-1=e^ipi Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 (edited) So the University of California in Berkeley recently implemented a policy of trying to educate people about 'micro-aggressions' in order to prevent people from doing 'micro-aggressions'. The implication is that those who do perform 'micro-aggressions' may suffer disciplinary such be fired, not get promotions, not get tenure, etc. What are micro-aggressions? Well apparently saying things like 'I believe that the most qualified person should get the job' or 'America is a melting pot' is a racist and sexist statement that means that you hate women, sexual minorities and people of other races and your statement is creating a hostile environment and is meant to chip away at the sense of worth of others. The creation of such a hostile work environment is viewed as legally actionable by UC and the US federal government.http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/06/16/uc-teaching-faculty-members-not-to-criticize-race-based-affirmative-action-call-america-melting-pot-and-more/http://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/seminars/Tool_Recognizing_Microaggressions.pdfhttp://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/jun/19/university-california-microaggression-faculty/ Edited June 29, 2015 by -1=e^ipi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddy Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 This is the natural progression in our obsession with equality and fairness. And once we accomplish this the next step gets even more ridiculous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hardner Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 It's an attempt to exert thought control and forced morality in the workplace, it seems. The university does deny what is contained in the first article though, so it seems to be trumped up at least. Aggressive behaviour in the workplace is not necessarily described by the content of the message- you can make anti-male or anti-white comments too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharkman Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Oh, and don't forget gay rights michael, one can make anti-gay comments too. I may support this micro-aggression focus, surely everyone should be free of this at school or workplace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hardner Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Oh, and don't forget gay rights michael, one can make anti-gay comments too. That's a different issue. It's not cut and dried, but some statements are hostile and some aren't. It's just hard to write rules around that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybercoma Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 The very least you could do is provide a link to the Wiki article on microaggression theory, so that people could read for themselves what it does and does not say, rather than take your biased anti social justice strawman as the definition: Here's the article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microaggression_theory Here is the tool that the university uses to help people identify microaggressive terminology: http://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/seminars/Tool_Recognizing_Microaggressions.pdf People with privilege don't realize how women, people of colour, and people with disabilities experience the world and how everyday words and phrases can create an atmosphere that treats them as less than the privileged, even when unintentional. But hey, why should you have to think about others and how they might experience discrimination/racism/sexism? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybercoma Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 That's a different issue. It's not cut and dried, but some statements are hostile and some aren't. It's just hard to write rules around that.Well, it's a good thing they're not called "microhostilities" then. Perhaps you want to read up on what microaggression theory means before being so dismissive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonam Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 But hey, why should you have to think about others and how they might experience discrimination/racism/sexism? Cause if someone is offended by tiny unintentional statements that are part of everyday use, they should toughen up and grow a thicker skin rather than expecting everyone else to change. There is no right to never encounter anything one might find offensive. People need to grow up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hardner Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Perhaps you want to read up on what microaggression theory means before being so dismissive? I wasn't aware that there was any such theory. For that matter, shouldn't the content of the university memo cover everything one would need to know ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Dog Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Cause if someone is offended by tiny unintentional statements that are part of everyday use, they should toughen up and grow a thicker skin rather than expecting everyone else to change. There is no right to never encounter anything one might find offensive. What's wrong with just not being an a-hole and thinking about what you say? People need to grow up. I agree. It's pretty childish to go around thinking you can just say whatever you want to whomever without any consequences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Argus Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 What's wrong with just not being an a-hole and thinking about what you say? Would it startle you if one suggested most of your posts here would violate their 'micro aggression' description? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Argus Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 I wasn't aware that there was any such theory. For that matter, shouldn't the content of the university memo cover everything one would need to know ? The laughable thing is that the very post to which you responded would easily violate the 'micro aggression' policy, as would virtually everything he ever writes here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Dog Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Would it startle you if one suggested most of your posts here would violate their 'micro aggression' description? Yes because it wouldn't be true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonam Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 What's wrong with just not being an a-hole and thinking about what you say? I feel micro-aggressed by this comment. You fall into a higher privilege segment of society than I do (I'm an immigrant). Therefore, you should end up in front of a human rights council, I'm pretty sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Dog Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 (edited) The laughable thing is that the very post to which you responded would easily violate the 'micro aggression' policy, as would virtually everything he ever writes here. You're betraying your ignorance of what this term encompasses (hint: it's not about being rude). Edited June 29, 2015 by Black Dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Dog Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 I feel micro-aggressed by this comment. You fall into a higher privilege segment of society than I do (I'm an immigrant). Therefore, you should end up in front of a human rights council, I'm pretty sure. So you don't understand it either, then? Cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonam Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 (edited) Nothing there to understand! Just some busybodies making up terms so they can inconvenience/prosecute others while feeling all holier-than-thou about themselves. Edited June 29, 2015 by Bonam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Dog Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Nothing there to understand! Just some busybodies making up terms so they can inconvenience/prosecute others while feeling all holier-than-thou about themselves. So that's a yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Argus Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 You're betraying your ignorance of what this term encompasses (hint: it's not about being rude). Sure it is! Only it's strictly reserved for being rude to 'people of colour'. There's no problem with being rude to White people! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonlight Graham Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 "Micro-aggressions"? Nobody should be silencing people, especially professors, on their particular views on issues like immigration or affirmative action. Free speech for micro-aggressions! People are too easily offended these days. If you're offended by un-politically-correct views like "micro-aggressions", just deal with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Dog Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Sure it is! Only it's strictly reserved for being rude to 'people of colour'. There's no problem with being rude to White people! Being rude to white people is called just being rude. Microaggressions are rudeness/cluelessness tinged with racism. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Dog Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 "Micro-aggressions"? Nobody should be silencing people, especially professors, on their particular views on issues like immigration or affirmative action. Free speech for micro-aggressions! People are too easily offended these days. If you're offended by un-politically-correct views like "micro-aggressions", just deal with it. Says the guy who never has to deal with such things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonlight Graham Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Says the guy who never has to deal with such things. You know this how? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonam Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 "Micro-aggressions"? Nobody should be silencing people, especially professors, on their particular views on issues like immigration or affirmative action. Free speech for micro-aggressions! People are too easily offended these days. If you're offended by un-politically-correct views like "micro-aggressions", just deal with it. Indeed. I think the social justice warriors have finally pushed too far with their ridiculous attacks on speech and language. 5-10 years ago, the mainstream part of the population just kind of went along with the latest developments in political correctness. Today, mainstream people are finally beginning to see the absurdity for what it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Dog Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 You know this how? OK, let's hear some examples. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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