General Discussion

WillyT

(72,631 posts) Fri Jan 10, 2014, 09:49 PM Jan 2014

On White, Male, Privledge... [View all]

(Full disclosure: I'm a 58 year old white male.)

But several decades ago, I'm watch either Phil or Oprah, and there's some whiny white dude on the panel trying to argue for the poor picked-on, downtrodden white-male...

On the "panel", were a variety of white males...

From Father's rights advocates, to out and out racist assholes.

And as I listened to their whining... I got furious, and started shouting at the TV...

"Ask THIS Question, ask THIS Question... ASK THIS FUCKING QUESTION !!!"

(I realize that when you yell at the TV, they cannot hear you, but I was pissed.)

The Question: If it were possible to push a magical button that would change you from white to black, or from male to female, or BOTH, BECAUSE OF THE INHERENT ADVANTAGES OF BEING A FEMALE, OR A MINORITY. Would YOU push that button???

Although it never got asked on that TV show, when I asked it every now and again at a bar when a similar situation came up... not one white male raised their hands.

Just sayin...

154 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

On White, Male, Privledge... [View all] WillyT Jan 2014 OP

I know a lot of people that would probably push the button to turns them from a male into a female. Kurska Jan 2014 #1

LOL !!! WillyT Jan 2014 #2

a back and forth switch would be interesting loli phabay Jan 2014 #26

I don't have anything to add to this. So... I'll give you a kick. M0rpheus Jan 2014 #3

Their only complaint is having to now watch what they say and do around people. arcane1 Jan 2014 #4

Someone was just saying something similar about the b word BainsBane Jan 2014 #5

It's kind of like my saying, "hell, I think drunken Irishman jokes are funny", being a drinking brewens Jan 2014 #152

Have you ever asked that question where the roles were reversed? Major Nikon Jan 2014 #6

are you serious? VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #54

Do you think the original question was serious? Major Nikon Jan 2014 #69

what do you think the answer would be hfojvt Jan 2014 #7

Yeah, you could have the advantage of knowing you had a 1 in 3 chance BainsBane Jan 2014 #8

Do you happen to know how many men died in wars in the 20th century? Bonobo Jan 2014 #11

Way more Americans die from gun violence at home BainsBane Jan 2014 #12

Yes, I agree. Bonobo Jan 2014 #13

and WHO sent them TO war? VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #56

Margaret Thatcher, for one. El_Johns Jan 2014 #64

One of HOW MANY????? VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #67

Hilary Clinton is no dove. I think there are a number of female congresspeople who voted for El_Johns Jan 2014 #89

She is not President yet....keep trying...the exceptions do not negate the rule....sorry. VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #91

"paid less for the same work" hfojvt Jan 2014 #33

There is data easily available on all of this BainsBane Jan 2014 #37

oh, I very much give a shit hfojvt Jan 2014 #75

Much like the data that Teabaggers discount on Climate VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #86

no, I prefer actual science to bad science hfojvt Jan 2014 #108

its NOT bad science...that is exactly what the climate deniers call the ACTUAL science... VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #110

do you know how FEW "high income Black people" there are???? VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #87

I can look it up hfojvt Jan 2014 #107

and compare that to how many WHITE Rich households! VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #111

If the Bears and the Saints are in the Superbowl....and the Saints come into the game with 3 to 1 VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #112

so "physical work" is more important so therefore more valuable in your mind? VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #57

ah no hfojvt Jan 2014 #83

apparently so...you seem to think "naturally physical labor gets paid more" VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #85

Of what practical benefit is "not-physical work" to your daily life? lumberjack_jeff Jan 2014 #118

What? In this world no it isn't.... VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #121

Tangible labor is physical labor. n/t lumberjack_jeff Jan 2014 #124

baloney...physical labor is physical labor... VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #125

Has it ever occurred to you ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2014 #27

in three out of three cases and two of two? hfojvt Jan 2014 #32

wow ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2014 #35

and there it is hfojvt Jan 2014 #97

I've spent a couple days thinking about this response ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2014 #154

because YOU know 3 women that make more money than men... VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #58

uh no hfojvt Jan 2014 #100

What ARE these female "advantages" I have? VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #55

