The 'cite your privilege' function would be useful for someone like pigeon. Makes it easier for him to find the privilege that makes the opposing posters arguments invalid.
Not really, I've memorized all the hotkeys by now.
I understand what pigeon is saying, but that in no way invalidates anyone feeling offended because he is part of a group of people that is generally thought of not being marginalized or oppressed. Hence my statement.
I don't understand how anyone thinks it's okay to qualify whether someone's grievances are more valid than someone else's because of a supposed gap in power or social status. It seems like it's not okay to generalize groups of people unless they're white and male.
I hate to muddy the message up, but here's the reality: it's not about offense. I mean, it should be clear just from reading this thread that it's perfectly acceptable on GAF to post stuff that has no other purpose but to try to offend people. Nor am I likely to get personally offended by people using the word "bitch."
It's about the way that the use of such language contributes to a societal structure designed to marginalize and disenfranchise certain people by teaching them to believe, consciously or unconsciously, that their traits -- traits they don't have control of -- make them intrinsically inferior or make their behavior outside specific social norms dangerously unacceptable.
You might be offended by "white" -- or "cis" or "straight" or "Wii U fanboy" -- but, unlike for GLBT people or people of color or women or whatever, there's no overarching social structure that says that white people are terrible.
(Except in my house, obviously.)
edit:
I have to hope you aren't serious. We only have Devo's word to say that women face marginalization and violence?!? That's absurd. Look at any set of statistics on sexual violence, harassment, rape, etc., and understand that women live in a vastly different world then men . . . a world where they have to question every set of footsteps behind them at night, fearing rape or violence or worse. As far as marginalization goes, from workplace statistics and salary averages, to women's suffrage (wasn't that long ago), to social dynamics in everyday settings, you can easily spot the trend of disenfranchising, disempowering, and marginalizing women. I'm having trouble responding to your post, as I don't even know where to start.
Sorry, I was being sarcastic! I agree with you entirely.