"Oh my god, you're SO white."

[PureX]

But what flaws are being pointed to when the phrase "you're so white" is being thrown out?

The overwhelming flaw of the majority (regardless of their color or ethnicity) is being myopic, which is in fact the flaw being raised most often when someone says to a white person in America, "Oh, you're so white". What they mean is; "oh, your being so myopic". Most white people in America live in overwhelmingly white communities and experience most everything in life from a white perspective. They become very myopic, in that this is all they know, and so this is all they consider appropriate to contemplate. They're words and deeds are all based on this overwhelmingly white experience of life. Most people of color of course have had a very different experience of life, which is not so "white", and so they can see this myopia more easily and clearly. And sometimes they will comment on it.

I personally don't see such a remark as an insult, nor as a bias. I think it's usually quite accurate, and usually not meant to insult. It's simply an observation based on the truth.

Your point would make sense if the phrase was thrown out there in order to draw attention to something that actually mattered. But as it stands, the phrase is just used as another way to make fun of another race.

I disagree. I think the point matters. It's right and appropriate that others point out to us that we are being myopic when we are being myopic. Just as it's appropriate for others to point out to us that we're being careless, if in fact we are being careless. It's not an insult. It's just an observation.

 

[PureX]

Truth to power is an empty phrase. It allows nothing more for people to exercise bigotry or hateful remarks and is usually nothing more than a cop out.

Because I have white skin assuming I am in the overwhelming cultural majority is prejudicial. That's all it is. It disavows my entire personal history.

The usual counterargument is institutional racism. Which is moving the goal posts. That the government or major businesses may engage in discriminatory tactics, notably in the state power in exercising the drug war which is as class based as it is race based, is truly irrelevant to the personal experience and history of every individual regardless of their ethnicity.

The phrase "truth to power" is so cliched and corny that it bears no resemblance to it's recent Quaker origins. In fact, when one uses against the idea that a member of a "cultural majority" should not feel offended against racial epithets is sounds even more absurd. Calling people out with phrases "You're so white....", "acting white" or any "the man" phrase is more likely symptomatic of a fool by the one using.

I see no justification in rationalizing and justifying any form of prejudice.

I hereby sentence you to a couple rigorous hours of psychotherapy for daring to insult the concept of speaking 'truth to power'. It's a most important concept, and your wildly over dramatic and negative response would indicate the need for a rather severe emotional realignment. *smile*

 

[Magic Man]

The overwhelming flaw of the majority (regardless of their color or ethnicity) is being myopic, which is in fact the flaw being raised most often when someone says to a white person in America, "Oh, you're so white". What they mean is; "oh, your being so myopic". Most white people in America live in overwhelmingly white communities and experience most everything in life from a white perspective. They become very myopic, in that this is all they know, and so this is all they consider appropriate to contemplate. They're words and deeds are all based on this overwhelmingly white experience of life. Most people of color of course have had a very different experience of life, which is not so "white", and so they can see this myopia more easily and clearly. And sometimes they will comment on it.

I personally don't see such a remark as an insult, nor as a bias. I think it's usually quite accurate, and usually not meant to insult. It's simply an observation based on the truth.

Well, in this case, it means nothing like that. Here it is often used as "You're so square" or "You can't play basketball", or in reference to any number of other stereotypes of whites. It has nothing to do with myopia. I'm sure there are cases where people use it in that sense, but it's more than a stretch to say that's what's happening here.

 

[PureX]

Well, in this case, it means nothing like that. Here it is often used as "You're so square" or "You can't play basketball", or in reference to any number of other stereotypes of whites. It has nothing to do with myopia. I'm sure there are cases where people use it in that sense, but it's more than a stretch to say that's what's happening here.

No specific meaning like that was given, that I know of. But even in these cases, I see no real insult. I just think the link between being white and lousy at basketball is pretty weak. Same for being "square". There are, however, human traits that are the result of being white, and of living in an overwhelmingly white world. And THOSE traits would apply to such a comment.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Well, in this case, it means nothing like that. Here it is often used as "You're so square" or "You can't play basketball", or in reference to any number of other stereotypes of whites. It has nothing to do with myopia. I'm sure there are cases where people use it in that sense, but it's more than a stretch to say that's what's happening here.

Yeah, I have to agree with this. In my experience, I've never heard it used in a way which could be construed as "myopic".

Most of the time it's a jab between friends anyhow, but it is always meant as a slight.

I understand the underlying roots of why attributes associated with a ruling group become subjects of insult for those of different groups, but it's still "they're different from us" racism.

 

[PureX]

Yeah, I have to agree with this. In my experience, I've never heard it used in a way which could be construed as "myopic".

