<p>Well, what if it’s about race? There’s not much one can do about that. Or gender.</p>
<p>I think it makes a big difference whether Fortgang said, “All these people on welfare are just lazy,” or “My family is going to Paris for spring vacation.” Saying “check your privilege” may be appropriate for the former, especially if this guy is constantly saying things like this. Saying it in response to the latter would be churlish–even though others might be thinking “must be nice.”</p>
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Even for those, a person might say something that reveals a lack of sensitivity–for example, he might suggest playing golf at Burning Tree, forgetting that it doesn’t allow women.</p>
<p><a href=“Princeton Essay on "Check Your Privilege" Raises Legitimate Gripes | The New Republic”>http://www.newrepublic.com/article/117665/princeton-essay-check-your-privilege-raises-legitimate-gripes</a></p>
<p>Let me add another similar expression: before you judge somebody, walk a mile in his shoes. I think that’s what “check your privilege” ought to mean.</p>
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<p>Actually, regarding gender…unless Princeton is different from other Arts & Sciences centered elite colleges, being male may have actually worked in his favor considering there are many more qualified female applicants compared with male applicants.</p>
<p>One elite u Prof who examined undergrad applications admitted if they didn’t try measures to balance out M/F ratios of incoming students by giving males a tip, her university could have easily ended up 80% female. </p>
<p>“Check your privilege”</p>
<p>Who says this? Really, who actually has spoken these words? Who has had them spoken to them?</p>
<p>It’s a real phrase being used on college campuses, apparently. Before this thread I had heard complaints about it’s use from 20-somethings. But, have never actually heard anyone say it in real life. </p>
<p>I just asked my son (who is 22) if he’d ever heard this, and he said, “Nobody ever said it to me, because I’m not an @$$ hole.” So there’s a data point.</p>
<p>Well, I thought the fellow student’s response that abasket posted above was great. Certainly written at a more sophisticated level than Fortgang’s. (Yes, it could have used a bit of editing, but still.)</p>
<p>Fortgang can’t help being a privileged white male, but he can help being a pretty shallow and arrogant person. Judging by some of the hateful statements people have dug up from his Twitter account, he is at the very least an angry, racist jerk.</p>
<p>I can’t wait for this to be uttered in a business meeting when they get their first jobs. I supposed they will alternate between that and telling people that they have " first world problems."</p>
<p>I really find it difficult to have a serious discussion about this. </p>
<p>Leaders lead by being positive role models. They do not lead by embarrassing and chastising others whose behaviors they want to influence.</p>
<p>Ugghhh.</p>
<p>We should also note that Fortgang is only a freshman. He may change his tune if he doesn’t get into the eating club he prefers.</p>
<p>Another great response…wow.</p>
<p><a href=“Keep checking your privilege | Al Jazeera America”>http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2014/5/check-privilege-princetoncolumbia.html</a></p>
<p>“Fortgang can’t help being a privileged white male, but he can help being a pretty shallow and arrogant person. Judging by some of the hateful statements people have dug up from his Twitter account, he is at the very least an angry, racist jerk.”</p>
<p>Well, I guess if you read it on the internet, it must be true. Right?</p>
<p>Supposedly non-judgemental people can be very judgey sometimes.</p>
<p>It is my opinion (i.e., personal judgment) that his prior statements–on Palestine and on the people who thought George Zimmerman should have been convicted–are obnoxious. The guy has put himself out there for public scrutiny. He shouldn’t be surprised about the response, and nor should you.</p>
<p>"Busdriver, that was an interesting response. Help me to understand. Are you saying you believe “white privilege” is predicated upon the “structure” you defined in your response? Do you see this structure as uniquely white? I’m a bit confused, because I was raised within a virtually identical family structure, even as a child living in the segregated South being denied access to schools attended by white children. At that time, every child in my neighborhood, as well as virtually every one that attended my black Baptist church, was being raised within this same structure. It didn’t insulate us from knowing at a very early age that we were in no way privileged with being valued the same as our white counterparts.</p>
