea :( the idea that we shouldn't help other groups or respect them b/c well "they have it so good" :(

[coniferous_you]

Everything I would say has probably already been said, but I quite enjoy that the bottom of the page says:

"Conclusion: annoyed"

And then there's a cat that says "Mood: Annoyed."

I found it really funny.

The IntErnet: Esoteric with a capital E.

[coniferous_you]

What does POC mean?

Re: The IntErnet: Esoteric with a capital E.

[coniferous_you]

I COULD guess, but it could be a lot of things and thus I will not.