Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post

Zeld2.0 · 05-11-2004, 09:51 PM

Look Shades, I think you're thinking they're out to get you. Believe me, they are not.

These groups are meant to encourage others to participate because the norm ALREADY is the white male. It's not about race when you consider a group such as the Women's Society of Engineers, it's their attempts to promote engineering among females, a GENDER.

They're not out to screw the white male over. They're out to promote their field to others when they feel they are underrepresented and/or really want to see others participate.

The reason why they don't have a white male society of engineers? Because they're already (or at least WERE) a dominant group in that field and didn't have to promote it.

You see, I sense a lot of paranoia from many male whites who feel that minorities are "out to get them." They're not. In many cases, I sense (and I emphasize sense because that's certainly the feeling I get from many people here and elsewhere) that much of it is competition they don't want. In the history of the U.S., the white male has long dominated the upper echelons of society, business, and politics, and often times they're not facing competition from non-whites.

That's certainly not going to be true for everyone but I see it as an underlying subconscious feeling that many exhibit.

And as for your comment on the overwhelming majority of graduate students becoming non-white and non-American... that's because many of the brightest in other countries see the great ability in America and send their best to learn here. Rather than complain about it, it should be an honor when you realize that in a world of 6 billion, the top people everywhere are coming here.

And you know what's ironic? If/when whites are minority in America (be it 20 years or 100, doesn't matter) they might get preferential treatment. But right now, too many are painting all non-whites as a minority, (ironically reminding me of old segregation with whites vs. non-whites) and right now too much is this "us vs. them" policy when much of it is based on smaller gorups within that brush stroke.

Honestly though, I don't know what else to say. This is honestly an emotional subjective and personal thing within everyone and what the media and others feed you and your own perception of events in your life. Living in Los Angeles, the most diverse city, my perceptions are going to be different from someone in living, say, the rural Midwest where its predominately white and protestant.

05-11-2004, 09:51 PM	#52 (permalink)
Zeld2.0 Cherry-pickin' devil's advocate Location: Los Angeles	Look Shades, I think you're thinking they're out to get you. Believe me, they are not. These groups are meant to encourage others to participate because the norm ALREADY is the white male. It's not about race when you consider a group such as the Women's Society of Engineers, it's their attempts to promote engineering among females, a GENDER. They're not out to screw the white male over. They're out to promote their field to others when they feel they are underrepresented and/or really want to see others participate. The reason why they don't have a white male society of engineers? Because they're already (or at least WERE) a dominant group in that field and didn't have to promote it. You see, I sense a lot of paranoia from many male whites who feel that minorities are "out to get them." They're not. In many cases, I sense (and I emphasize sense because that's certainly the feeling I get from many people here and elsewhere) that much of it is competition they don't want. In the history of the U.S., the white male has long dominated the upper echelons of society, business, and politics, and often times they're not facing competition from non-whites. That's certainly not going to be true for everyone but I see it as an underlying subconscious feeling that many exhibit. And as for your comment on the overwhelming majority of graduate students becoming non-white and non-American... that's because many of the brightest in other countries see the great ability in America and send their best to learn here. Rather than complain about it, it should be an honor when you realize that in a world of 6 billion, the top people everywhere are coming here. And you know what's ironic? If/when whites are minority in America (be it 20 years or 100, doesn't matter) they might get preferential treatment. But right now, too many are painting all non-whites as a minority, (ironically reminding me of old segregation with whites vs. non-whites) and right now too much is this "us vs. them" policy when much of it is based on smaller gorups within that brush stroke. Honestly though, I don't know what else to say. This is honestly an emotional subjective and personal thing within everyone and what the media and others feed you and your own perception of events in your life. Living in Los Angeles, the most diverse city, my perceptions are going to be different from someone in living, say, the rural Midwest where its predominately white and protestant.