When one tends to speak or behave as if the whole world is as white as the overwhelmingly white one he grew up in, that's called being myopic. And it's quite a common trait of people wherever they are the majority. You are not aware of this?

 

[Magic Man]

No specific meaning like that was given, that I know of. But even in these cases, I see no real insult. I just think the link between being white and lousy at basketball is pretty weak. Same for being "square". There are, however, human traits that are the result of being white, and of living in an overwhelmingly white world. And THOSE traits would apply to such a comment.

Well, meanings like that were given. The point is that it's used to reference those stereotypes. You might think it should be used as something else, but that's just not the way it is. Of course the link between being white and lousy at basketball is weak. That's the point. They are stereotypes that don't always fit.

 

[Magic Man]

When one tends to speak or behave as if the whole world is as white as the overwhelmingly white one he grew up in, that's called being myopic. And it's quite a common trait of white people wherever whites are the majority. You are not aware of this?

No one is arguing that. Of course the majority tends to do that. The same can be said of Christians. However, in that case, one would simply say "That's mighty majoritarian of you.", since it didn't specifically have to do with being white.

The point is that that's not why people say "You're so white".

 

[Kilgore Trout]

When one tends to speak or behave as if the whole world is as white as the overwhelmingly white one he grew up in, that's called being myopic. And it's quite a common trait of white people wherever whites are the majority. You are not aware of this?

I'm not disagreeing with that. However, this isn't why people use the phrase "you're so white". This is what I am aware of since I attended a dozen schools in 5 different cities growing up ranging from primarily white in Ohio, to primarily hispanic in Colorado Springs, to mixed racially hispanic/black/white in Las Vegas.

 

[PureX]

No one is arguing that. Of course the majority tends to do that. The same can be said of Christians. However, in that case, one would simply say "That's mighty majoritarian of you.", since it didn't specifically have to do with being white.

The point is that that's not why people say "You're so white".

That's why I would say it. I can't speak for everyone else. Can you?

 

[PureX]

I'm not disagreeing with that. However, this isn't why people use the phrase "you're so white". This is what I am aware of since I attended a dozen schools in 5 different cities growing up ranging from primarily white in Ohio, to primarily hispanic in Colorado Springs, to mixed racially hispanic/black/white in Las Vegas.

I think the dynamics change completely when the "white one" finds himself in the minority, among other minorities. Then he becomes a symbol of the white majority, and as such perhaps a target for pent up resentments.

 

[Magic Man]

That's why I would say it. I can't speak for everyone else. Can you?

Then, you're using it in a very uncommon sense. It's fine to use it that way, but you should also realize that that's not how most people use it and it's not the use that has been discussed here. For example, how could that apply to "...is the whitest sport *chuckle*", which can be found in the OP here? I'm not sure there's any way you could say that your use of the phrase could apply in that case, right?

I'm not speaking for everyone. I'm saying that the use you're speaking of is not common. It may exist, but it's not common, and it's certainly not part of this discussion.

 

[Falvlun]

That's why I would say it. I can't speak for everyone else. Can you?

I think I can speak for the majority in saying that the phrase "you're so white" is not referring to any myopic-ness. Words and phrases are defined by how they are most often used, so in this case, it really doesn't matter how you personally would use it, but what the majority of people mean when they use it.

I think you are trying to attach something profound to a childish insult, and it just ain't sticking.

 

[PureX]

think you are trying to attach something profound to a childish insult, and it just ain't sticking.

I think you're obsessed with a childish insult, where it mostly doesn't exist.

 

[stacey bo bacey]

The overwhelming flaw of the majority (regardless of their color or ethnicity) is being myopic, which is in fact the flaw being raised most often when someone says to a white person in America, "Oh, you're so white". What they mean is; "oh, your being so myopic". Most white people in America live in overwhelmingly white communities and experience most everything in life from a white perspective. They become very myopic, in that this is all they know, and so this is all they consider appropriate to contemplate. They're words and deeds are all based on this overwhelmingly white experience of life. Most people of color of course have had a very different experience of life, which is not so "white", and so they can see this myopia more easily and clearly. And sometimes they will comment on it.

I personally don't see such a remark as an insult, nor as a bias. I think it's usually quite accurate, and usually not meant to insult. It's simply an observation based on the truth.
I disagree. I think the point matters. It's right and appropriate that others point out to us that we are being myopic when we are being myopic. Just as it's appropriate for others to point out to us that we're being careless, if in fact we are being careless. It's not an insult. It's just an observation.

Blah, blah, blah. All I see here is an excuse for racism and bigotry. You wanna keep on making up excuses for racism against white people, go ahead. But that's not the world I'm going to live in.

