When I was a kid racism/sexism meant one of two things; visceral hatred of a certain group, or a belief in the inferiority/superiority of certain group(s). I’m only 34, I grew up in a well populated region of California, and my parents were politically mixed … so I don’t feel like my childhood sentiments were far outside of norm. If someone were to say they have racial/sexual bias in various forms, we wouldn’t label that sexism or racism.
By this standard, most people felt very comfortable denouncing racism/sexism.
In the late 90s I started seeing people intentionally blur the lines of bias and bigotry. Victim peddlers largely won their somewhat noble victory, but had to feel relevant and desired to retain their victimhood. It became hip to change the goal posts, and since everyone thought bigotry was bad they could start using the term to mix concepts.
Language in many ways frames the debate. People were stuck in a weird spot …
- Admit they are a bigot, live in guilt, and try to pay emotional reparations that can never be paid (since you will always be a bigot).
- Avoid the subject and no longer discuss these issues.
- Admit they are a bigot, and fuck you. Maybe start flirting with ideologies that are actually bigoted as a perceived means of retaining their integrity.
- Reject the conceptual framework people are using to frame the subject.
I’ve found that many libertarians are falling into the first and third camps. I’ve been in many discussions with libertarians who find no need to reframe the debate and either accept white/male guilt or accept being racist/sexist (and fuck you).
A recent poll in a private group I’m in on Facebook about sexism and many other discussions that have occurred seem to reflect these sentiments are there, also.
I have sex/gender and racial biases. However, I can empathize deeply with any race and at least two of the genders. I don’t desire segregation. I don’t desire harm of others based off of race or gender. I feel extremely comfortable leaving racism to be an issue of actual hate or superiority/inferiority.
I strongly believe that the current language and concepts we use to discuss issues of race and gender lead to vastly more bigotry and it largely explains the growth of white nationalism from a couple of losers to a couple more losers. It seems impossible to believe that the shift in language has done anything productive towards getting better treatment for anyone. The modern linguistically framework does nothing for accuracy either … it makes these concepts more vague, distorted and emotionally laden (which was part of the intent).
I believe when tribal identity starts to become such an overwhelming issue, it distorts the individual interests of people to the point where it is profitable for an individual to find protection within a tribe. This means tribalism begets tribalism.
Anyway. According to the latest poll, we are all bigots. Only me and a couple of other people disagree. Long story short, you are all bad people and I am superior to you by means of my tribe.
