Mythbusting white privilege

[boost]

The effects of special treatment end up not being a net "leg up", partly because the costs aren't associated proportionately. My hypothetical was focused on the micro while policy is macro.

Another way of putting it is this: would I take special treatment if offered to me? Yes. Would it help me? Not necessarily to no.

I get why, due to imperfect information, people make decisions counter to their own interest-- but your choice to still eat the poisoned cookie while having what you believe to be all the requisite information is a laughably bad justification for your contradictions.

[wufwugy]

I get why, due to imperfect information, people make decisions counter to their own interest-- but your choice to still eat the poisoned cookie while having what you believe to be all the requisite information is a laughably bad justification for your contradictions.

I'm not sure that I understand your point.

It can be the case that you could take advantage of something individually yet the existence of the policy that incentivizes that behavior is bad for a group of which you're a part.

Like, there's a glaring contradiction in your rhetoric. Why are you prescribing solutions to a problem that does not exist? If affirmative action and similar policies are detrimental to blacks, how is it that there is no white privilege?

When we say things like "such and such is bad for blacks", we're describing observations regarding causal relationships in simple terms. "Privilege" doesn't do that. It's just, um, well, a shitty concept. It's virtually undefinable and unfalsifiable. Following the point you made, I could say that because whites don't get the unintended consequences that cause a net negative through special treatment on college admissions, whites are privileged. But how dumb would saying that be?

I don't have a full answer on this topic, which is part of why I made this thread. The concept rubs me the wrong way because one can always point to an inequality and claim a privileged/unprivileged dynamic. Historically, that has been a counterproductive tool and societies have done serious damage to themselves by using it. At least results of things like welfare. "Privilege" can't. It just hangs out in the ether or something.

[wufwugy]

Following the point you made, I could say that because whites don't get the unintended consequences that cause a net negative through special treatment on college admissions, whites are privileged. But how dumb would saying that be?

I should add that whites do get net negative unintended consequences from affirmative action. It's a negative for all groups even though some individuals within the groups can use it as a positive.

Also I should point out that when I was talking about why I could choose to be black in Boost's hypothetical, it wasn't because of affirmative action. It wouldn't be good to get poorly placed in a college. I was thinking of lots of other stuff, and it's hypothetical. The situation I described is basically one where you're the "token black guy" in a place where there isn't a meaningful level of racism. This comes with what can be considered some perks as well as drawbacks.

[JKDS]

It's just, um, well, a shitty concept. It's virtually undefinable and unfalsifiable.

Agree!

[wufwugy]

At least results of things like welfare. "Privilege" can't. It just hangs out in the ether or something.

Official worst edit ever. I meant to say something alone this line:

At least things like welfare can be assessed through quantifiable results. "Privilege" can't be.