Racism at a gaming company • Hacker News Board

Re: Racism at a gaming company

#151

Post by Tipzntrix » Tue, Oct 02, 2012, 8:38 PM UTC

famousactress wrote: post #45

drats wrote: post #29

"Dumbblack " "then proceeds to do what black men always can’t help but do" "black men always telling which way is up because they feel they are the “authority” when it comes to any and everything, most often when they don’t know shit about shit" " I know when black people start to speak down to me from their pedatsol which is white privilege, they aren’t listening, nor will they" "I cannot afford to take black people…

Let's pretend for a minute that I think it's reasonable to swap black & white in these sentences and call them equivalent (I don't)... There's still a mammoth difference between opinions someone writes on a blog and things people say to their employees or coworkers at work . I can't think of a time that I faced the level of ugliness laid out in this story even once in my 32 years, so the last thing that occurs to me…

The tone isn't helping his case.

I've been around these kind of complaints in person, and while I know that the injustices taking place are horrible and uncalled for, I also know that the complainer is also (not-so-subtly any more) racist as well. Perhaps he wasn't before he entered the school system or the workforce (not necessarily this job), but saying things like dumbwhite*, bringing up colonization like slavery as property is taking place in his neighbourhood (he's going through legal to get this solved, something slaves could never do), and repeatedly bringing up that his tormentors are white, male, rich, etc. just shows that he's brought his own racist viewpoints to the table.

This reminds me of the atmosphere in South Africa years after apartheid was rescinded. The atmosphere, not the gruesome crimes. Perhaps it can be justified, but it sure wasn't how MLK Jr. or Mandela (at least after he became president) attacked the problem and it's only good for outrage, not getting anything done.

White guilt isn't going to help solve racism, but I agree that the author deserves some justice.

Re: Racism at a gaming company

#152

Post by KirinDave » Tue, Oct 02, 2012, 8:38 PM UTC

drats wrote: post #29

"Dumbblack " "then proceeds to do what black men always can’t help but do" "black men always telling which way is up because they feel they are the “authority” when it comes to any and everything, most often when they don’t know shit about shit" " I know when black people start to speak down to me from their pedatsol which is white privilege, they aren’t listening, nor will they" "I cannot afford to take black people…

This is one of those things where you are both correct but miss the point. Yes, this sort of language is not tolerable. Yes, it's also the sort of generalizations the author is railing about. Absolutely.

However, let's take the story at face value for a second. What occured between this person and the people around him wasn't just inappropriate workplace conduct, it was systemic and demeaning in a way that is hard for someone to get if they're not the subject of it. Most people are not wired to take this kind of abuse in a sustained way. This person is hurt, they're confused, they feel powerless, and they're lashing out.

So I think we can probably get to the victim's fucked up statements after we let the outrage over the institutionalized racism that the story consists of simmer down, don't you think? I've said some pretty dumb, mean things when I'm suffering from emotional trauma, haven't you? At least we have an excuse and we can apologize and say, "That was my anger and frustration, I know it's wrong."

But perhaps what makes me most angry is that other members of this team were complicit in this treatment. They're not stopping it, they're not complaining, they're not resigning, they're not objecting. It's terrifying.

Re: Racism at a gaming company

#153

Post by JPKab » Tue, Oct 02, 2012, 8:39 PM UTC

ditonal wrote: post #123

king_jester wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is the equivalent of saying the author of this post is a reverse racist. When was the last time a white person was killed for being white? When was the last time someone came up to a white person and said they should be grateful that their ancestors were slaves? When was the last time the government systematically dismantled the white community in order to enforce racist class oppression? Repeat after me: WHITE…

This attitude, and the casual "reverse" racism of this author, sets back social progress against institutional racism against blacks/hispanics so much. I totally accept that blacks face more racism in many aspects of society today, especially professionally. But in Baltimore a bunch of black kids jumped me, and they told me it was because I was white and I "thought I could walk around their neighborhood" (a block fro…

Welcome to my world buddy. Any white (or middle eastern, as my good friend from Detroit can attest) person who has lived in a poor, mostly black neighborhood has had to deal with this shit. The fact that it is actively ignored by the media and government and dismissed as being criminally, rather than racially motivated is terrible. But having to listen to whites who have no idea it even exists proclaim that racism, a condition that all humans are prone to, can only infect whites is simply insulting.