What? hfojvt Jan 2014 #92

No idea....please tell me what MY advantages are... VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #93

YOU decided to "gift" this girl flowers...and because YOU didn't "get anything" for it... VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #94

it's more power than I have hfojvt Jan 2014 #106

Your Privilege is ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2014 #142

Why I am so upset by this revelation...I am turning in my woman card and relinquishing my VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #95

... Sheldon Cooper Jan 2014 #115

Perhaps the best question would be how would you want your children to grow up? BainsBane Jan 2014 #9

+1 Scuba Jan 2014 #31

PERFECT! VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #59

Is that what it comes down to? Lost_Count Jan 2014 #10

I just learned how to push buttons to trash DU threads NoOneMan Jan 2014 #14

It's A Fanciful, Yet Rather Easy Question... WillyT Jan 2014 #15

Is the button blue or red? NoOneMan Jan 2014 #16

Would It Have Been Easier If You Were Female, Or Black ??? WillyT Jan 2014 #18

It would of been easier if I was rich NoOneMan Jan 2014 #20

I'm Sorry Your Honor... Non-Responsive. WillyT Jan 2014 #22

it's called total denial, WillyT Skittles Jan 2014 #24

It's more than denial. n/t 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2014 #28

Oh Skittles... The Denial Is So Heavy Here... WillyT Jan 2014 #78

Her advantages were...she is smart and took the opportunities afforded her VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #61

Her major advantage at the time compared to peers was her athletic prowess NoOneMan Jan 2014 #70

She's SMART! Why are you insulting that by claiming HER being a woman favored it? VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #77

Why are you claiming that I am claiming something I am not? NoOneMan Jan 2014 #81

You are the one saying that her being a woman HELPED her succeed it didn't VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #84

If the Bears and the Saints are in the Superbowl...and the Saint's go in with a 3 to 1 odds to win VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #90

No its quite easy....YOU wouldn't trade your life for a Black guys or a Woman. VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #60

I like my life NoOneMan Jan 2014 #63

YOU BET you do....its nice at the top of the heap. VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #68

The Kochs, Warren Buffet and Elon Musk are among the top of the heap NoOneMan Jan 2014 #71

White men have all the best chances of BECOMING them! VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #76

White people don't just up and *become* rich. The rich are born rich. NoOneMan Jan 2014 #80

Yes 75% ARE BUT....if you are a White male....you are the MOST likely to be one of the other VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #82

White-male privilege is analagous to Rich-ugly privilege. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2014 #17

We are talking about average people here... VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #79

It'd extend my life by 5 years and preclude ever again having to climb a tall ladder. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2014 #117

what the hell does that have to do with anything? In China and India...girl babies VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #122

Yet, you're writing this and I'm reading it... in english. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2014 #128

So what...the concept is exactly the same... VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #130

Yes it is. Chinese parents choose boys for the same reason american ones choose girls. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2014 #131

No it doesn't....Do the women all do better than men in that country for some reason? VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #132

To the extent that it's not gibberish, that's not an argument, it's a contradiction. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2014 #133

Sorry Jeff but you would NOT trade your life for a woman or Black man... VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #134

and here is my proof.. VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #135

Denial is not a river in Egypt. VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #136

Speaking of denial... lumberjack_jeff Jan 2014 #137

slander...hahahahahahahaha VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #138

Being White Male in America means you have the game on the lowest difficulty setting! VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #141

Here is your answer VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #140

I would be very tempted to press the "female" button for the 5 extra years of life expectancy (nt) Nye Bevan Jan 2014 #19

Me Too !!! WillyT Jan 2014 #21

but would you push the Black male for 7 yrs less? VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #62

You are mixing things up here... davidn3600 Jan 2014 #23

Yes ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2014 #30

As a white male CFLDem Jan 2014 #25

Permanently? You just want to see what its like....that doesn't sound like it at all VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #65

Oh, no, CFLDem Jan 2014 #113

You a (heterosexual White male?) would trade his life VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #126

