Interesting and enlightening exchange ...

[1StrongBlackMan]

Earlier today, I responded to a poster that was seemingly dismissive of Duer Tommy Carcetti's (particularly insightful) OP, where TC took an incident in his life and used it to repeat the John Stewart question: "If these few and infrequent situations upset you; imagine what it would be like if it happened to you everyday?"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5898847

The poster responded:

(10:22a.m.) When I was younger and I didn't really know who I was.

Now I honestly don't care what the fuck a stranger (any who isn't related by blood to me is a stranger, with the exception of two close friends) thinks about me.

God didn't put me on earth to win popularity contests or to please random people.

To which I responded:

(11:33a.m.) Do you care what ... The banker thinks of you when you apply for a loan, or that potential employer thinks of you when you apply for a job, or that police officer thinks of you when she pulls up behind you?

Your easy dismissal of this speaks volumes, as each one of those people are random strangers we encounter.

To which the poster responded:

(11:58a.m.) Who said I was dismissing anything? I was talking about my personal experience.

I went back through and re-read the OP. You should be pissed that this person pretty much set themselves up as a spokesperson for African Americans in general.

Or are you looking for a slight where there is none? That's what they used to call "having a chip on your shoulder."

What is your personal experience? can you relate any bank loan anecdotes, job getting troubles, or LEO encounter stories that form the basis of your disaffection?

But here's the thing ...

At 10:36a.m. (by the DU clock), the poster responded to DUer djean that he has a "bad habit of scanning text" and indicated that "Life and livelihood" (makes it) "a different animal altogether"; but, nearly a hour and a half hour later (11:58a.m.), he responded to my pointing out "life and livelihood" matters, i.e., Banking, Employment, Police contacts, that I have a "chip on (my) shoulder" and am "looking for a slight where there is none"?

What changed?

[JustAnotherGen]

1. Nothing

Nothing changed. Empathy chips are not a given . . . They are a would be nice talent/gift. Maybe that person's gift is harmonica playing or wood whittling. But they just were not given an empathy gift?

[1StrongBlackMan]

2. My troubling point is ...

when DUer djean pointed out that the OP was about how being put down constantly, in a way that actually and truly affects your life and your livelihood, can lead one to a momentary flash of anger, the poster fully understood ... but he/she told ME, and hour and a half later, that I have a "chip on my shoulder" and was inventing something to feel offended by, for pointing out life and livelihood issues that I'm pretty certain he/she would care about.

No ... I think I know the difference:

http://www.xojane.com/issues/why-im-masquerading-as-a-bearded-white-hipster-guy-on-twitter

[heaven05]

3. very revealing

and interesting. I like that mr. Carcetti could extrapolate his experience times millions and understand what it must feel like to be hated and feared every day for nothing more than the color of ones skin. As to the other mentioned, he/she has no clue and probably shall remain in la la land forever. No hope of finding anyone home.

[noiretextatique]

4. empathy?

what a concept