Re: Racism at a gaming company

#154

Post by JonnieCache » Tue, Oct 02, 2012, 8:39 PM UTC

cowsaysoink wrote: post #39

lowboy wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Without a doubt it's racist. But if you consider power structures and privilege, not all racism is equally bad. As a white male, I'd rather he not have that opinion of me based solely on my race, but I'm willing to give him some leeway due to his experiences.

Meh that is bullshit. What makes that more acceptable than calling someones dress thuggish because it appears similar to what all the gang members you went to school with wore? Experience doesn't get to dictate racism.

>What makes that more acceptable than calling someones dress thuggish because it appears similar to what all the gang members you went to school with wore?

The power differential between them. This guy's racism exists on tumblr and is targeted at noone, the racism he suffered at work was going from a manager to a lower employee. It's the same reason teacher-pupil relationships are never acceptable, no matter the age or maturity of the student.

Re: Racism at a gaming company

#155

Post by stephengillie » Tue, Oct 02, 2012, 8:40 PM UTC

ctdonath wrote: post #94

king_jester wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is the equivalent of saying the author of this post is a reverse racist. When was the last time a white person was killed for being white? When was the last time someone came up to a white person and said they should be grateful that their ancestors were slaves? When was the last time the government systematically dismantled the white community in order to enforce racist class oppression? Repeat after me: WHITE…

Oh, yes we do and are.

The concept that "Only white people can be racist" is widespread, similar to "Only women can be raped" - implying that it's impossible for white people to be discriminated against, or for males to feel sexually threatened. These lies are part of the problem.

Re: Racism at a gaming company

#156

Post by luchak » Tue, Oct 02, 2012, 8:41 PM UTC

iandanforth wrote: post #61

A couple other commenters have mentioned this but in case the author is reading I want to emphasize the importance of winning the rhetorical war before you proceed to fight the fight you actually care about. As with any story a reader wants to like the characters they are reading about. It's hard to like someone who is constantly angry, depressed, sarcastic, and bitter. You, as a person may feel these things, and be…

If you sympathize with the author: do not post things like this. Listen to him. What makes you think you were the intended audience? What makes you think you know why he was writing? Do you see the irony in you trying to "educate" a black person on talking about racism?

If you actually want to help, first listen.

Re: Racism at a gaming company

#157

Post by caycep » Tue, Oct 02, 2012, 8:42 PM UTC

If its really that terrible, he ought to quit and find a new job. Don't bother w/ legal action, as that will just expend precious time and money that he could apply to a much more productive pursuit...

Re: Racism at a gaming company

#158

Post by comlag » Tue, Oct 02, 2012, 8:42 PM UTC

solveew wrote: post #93

king_jester wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is the equivalent of saying the author of this post is a reverse racist. When was the last time a white person was killed for being white? When was the last time someone came up to a white person and said they should be grateful that their ancestors were slaves? When was the last time the government systematically dismantled the white community in order to enforce racist class oppression? Repeat after me: WHITE…

Just look at the interracial rape and murder statistics. Blacks target whites for rape and murder in great quantities. During the Trayvon Martin debacle, a white kid in Kansas city was DOUSED IN GASOLINE and SET ON FIRE while two black kids say "you get what you deserve, white boy." Of course, you don't hear this in the media because the media wants to perpetuate a myth that whites aren't victims of racist violence.…

"Whites are the people that built this country." You are surely very wrong. This country was very literally built on the backs of minorities and slaves. You really think America would have near the economic power today without those years of free labor to farm their free (stolen) farm land?

Re: Racism at a gaming company

#159

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Oct 02, 2012, 8:42 PM UTC

FireBeyond wrote: post #119

hack_edu wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Calm down pal. Nowhere does the author imply he thinks using white in those circumstances would be any less racist... No one's out to get you.

No, he doesn't. He just tells you how horrific it is that they are being racist, whilst ignoring the fact that he's letting off racist jibes any time someone says something ignorant (and in at least one of the occasions, honestly, not wilfully so).

[deleted]

Re: Racism at a gaming company

#160

Post by bmalee » Tue, Oct 02, 2012, 8:43 PM UTC

lnanek2 wrote: post #69

He writes Dumbwhite a lot in his blog, but he wasn't willing to say it back in person? He should have just said it instead of going home and feeling hurt. I think they'd respect him more if he gave as good as he got in a frat boy environment like that with everyone talking shit. I've been on sports teams like that, lol.

Yes, I can't imagine why a lone gay black man in an office full of straight white guys might not feel comfortable confronting people.