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Comment by jakub_h | Hacker News Reader

Micro-what?

A new invention of the SJW community.

"The term “microaggression” was used by Columbia professor Derald Sue to refer to “brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults toward people of color.”"

Like when they say white male. Oh, nevermind that does not qualify because it is against whites and males, so it is ok. Sorry a little confusing here... :)

On a near-noise level, virtually all conversation or interaction can and mostly does contain shades of meaning expressing things that when verbalized explicitly would be considered rude or inappropriate. From that POV, the term appears meaningless or redundant. Otherwise we'd communicate like Vulcans.

EDIT: I find it also peculiar that the explanation you've cited only mentions "racial slights", despite neither "micro-" nor "-aggression" containing this meaning. But it's comforting to know that one is at least safe from committing such things across all the other social boundaries! /s

It is kind of sad that these things are getting traction in the society, even on HN, see how they are downvoting us without any comment.

> Like when they say white male. Oh, nevermind that does not qualify because it is against whites and males, so it is ok.

The kindest way to interpret this is that it is your opinion, and if it is, it is wrong. It is not ok to harass white males for being white males. A more likely way to interpret it is that you're putting words into other people's mouths, then sneering at those words.

I feel like this is obvious enough that it's not worth commenting about. Do these wasted words qualify me to downvote you?

Is that a fresh summer breeze blowing through my hair? Or is it a sinister micro-hurricane?

The difference is that white males are rarely a minority in their schools and workplaces. So no, it's not just small expressions or aggressions, there's an overarching social-structural context.

You say in Africa where black are majority it is ok to be racist against them?

Your logic is so broken I don't even know where to start.

Anecdotally speaking I used to think microaggressions were utter BS.

Then I got into an interracial relationship (I'm white, she's black) and the way I was treated when with my girlfriend and alone were very noticeably different.

I noticed being physically tired after going somewhere with my girlfriend as well as many looks, weird tones people took with me I'd never experienced, and generally ruder people.

> Like when they say white male. Oh, nevermind that does not qualify because it is against whites and males, so it is ok. Sorry a little confusing here... :)

I experienced microagressions as a result of being in a relationship with a black female, so it is possible.

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