Summations Only

Do I correctly understand you to be saying that discrimination laws make no reference to privilege because it really and truly isn't part of the definition? And that therefore Crash is wrong about discrimination being a function of privilege?If I've got that right (just ignore this post if I don't), then before you can make that claim don't you need to address Crash's claim that privilege is beyond the scope of the law, I assume because the law is required to apply neutrally with regard to wealth?I'm probably missing something in Crash's argument about discrimination requiring privilege. Black people discriminate against white people in all kinds of subtle ways, and it becomes a lot more overt if a white person decides to take a walk through a black ghetto. It seems to me that it is power or control that gives one the ability to discriminate, and that therefore no one is inherently on the giving or receiving end of discrimination. It depends upon where and when.--Percy

If this thread's participants have by mutual agreement decided that privilege will be understood to mean power and control, or if in the arena of discussions about racism and discrimination there is that specialized terminology, then fine.But otherwise, no.--Percy

If it's not causing confusion for anyone else here then it doesn't matter what I, arriving late to the party, think.But though I don't think my opinion should count for much in this thread, it sure feels confusing to me. It seems like you're claiming that the definition of discrimination under the law doesn't include privilege because the law must be neutral according to wealth, even though in this context privilege actually means power and control. I don't think that argument holds up because you've changed definitions in midstream.--Percy

There's a relevant case being argued before the Supreme Court today in that it also hinges on the definition of a word, in this case "supervisor". The law here in the US states that an employer is automatically responsible for harassment committed by anyone in a supervisory position over an aggrieved party, but not for harassment committed by other employers unless the problem has been reported and the company found negligent. One side claims that a supervisor is someone who has the power of fire, hire, promote and demote, while the other side argues that that is too narrow a definition and that it must include anyone who has any sort of control or power over the individual, for instance by assigning work duties or setting schedules.In hearing the lawyers present their respective positions in a BBC broadcast, it seemed to me that one side is insisting that a supervisor is only a supervisor if they have the title supervisor (or manager or other approximate synonym), while the other side is arguing that what matters is who has power or control.I guess my relevant point for Crash would be that if he means power and control then those are the words he should use. I understand I may be having a bigger problem with using the word "privilege" than others here, but I find it terribly confusing because when I try to incorporate it into my thinking I can no longer make sense of racism being exerted against privilege, or of reverse discrimination as exercised in the US by colleges and universities, and so forth.--PercyEdited by Percy, : Grammar.Edited by Percy, : Grammar again (sheesh!).

It's not that your position isn't clear. It's that unless you state how you're defining privilege each and every time you use it, you're going to be misunderstood. Again and again. Plus your definition really doesn't work because, as others have pointed out, you need to create different classes of privilege.If you're not careful with vocabulary you risk spending most of your time wrapped in a maze of misunderstandings instead of discussing the topic. But hey, what are the odds of that happening? --Percy

I wasn't really a participant in this thread, so I'll use my summation message to reply to this: No. I think that you've fallen so in love with your own prose that you can't see that it's the primary cause of all the problems you blame on others.--Percy