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sandglass (![[info]](http://www.journalfen.net/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} sandglass) wrote in ![[info]](http://www.journalfen.net/img/community.gif){kind=small} unfunny_fandom, |
I know you didn't intend for it to seem so, but I have to tell you, this response is hugely disrespectful. Not only to me, but to everyone who has ever explained this or anything like it to you. I don't mean to insult you, just to help you understand the situation we are in.
People in minority groups are constantly being expected to explain themselves over these types of things. These requests express a sense of entitlement: That not only should the minority educate the majority, but that we should have patience and do it over and over, to the same people. I fully understand that it can take many, many explanations for things to make sense and sink in. However, responding with entitlement when someone explains things and then expresses an annoyance that they had to is hugely disrespectful.
I took time out of my day to try to help you understand, because I like the FW community, and you are a member of that community. This isn't something I had to do. You can have Googled this. Or, since finding things on Google isn't always the easiest you could make it part of your routine to find visit places that explain 101 concepts like this (Shakesville is a fantastic place to start, they have many articles for people new to social justice). Failing that, you can choose not to take part in conversations where you are ignorant. Finally, you could be appreciative when someone takes time to, quite a bit more politely than they probably want to be, explain things to you. Those are four options, all of which would show that you respect the people who either know more than you, or disagree with you, depending on just why you asked me to explain why there is a difference between "Dyke" and "Queer".
Just like it is not fair for me to expect you to know everything about social justice, it is not fair for you to expect me to calmly explain to you concepts I feel are beneath the level of understanding one should have when taking part in discussions here. I can accept disagreement, but I cannot accept disrespect and the showing of both entitlement.
People in minority groups are constantly being expected to explain themselves over these types of things. These requests express a sense of entitlement: That not only should the minority educate the majority, but that we should have patience and do it over and over, to the same people. I fully understand that it can take many, many explanations for things to make sense and sink in. However, responding with entitlement when someone explains things and then expresses an annoyance that they had to is hugely disrespectful.
I took time out of my day to try to help you understand, because I like the FW community, and you are a member of that community. This isn't something I had to do. You can have Googled this. Or, since finding things on Google isn't always the easiest you could make it part of your routine to find visit places that explain 101 concepts like this (Shakesville is a fantastic place to start, they have many articles for people new to social justice). Failing that, you can choose not to take part in conversations where you are ignorant. Finally, you could be appreciative when someone takes time to, quite a bit more politely than they probably want to be, explain things to you. Those are four options, all of which would show that you respect the people who either know more than you, or disagree with you, depending on just why you asked me to explain why there is a difference between "Dyke" and "Queer".
Just like it is not fair for me to expect you to know everything about social justice, it is not fair for you to expect me to calmly explain to you concepts I feel are beneath the level of understanding one should have when taking part in discussions here. I can accept disagreement, but I cannot accept disrespect and the showing of both entitlement.
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