An apology and some self reflection

Thank you for taking the time to write this. Your Patreon->Twitter block continuum is pretty genius and captures two aspects I hated about the culture there:

  1. Profiteering
  2. Censorship/discussion blocking

You also touch on another toxic aspect of their community. Mainly, infantilizing minorities and claiming they need protection from upper class white people. My initial argument on Ghazi was a rejection of the idea that we should take away jobs from black men and give them to women (any women). I thought that was obviously racist. Those black men got where they are on their own, very possibly against heavy odds (possibly not), I didn't say they were helpless and we needed to rescue them, I said "let's not take the job they earned away from them". To me that seems like a pretty common sense, human thing to do that didn't belittle anyone, or take away their accomplishments.

I was answered with justification on why it was ok to do this because women are underrepresented on tv (which is quite frankly false as there are many shows hosted by women, like Ellen to use a single example). Not only is it racist to take a job away from a black man, it's sexist to take a job from any man just because they're a man. It's also sexist against women to infantilize them and say they need help when obviously plenty of women are strong enough to make it on their own.

I don't think the concept of privilege as they frame it is very useful. Everyone has difficulties. I'm sure even the richest white man who inherited all their wealth doesn't have it easy. Actually that seems like it's probably a tough life because you no doubt lack freedom, have to marry the right person, do what your family says...

We should actively seek out things that are holding people back and remove them. Racism does exist and should be dealt with. Taking things away from people that earned them is 100% the wrong way to do it though.

/r/KotakuInAction Thread Parent