RE: Peterson's 12 Rules for Life v2.0-- actual book discussion
September 28, 2018 at 7:54 pm
(This post was last modified: September 28, 2018 at 8:07 pm by bennyboy.)
If there's something specifically white about establishing power hierarchies, then the resulting privilege can be called "white." If the particular European people involved have just done what people as a species ALWAYS do, and which other species ALWAYS do, then it's a privilege of power in general, not specifically of a uniquely white trait. (keeping in mind that I've actually said in our other shit-flinging thread that I think it's possible that white people tend toward belligerence in a way that black and Asian people might not)
Every organized group of humans (and lobsters, OMG the OP it LIVES!!!) will form a power hierarchy, because individuals compete and some end up on top, and because groups compete and some end up on top, and nations compete and some end up on top.
For evidence that this is due to ingrained instincts, I would point to Trump. He had the shittiest ideas, the crudest and most uncivilized approach to politics, he is racist and he is sexist and he is a liar, and obviously so. Why is he in power? It's because the rules that humans have (programmed in them) for determining the top male have to do with physical appearance and behavior-- bellow the loudest, act the most dominant, and you will likely be chosen. He wasn't chosen because his "simple speech was a refreshing change." He was chosen because a man who doesn't need to bother to self-censor, who will shout out obvious lies and challenge the media to call him out on it, is seen as so powerful that he's above the rules.
For more evidence, we can look at every non-white country, and see if they are just living out their lives peaceably, what with not being oppressive white savages and all. And nope-- we can see two things: 1) race has nothing to do with the instinct to establish power-- if anything, it's worse in Africa, the Middle East and so on than in the US; 2) Western cultures have produced countries which lean far more toward equality and fairness than others have throughout history.
Now, look at predominantly black areas in the US. Do churches have power structures? Gangs? PTA meetings? Yep. As soon as you get two people in a room, they are going to start jostling for position.
As soon as you get two males in a room, they are likely to start flexing, verbally and possibly even physically. And if you get 7 billion people doing this, some will end up with a heck of a lot of privilege, and many we be slaves, either literally or practically.
This is important to understand because EVEN IF we tore the White Oppressor ™ from his supposed throne, and murdered every white person on the face of the planet, the result would be. . . you'd wake up and there'd be a strong-armed power hierarchy in place again, and you (statistically speaking) would most likely be at the bottom of it.
Every organized group of humans (and lobsters, OMG the OP it LIVES!!!) will form a power hierarchy, because individuals compete and some end up on top, and because groups compete and some end up on top, and nations compete and some end up on top.
For evidence that this is due to ingrained instincts, I would point to Trump. He had the shittiest ideas, the crudest and most uncivilized approach to politics, he is racist and he is sexist and he is a liar, and obviously so. Why is he in power? It's because the rules that humans have (programmed in them) for determining the top male have to do with physical appearance and behavior-- bellow the loudest, act the most dominant, and you will likely be chosen. He wasn't chosen because his "simple speech was a refreshing change." He was chosen because a man who doesn't need to bother to self-censor, who will shout out obvious lies and challenge the media to call him out on it, is seen as so powerful that he's above the rules.
For more evidence, we can look at every non-white country, and see if they are just living out their lives peaceably, what with not being oppressive white savages and all. And nope-- we can see two things: 1) race has nothing to do with the instinct to establish power-- if anything, it's worse in Africa, the Middle East and so on than in the US; 2) Western cultures have produced countries which lean far more toward equality and fairness than others have throughout history.
Now, look at predominantly black areas in the US. Do churches have power structures? Gangs? PTA meetings? Yep. As soon as you get two people in a room, they are going to start jostling for position.
As soon as you get two males in a room, they are likely to start flexing, verbally and possibly even physically. And if you get 7 billion people doing this, some will end up with a heck of a lot of privilege, and many we be slaves, either literally or practically.
This is important to understand because EVEN IF we tore the White Oppressor ™ from his supposed throne, and murdered every white person on the face of the planet, the result would be. . . you'd wake up and there'd be a strong-armed power hierarchy in place again, and you (statistically speaking) would most likely be at the bottom of it.
