On being born with privilege
Posted by davidmcnab 9 years, 2 months ago to Philosophy
Earlier today, I saw a feminist posting on social media about the "privilege inherent in being white, straight and male". It had an undertone of expectation that anyone in that position should feel guilty and hold themselves back in favour of those denied that privilege.
Anyway, this was my reply:
To anyone with privilege of any kind be it artistic genius, or wealthy birth, or athletic capability, or political connections, or dominant gender/sexuality/ethnicity, I say this:
Do not under any circumstances allow yourself to indulge (or others to manipulating you into indulging) in that toxic infectious emotion called 'guilt', or feel you have to hold yourself back in any way, or for anybody.
Take everything great you have been given, and use it to its utmost to be all you can be. Through your productive accomplishment, you inspire others, and even lighten their load.
Audit all the helpful and unhelpful cards you have been dealt. Strategise your life to maximise the benefit of your helpful cards, and minimise the adverse impact of your unhelpful ones, and where possible, even convert the unhelpful ones into helpful ones.
And be mindful that the true measure of a person is not what cards they have been dealt, but how they play them.
I don't identify as Christian, but that passage on 'charity' in Corinthians offers much guidance, especially if you substitute the words 'open heart' and/or 'empathy' for the word 'charity' (which today has taken on a connotation of moral obligation to give to those less fortunate).
Anyway, this was my reply:
To anyone with privilege of any kind be it artistic genius, or wealthy birth, or athletic capability, or political connections, or dominant gender/sexuality/ethnicity, I say this:
Do not under any circumstances allow yourself to indulge (or others to manipulating you into indulging) in that toxic infectious emotion called 'guilt', or feel you have to hold yourself back in any way, or for anybody.
Take everything great you have been given, and use it to its utmost to be all you can be. Through your productive accomplishment, you inspire others, and even lighten their load.
Audit all the helpful and unhelpful cards you have been dealt. Strategise your life to maximise the benefit of your helpful cards, and minimise the adverse impact of your unhelpful ones, and where possible, even convert the unhelpful ones into helpful ones.
And be mindful that the true measure of a person is not what cards they have been dealt, but how they play them.
I don't identify as Christian, but that passage on 'charity' in Corinthians offers much guidance, especially if you substitute the words 'open heart' and/or 'empathy' for the word 'charity' (which today has taken on a connotation of moral obligation to give to those less fortunate).
Altruism is not the proper word nor wrong if it is arrived at objectively and by our own free will. i'm thinking of rands definition of greed...that which we want the most will only come if we give the most and give with the expectation of both pleasing the recipient but of receiving same from the recipient..
It is not 'giving back' that most odious of phrases. it is an expression of the joy of having free will.and expecting even more besides a feel good red bull jolt that soon dies and requires two more...
That is how I apologize as for the proper spot that is no longer among the living i sentenced it to death by ignoring.
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Emotions, as Ayn Rand says, are fast approximators. In the anatomy of the human heart, there is a matrix of interconnected nerve cells, constituting a brain in and of itself. Emotions such as anxiety can deliver rapid and accurate warnings of internal contradiction.
That said, however, emotions can be just as vulnerable as intellect regarding their ability to produce errors, as a result of false premises.
Example: Feeling fear when looking to start your own business, versus feeling happiness taking a secure but moderately paid job in a large company. This emotion can be based on family conditioning around work and money. Others would feel emotions of joy and freedom starting their own business, versus feeling suffocated and depressed taking the secure job.
So if you used a million or so dollars to buy a big ranch and add secure gates, solar power, and a well, you have purchased a degree of security against some forms of mischance. You might also be able to sell said ranch for more than its cost + improvements, thus earning money by making yourself more secure. (Repeat.)
Jan
I dote on my dotage....and just acquired a new bit of stuff (dinghy) for the boat... :-)
But this began with your question of 'what about lottery winners'. I would not want to put the money in a bank, but I don't want to keep it in a mattress either. I am not nautically accomplished, so boats and ships are not where I would go - but land is.
I would hire a property management company.
Jan
1. The privilege of life. I live.
2. The privilege of thought. Life is nothing without thought.
3. The privilege to exercise thought or work. Life without the freedom to express my thought is not a privilege.
4. The privilege to see my work's value traded to others without government interference.
5. The privilege to share my ideas with others.
Here are a few of the privileges I don't have:
1. The privilege of depriving others of their wealth by coercion.
2. The privilege of telling others they must believe what I do.
3. The privilege of restricting what others can say or believe.
4. The privilege of restricting or controlling how another person can offer the value of their work to another.
Nothing more renegable than than a veteran.
THAT goes in the Democrats column of who to blame squarely. They hate veterans...and I despise them....
I paid blood and they sat on their fat asses. pun intended.
not my worry at that point.
The single white straight Christian male is certainly being 'decimated' at the moment. :/
At my age I'm not into property management considering the length of time and cost to drive out the deadbeats. A group favored by Judges...
It's not my cup of tea nor do I see any reasonable stoppage on trends nor any real hope of a recovery - just more of the same.
I'd rather live in a warm (for my old bones) and safe (as compared to the USA) country and enjoy my dotage.
Since you were discussing Tbills (above)...I don't think apartment buildings is beyond the range of feasibility.
Jan
"comfortable" parenting -- training and health care --
and opportunities to read, study and play on my own.
I had my lawn service, and still have the schwinn
ten-speed downstairs which I bought with some of
the profits. . taught me capitalism, work ethic, the
value of reputation. . the inheritance factor provided
about half of this house. . it's a good-un. -- j
.
decimate - to kill one tenth. Do it ten times it reduces the group in question 100 - 90 - 81 - 72 - 66 - 57 - 51 - 45 - 40 and one more 36.
assuming no replacements.
On the other hand if you are into PC it could mean almost anything..
Good post jetmec.
Now a couple of new boats....in which to live and which provide an escape mechanism is much more my style
But after 'giving back half then 39% or whatever I'm more in favor of a Bobby and Sue investment.
Go on...take the money and run....
But other than t bills oddly enough no way I'd invest in an economy heading for another big crash.
#1. Buy stuff. Land. Houses. Rental properties. If you buy $6M worth of 'stuff that appreciates' or 'stuff that will give you an income over the next years' then you have something that can actually earn money.
#2. Spend your money on something you regard as worthwhile: De-extincting mammoths or the Thylacine; commercialization of space; longevity research.
You can do both, of course: You need about $3M to keep you in independent luxury (invested in real estate); then put the rest into something intersting.
Jan
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