<p>Help me out here. I have yet to read anything written on white privilege that bases its definition upon the rubric you outlined. Why is it that you seem to believe this?"</p>
<p>Hi @poetsheart. I do not think this structure, nor “privilege” is uniquely white. Though I think the fact that there are far more intact white and Asian families, allows this privilege to be more prevalent in those groups. I came from a background that would make poor kids look wealthy nowadays, partially because of lack of money and partially because of mental illness in my family. But from what they said and how they lived, I knew I could do anything I ever wanted, education was critical, and the most important thing was that whatever I wanted in life, it was I who would have to make it happen. No one else. My family was always there, my father involved, and even throughout the crazy, they were able to give me a mental strength and stability that helps me always be positive and happy, no matter what (so far).</p>
<p>Nobody allows me “privilege” of any sort, it comes from within. I can get ignored in stores because I’m a sloppily dressed middle aged woman. Who cares? I can get completely ignored in places in the South, even have people turn their backs purposefully to me because I’m white. Who cares? I’m in a completely male dominated field that used to detest women in that field. Who cares? I could have given up and said I couldn’t do it, it was too hard, they’d be too mean to me. When the guys got that look during a group interview that, “Oh, she’s here because she’s a minority quota, and is probably unqualified,” it didn’t bother me too much, though I enjoyed when they realized that I was more qualified than most of them. Whether I’m advantaged or disadvantaged in any situation, I make the most of it and don’t allow what someone might think to bother me one bit.</p>
<p>I did a lot of walking yesterday, and must have walked past this young black man four times during the day. He was just standing there for hours, hanging out by the same spot, not looking for donations, but staying put. Dressed like a gangbanger, probably selling drugs. I didn’t feel threatened, said hello every time, and all I could think was that I felt sorry for this kid. That’s he’s probably going to end up in jail, so young. That there is no way he had a father in his life, at least not a good one. That he isn’t doing this because he was disadvantaged by the Man and white privilege, but because he didn’t have faith in himself, confidence, parents who truly cared and respected him. This kid should have been in college, not hanging around with a bunch of losers selling drugs.</p>
<p>In the article linked above, a student from Columbia from a similar “privileged” background takes Fontgang to task and says “I admit that my appearance makes it easy for me to hide my privilege, to play it up or down at will, depending on the situation I find myself.” He goes on to explain that being “charged” with “privilege” means you are being accused of being closed-minded. Then he states “Tal, I’m sorry that in this day and age, white has gone a little out of style.”</p>
<p>I am sorry but what? Whatever happened to being yourself? Are we chameleons now? And is being “privileged” (whatever that means) now a crime? This whole idea of reminding someone to “check their privilege” is absurd. When I find myself in the company of people who say or do things that irritate or insult me, I avoid them in the future. Period. It would never occur to me to lecture anyone on how I think they should be thinking. They are who they are. It is not my job to try and change them or remind them of anything. It is my job to surround myself with people I find compatible and supportive.</p>
<p>I completely got what he was saying–basically, that if Fortgang had a little more empathy and compassion, there would be little for him to “check.” Of course he can’t help being born white and affluent–and I agree with him that people shouldn’t make assumptions because he is–but his actions and attitudes reveal him as an entitled, petulant and petty kid.</p>
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<p>“It would never occur to me to lecture anyone on how I think they should be thinking. They are who they are. It is not my job to try and change them or remind them of anything. It is my job to surround myself with people I find compatible and supportive.”</p>
<p>So true. The entire idea of the “thought police” telling us what we must think or say is so incredibly offensive. People who think they have the superiority to dictate our lives and beliefs are intensely irritating to me.</p>
<p>Probably why I’ve never been much interested in organized religion, though I have the utmost respect for many religious people.</p>
<p>“A lot of people would love to have privilege to check….”</p>
<p>And truth be known, herein lies the problem.</p>