 

[Stellify]

I disagree, because you are in the overwhelming cultural majority. It's an issue of speaking 'truth to power'. The flaws of a minority are a minor issue because they are in the minority. The flaws (misconceptions, biases, etc.) of the majority are more important, and more troublesome, because they are the majority. When a minority calls out the majority on such a flaw, it's called 'speaking truth to power'. But when the majority calls out the flaws of a minority, it's basically just being petty.

But what about the areas where white isn't the majority and yet the phrase is still used as a slight toward people of that race?
And why is it "just being petty" when done to the minority but OK to call out flaws in the majority? To me, that just sounds like excusing an entire group for insulting others, and making them an exception to the same insults they themselves hand out, simply on the basis that there happens to be less of them...Which doesn't make any sense to me :areyoucra

The overwhelming flaw of the majority (regardless of their color or ethnicity) is being myopic, which is in fact the flaw being raised most often when someone says to a white person in America, "Oh, you're so white". What they mean is; "oh, your being so myopic". Most white people in America live in overwhelmingly white communities and experience most everything in life from a white perspective. They become very myopic, in that this is all they know, and so this is all they consider appropriate to contemplate. They're words and deeds are all based on this overwhelmingly white experience of life. Most people of color of course have had a very different experience of life, which is not so "white", and so they can see this myopia more easily and clearly. And sometimes they will comment on it.

So, when white people see these "people of color" acting in the same manner, based off of their "overwhelmingly colored communities" and the fact that they "experience most everything in life from a colored perspective"....Is it ok for a white person to "comment on it" and say,
"Oh, you're being so colored!"
?

 

[stacey bo bacey]

Most white people in America live in overwhelmingly white communities and experience most everything in life from a white perspective. They're words and deeds are all based on this overwhelmingly white experience of life. Most people of color of course have had a very different experience of life, which is not so "white", and so they can see this myopia more easily and clearly. And sometimes they will comment on it.

Ya know...poverty-stricken areas aren't just filled with minorities. I really hope you can somehow realize that because you seem to have no clue. There are tons and tonssssss of white people who are way less fortunate than the rest of those white folks you seem to think have it all in life. I grew up in Tennessee and Mississippi and visited my family in Alabama all the time while growing up, and I saw WHITE people who were on welfare, uneducated, unemployed...this country is a big place and there isn't a shortage of suffering for ANY race. So I don't really think you can even apply the term "most" when talking about whites being fortunate and better off than everyone else. It depends on the area of this country you've seen and experienced.

These terms you've used like "white experience":areyoucra and "white perspective":areyoucra don't hold up at all.

 

[ChristineES]

I wanted to Frubal you on your post, Stacey but I couldn't. Great post, though.

 

[stacey bo bacey]

I wanted to Frubal you on your post, Stacey but I couldn't. Great post, though.

Aww, that's ok. Thank ya.

 

[Stellify]

These terms you've used like "white experience":areyoucra and "white perspective":areyoucra don't hold up at all.

I tend to agree.

And I think it really is used as a racist slight rather often...
I can't count the number of times non-whites have made one of those "so white" comments either to me or in my presence (my skin is, obviously from my pictures, white)....But were UNBELIEVABLY hasty to retract the insult and even apologize for it the second they found out I have family that is from Venezuela*and step-family that is from Mexico.
That just proves to me that the statement didn't have anything to do with pointing out my "myopic flaws", or even any particular stereotypically "white" behavior of mine. It was simply used because it afforded them a chance to take a stab at white people.

As for "white experiences" and perspectives...and the "overwhelmingly white communities" that were mentioned....
Yes, there are cases where a community is like that because the white people aren't accepting of other races. But that's not the only side of the argument.
How many non-whites do you know that shun anything they consider to be representative of "white culture"? This includes "proper english/grammar" versus "ebonics", dressing a certain way, living in certain areas that are deemed "white areas", certain jobs, foods, haircuts, tables in the high school cafeteria...the list goes on and on.

I just don't think you can base your argument that slights against whites are OK because "whites are myopic", while slights of minorities are "petty". If you're going to talk about being myopic, you could apply that word to any culture I've ever seen around the areas I've lived in. And I've lived in some rather culturally diverse areas. Egyptians, Lebanese, Indians, Pakistanis, Chinese, Japanese, Mexicans, South Americans, Canadians, Native Americans, South Africans, Nigerians, Ethiopians, Spaniards....You name it.

EDIT: I'm not trying to say whites are completely innocent of all wrongdoings or innocent of being myopic...I'm just saying that's not a good excuse for being able to insult an entire race, because everyone else is guilty of the same thing.