#i know part of this is white fragility but if you dismiss someone and berrate them for not knowing better when theyre trying to learn- | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

queers4years · 5 years ago

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Tumblr has this nasty habit of viewing things as black and white. As a human being (particularly a minority) you don't have an obligation teach someone about social justice. But if you're an activist you SHOULD make an effort to educate (on your own terms). People don't start off perfect, and expecting that from everyone is ludacris. The purity culture of the left is going to get us killed. If you totally obliterate someone who made a minor mistake or who wants to talk about something before looking it up- that person may just totally give up on the cause. And thats when alt righters swoop in promising not to yell 'google is free!' While they calmly and sweetly endoctriante people

Bro (talking about a girl he’s interested in): She’s pretty cool. But kinda intimidating. She hates—well she doesn’t hate men but she hates the…man thing. Me: …penis?

Bro: No. The—the thing. The bad cultural thing. The paternal thing.

Me: Ohhh. The Patriarchy?

Bro: That’s the bitch.

Me: I feel like we should probably not call the patriarchy ‘bitch.’ All things considered.

Bro: You right. See? This is why I’m stressed! What if I say something dumb like that in front of her!? Anyway. We’re going out again on Friday, I just gotta make sure I’m not patriarch-ing. Can you help me pick out what I’m going to wear? Feminists like flannel, right?

#it drives me INSANE how ppl on tumblr expect everyone (at all stages) to drop everything and do research on their own #there ARE many cases where people keep asking the same question. or sealoining. or they just dont want to get into it. and thats okay!#people expect a lot from poc just having a blog -constantly being berrated with race questions #and they arent obligated to be an ambassador for their race nor a teacher #it IS harder emotionally on a minorty to defend their existance than somone arguing with no stakes #thats why its definetly NOT AN OBLIGATION for minorities to teach and link and explain things #and yes there ARE people who ask in bad faith. or white people insisting on being coddled - that maybe require more effort than theyre worth #HOWEVER we cant give up on educating the privileged.#we need activists who are willing to teach people. (without like humiliating them for small mistakes)#you cant just brush everyone off and tell them to google it -some people arent far enough along to be motivated to follow through #and if you brush someone off idk how committed theyll be to do research #especially with more complex topics you kind of need someone to go back and forth with to actually understand #i hate the shift that says IF THEY WERE ACTUALLY INVESTED THEYD DO RESEARCH INSTEAD OF ASKING SOMEONE #esp in this post where OP is clearly a good resource for students to come to #i know part of this is white fragility but if you dismiss someone and berrate them for not knowing better when theyre trying to learn-#-they will become dissolusioned with the cause #being called out sucks and a lot of people arent past the selfish stage of activism that recognizes it as a good thing.#its embarassing to be called out. if people are just mean and dont offer ways the person can get better -they may drop the cause alltogether #people say GOOD when those folks fall off the wagon cus they werent good enough-instead of teaching them ud rather them go alt right?#cus the alt right loves to scoop up people 'hurt' by sjws #and those ppl who werent far into progressiveness dont see the need to stay in a community that doesnt want to teach them #i know its not fair. but were fucked if we alienate potential allies before they can grow #it boils down to: teach if you can on your terms. try and link instead of snapping google is free. and help ppl grow instead of cancling em #sam #addition #for mother

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