Finally! We have some academic support and explanation of the term "microaggression," so that we can all govern every jot, tittle, twitch and blurb.

From the vaunted institution of the University of California..... we have the following information sheet direct from its Office of the President.

http://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel- ... ssions.pdf

If you meet a foreign born student and compliment them on their English speaking ability --- you have microaggressed.

There is only one race, the human race. America is a melting pot.

Questioning another person's stories...... i.e. skepticism.

I believe the most qualified person should get the job.

Men and women have equal opportunities.

LOL -- Microaggressions....

The UCLA list was adapted from Sue, Derald Wing, Microaggressions in Everyday Life: Race, Gender and Sexual Orientation, Wiley & Sons, 2010.

This is madness. The fact that this sort of thing has been adopted by one of the most well-known educational institutions in the United States -- UCLA and the University of California in general -- this is alarming. I mean, we're not talking some podunk little bubble of a college catering to a fetish. This is one of the leading universities in the US.

404 File Not Found - by providing me with an incorrect link, you have microaggressed.

I think you should go away somewhere quiet and think about what you've done. You terrible microaggressor.

Sendraks wrote:404 File Not Found - by providing me with an incorrect link, you have microaggressed.

I think you should go away somewhere quiet and think about what you've done. You terrible microaggressor.

I know it can't possibly make up for the harm I caused, but I have fixed the link..... I am sorry.

And, if my apology is a metaaggression, I'm sorry for that too...

I fear my microaggression has led to your metaggressive state of contrition.

For which I apologise.

Seriously though - I can see where they are coming from with some of this. Although I think rebranding stuff as "microaggressions" serves no useful purpose to anyone, just causes confusion and adds no value.

Yes, pretty much everything they've listed are the kinds of statements the contribute to the general background noise of a racism or sexism or other forms of discrimination within a culture. They're all things that, as a rule, CIS white people, don't have to put up with in western society.

But calling them "microaggressions" is just daft.

Before I post I just want to apologize in advance for any micro, macro, meta, or middling aggressions I may or may not commit. I'm sorry.

Thank you.

Honestly, thank you very much.

And again, I apologize.

You are a credit to your race, Laklak.

There should be a trigger warning on this thread.

I find that suggestion extremely offensive!

Weeeeel, it is a bit silly, and a bit overboard.

Something to ponder a bit though...one of the genuine purposes of Universities, has always been to cross over boundaries and explore new concepts and to investigate new ways of looking at things.

If a GOVERNMENT is the one that starts 'trying on" new conceptual suits of clothes, so to speak, then it is something to object to.

If an institution of learning and exploration does so, it should be lauded for it's risk taking and its willingness to risk looking foolish for the sake of learning.

This is a brave new world where the one taking offense is given priority.

Extrapolate on the consequences.

igorfrankensteen wrote:
If an institution of learning and exploration does so, it should be lauded for it's risk taking and its willingness to risk looking foolish for the sake of learning.

You have offended me. You should be sanctioned.

We have become a society of pure selfishness. This is an example of higher learning actually teaching this world view. It is all about me and how I can use authority structures to satisfy my particular personal desires.

Sendraks wrote:Seriously though - I can see where they are coming from with some of this. Although I think rebranding stuff as "microaggressions" serves no useful purpose to anyone, just causes confusion and adds no value.

Yes, pretty much everything they've listed are the kinds of statements the contribute to the general background noise of a racism or sexism or other forms of discrimination within a culture. They're all things that, as a rule, CIS white people, don't have to put up with in western society.

But calling them "microaggressions" is just daft.

Are you sure about that? When I've gone to Europe, people asked me where I was from, and commented on my interesting accent. When I attempted to speak the language, they complimented me on my attempts.

I was recently in South America, and I stood out because i am tall and white -- it drew interest and comment. I mean, the reality is that if you're different than the prevailing culture, people notice you. When people interact, they often talk about what is different or unusual, and not what is the norm.

Very few of the things are the "kinds of statements that contribute to the general background noise of racism or sexism." I mean -- comments that one wishes everyone was promoted on merit is a microaggression? A comment that one does not believe in race or that we are all one race, the human race, is a microaggression? That's insanity.

Forty Two wrote:Are you sure about that?

Yes I'm sure.
I'm also sure that you don't understand the problem and the examples that you've provided, neatly illustrate this fact.
All the information you need to reach an informed understanding of this subject is available here in this thread, I suggest you go away and make an effort at learning.

Sendraks wrote:

Forty Two wrote:Are you sure about that?

Yes I'm sure.
I'm also sure that you don't understand the problem and the examples that you've provided, neatly illustrate this fact.
All the information you need to reach an informed understanding of this subject is available here in this thread, I suggest you go away and make an effort at learning.

You suggest I go away from the thread I created? I think not.

This post of yours is mind-bogglingly stupid, and on top of that it is unjustifiably arrogant.

If you are sure that i don't understand the problem and the examples, then provide an explanation. I'm not going to go out in search of your argument, other than to say that you haven't made one here in this thread. Your kind of post is generally made by those who don't know what they're talking about, but like the proverbial chess-playing-pigeon, you want to knock over all the pieces, crap all over the board and declare victory. You won't post something reasonable, so you just attack me personally, and tell me to go "do the research" in much the same way as a Creationist who doesn't want to try to defend his own position.

Jerome Da Gnome wrote:This is a brave new world where the one taking offense is given priority.

Extrapolate on the consequences.

I foresee a shortage of tin foil and straw.

..and a bitter taste to the well.

I'd add a few to the list.

"Old cisgendered white patriarchial male" - assumes that because I'm white, retired, happy to have a dick, and only stick it in women that I'm unable to understand the issues and problems faced by people who are not exactly like me. Assumes I'm stupid, lack empathy, and exploit my status to the detriment of others.

"Gun Nut" - implies that because I own firearms I am a knuckle-dragging moron with a small penis.

"Libertoonian" - A slur based entirely on the fact that my political philosophy includes a large degree of self-reliance. Assumes I'm a selfish moron who cannot understand 101 level economics and I'm probably a "Gun Nut" (see above) and/or a "Rethuglican" (see below).

"Rethuglican" - Akin to "Libertoonian", this slur assumes I (though I am not and never have been a member of the GOP) am a racist, homophobic, Christian fundamentalist and probably fuck rent boys.

My response to these slurs, as well as most of those in the original article, is "Go fuck yourself". This is not an example of microaggression, BTW, it's more like plain, old-fashioned aggression, something I'm happy to engage in if necessary.