Are we really having the “don’t you mean SOME ____ people” argument again, Tumblr?
w/r/t The Arkh Project: it is, in fact, significant that a straight white cis person tried to shut down the Arkh Project. It’s not just “some bigot.” The game will feature non-straight, non-white, non-cis people. Specifically. So someone to whom the game will not cater specifically tried to shut it down. That is significant.
Being straight, white, and cis are not inherently bad things. But seriously, do I really need to say that? Do you really think there are people out there going “every single straight white cis person is the devil and I hate them and there has never been a nice one ever.” OF COURSE NOT. Don’t be ridiculous.
Here’s your cookie, allies: you’re straight. You’re white. You’re cis. One of the three, or two, or all. You do not hate people who are not straight, not white, or not cisgender. CONGRATULATIONS. You have met the minimum standard of being a decent human being. Now maybe you can shut up about your precious hurt feelings, because someone whose identity has been politicized and marginalized by people just like you has the audacity to be openly offended about it.
There is no institutionalized oppression for straight people, or white people, or cisgendered people. Saying “a cis person tried to shut down our project that reaches out to non-cis people” is not an insult to all cis people.
I understand the knee-jerk reaction. I’ve seen blogs like “stfu white liberals” and “stfu white feminists,” and for an instant, I’m like “WELL! *I’M* not like that!!!! Why won’t they acknowledge how great I am?” And then I snap out of it and remember that I can’t police someone else’s oppression, and that queer people and POC and trans* people have every right to harbor a little resentment toward people like me.
If you’re about to send me a message that says, “I really love your blog but I think this is insulting to [not institutionally oppressed] people,” please stop and re-read this entry.
-Jess
This is some incredible commentary. I spend a lot of time trying to explain to people why their privilege is showing when they try to police how someone else talks about their own oppression. I had a guy get very upset this week because a woman said that men shouldn’t have opinions on abortion because HE respects women and isn’t like those other dudes and thinks that he should be given a cookie for that.