Definitely CFLDem Jan 2014 #127

How about a button... 99Forever Jan 2014 #29

How is it a false dichotomy...would you trade YOUR average life... VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #66

False dichotomy, AKA black and white thinking Major Nikon Jan 2014 #98

Okay an average White woman's life.... VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #99

Does seem to be a better example Major Nikon Jan 2014 #101

Okay bring it....will you trade your life for that of an average White woman? VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #102

I have no desire to be a woman regardless of the advantages Major Nikon Jan 2014 #103

there are no advantages..YOU lose Advantage...that is why! VanillaRhapsody Jan 2014 #104

Living 5 years longer isn't an advantage? Major Nikon Jan 2014 #105

One would hope most people LIKE who and what they are. nt Demo_Chris Jan 2014 #34

If you were to ask a similar question to minorites or females RadleyJ Jan 2014 #36

I'd Like To Think...No... But Then... WillyT Jan 2014 #38

If they answered no would that negate their complaining about a perceived injustice? Major Nikon Jan 2014 #43

Nope... It Would Be Standing Up Against The Injustice.... WillyT Jan 2014 #44

There you go Major Nikon Jan 2014 #46

"They weren't on a nationally televised talk show" RadleyJ Jan 2014 #51

No privilege here, Pal Adam-Bomb Jan 2014 #39

And This Isn't About Anecdotes... There Are Many Fine White Males... WillyT Jan 2014 #40

Okay for all the people who say white men are just as disadvantaged as women and minorities pink-o Jan 2014 #41

+ 1,000,000,000... What You Said !!! WillyT Jan 2014 #42

My two cents. AverageJoe90 Jan 2014 #144

Male privilege vs Female Privilege davidn3600 Jan 2014 #45

16.) My Vagina Can Be Probed By Ultra-Sound By A "Christian Government"... WillyT Jan 2014 #47

"In the event of a wartime draft, I am much less likely to be forced to serve in front-line combat". Nye Bevan Jan 2014 #48

The point is, it makes no difference.... davidn3600 Jan 2014 #49

And Ya Know What... That's A Fairly New Development... WillyT Jan 2014 #53

That list pretty much shows we still have a lot of progress to make davidn3600 Jan 2014 #72

Maybe... Yet When Did Males Have The Government Coming After Their Reproductive Rights ??? WillyT Jan 2014 #74

Yet 45% of women voted for Mitt Romney davidn3600 Jan 2014 #88

"I guess they are content with the status quo." - Or... Maybe Our Job Ain't Done Yet... WillyT Jan 2014 #96

What reproductive rights? n/t lumberjack_jeff Jan 2014 #120

You're Kidding, Right ??? WillyT Jan 2014 #143

Assume for the moment that I am not. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2014 #145

For Reproduction... I Have NO Rights... Because I Cannot Carry A Fetus To Term... WillyT Jan 2014 #146

Government isn't "coming for your reproductive rights" by virtue of the fact you have none to take? lumberjack_jeff Jan 2014 #147

Wow... You Catch On Quick... Males Cannot Give Birth... Asshole Males That Want To... WillyT Jan 2014 #149

I'm fully supportive and protective of reproductive choice. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2014 #150

So Tell Me... What Are YOUR Reproductive Rights ??? WillyT Jan 2014 #151

I'd agree. Zero. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2014 #153

The problem with such lists found on the internet Major Nikon Jan 2014 #50

True confession time. Gormy Cuss Jan 2014 #52

Aw Shucks... WillyT Jan 2014 #73

If I were given the choice to switch from Black to White.. kalisto2010 Jan 2014 #109

Louis CK - Being White MrScorpio Jan 2014 #114

Funny that. cinnabonbon Jan 2014 #116

Let's ask a real question. If you could choose the sex of your child, what would it be? lumberjack_jeff Jan 2014 #119

from the article: Tuesday Afternoon Jan 2014 #139

This thread needs to be seen by every White Male DUer: Tuesday Afternoon Jan 2014 #123

It's a better example of female privilege. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2014 #129

I'll clear this up for ya, Willy. The people in this thread who flat out lie and assert that they'd Liberal_Stalwart71 Jan 2014 #148