Forum:Serious question! (Very possibly offensive)

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Due to certain biological characteristics, some individuals can speak openly on the internet without being anonymous. And they do so without fear of being threatened or harmed. Does this constitute privilege? Parogar (talk) 22:21, 15 December 2014 (UTC)

Yes, it does. Why did you erase the longer discussion? That was interesting. Abed Nadir (talk) 22:26, 15 December 2014 (UTC)

Because I don't want to offend people, and I'm constantly being told I'm triggering people and upsetting them everywhere I go. I'm trying to be more sensitive. And that is privilege? If so, what exactly do feminists want? That part is still confusing to me. Do they want us to give that up? I don't see what I can possibly do to help. Parogar (talk) 22:29, 15 December 2014 (UTC)

I personally wasn't offended by your longer post, but I appreciate your courtesy to others. :)

In general I think the thing to understand about privilege is that it changes your perception of the world. People with a certain privilege (e.g. male privilege, such as not fearing being sexually harassed at work) have advantages in some areas that they're unaware of, so they sometimes have attitudes that fail to take into account the experiences of those who lack privilege. The point of highlighting privilege is to help those who have it understand and appreciate the struggles of those who lack it.

Most of the things that I hear described as privilege, I would rather EVERYONE had them. I want a world where EVERYONE can speak their minds without being harassed, for instance. Abed Nadir (talk) 22:33, 15 December 2014 (UTC)

I agree with you. I think that, for many people, anonymity is not a choice, but a necessity. I think that many times when someone on the internet tells a feminist, "Wow, you wouldn't dare say that if you weren't anonymous," it's not a fair criticism, because if they weren't anonymous (and they're a female feminist, not a male one) they could end up tremendous danger. Yet someone who is white and male can say almost anything they want and the worst people will do is hate them for it. Parogar (talk) 22:38, 15 December 2014 (UTC)

I would certainly like to lose an aspect my privilege. I have most every demographic advantage so it's hard to know how much of my success (failure?) is due to my ability or my privilege. I'd also like to see less privileged folk not doubt themselves because they aren't of the highest privilege demographic. On the privilege side, it's hard to know what to do or what can be done, but being aware of it is certainly a good thing. MarmotHead (talk) 22:42, 15 December 2014 (UTC)

How does being aware of it help? It kinda feels like that is not enough.Parogar (talk) 22:48, 15 December 2014 (UTC)

In general problem solving, being aware of a situation is the prerequisite step to resolving that situation. --Inquisitor (talk) 22:52, 15 December 2014 (UTC)

No one else here will appreciate the analogy. Think of it like evolutionary psychology. There may be limits to what we can do about it; but pretending that it isn't there only guarantees that we will not be able to do anything about it. - Smerdis of Tlön, for the defense. 15:49, 16 December 2014 (UTC)

Out of curiosity - is anybody contributing to this under their real name?--Bob^{"I think you'll find it's more complicated than that."} 16:14, 16 December 2014 (UTC)

Only me, I think. - Smerdis of Tlön, for the defense. 18:12, 16 December 2014 (UTC)

ORBIS TERTIUS Abed Nadir (talk) 07:09, 25 December 2014 (UTC)

I am easily located. I do not care if someone finds my "real" name or not. --Castaigne (talk) 23:04, 16 December 2014 (UTC)

There are various good reasons why people choose to keep their online life separate from the their IRL life & put some distance between the two by using online anonymity or an online pseudonym. Fear of IRL harassment or reprisals is one possible factor (for both women & men) but I wouldn't say it's the dominant reason. A lot of us just appreciate the privacy of keeping these things separate. Wèàšèìòìď^{Methinks it is a Weasel} 23:50, 16 December 2014 (UTC)

I've used handles because I've been online in one form or another since 1984, and it's always been the done thing. - Smerdis of Tlön, for the defense. 01:34, 17 December 2014 (UTC)

It can also be genuinely nice to be known as something else than your usual name once in a while. Even if your online "name" is just a quasi-random bunch of numbers. 141.134.75.236 (talk) 01:40, 17 December 2014 (UTC)