I am going to show the few of the people who read this blog how to avoid sounding like an idiot and talking about things you (well, not you) have never experienced, but merely speculated on.
An article on Forbes.com called "If I were a poor black kid," by a writer named Gene Marks--a self-described, middle class white guy who comes from a middle white background"--struck a nerve with me, and a big chunk of the internet. If you don't want to read it, I will summarize it:
"Hey, I am not going to lie. I am not poor and my kids are well off. But listen, if I was not rich, I would just work really hard and make my way to the top. I would utilize the internet and its free technology and become an expert on Google Scholar and climb my way to the top. It's not easy, but I would do it!"
In all honesty, Gene Marks was probably not trying to being malicious or condescending. I mean, what person aims to be either of those. After all, most bad ideas are ideas that meant well. The problem with ideas such as these is that their foundations are a bunch of misconceptions and epic generalizations. I don't want to make fun of the guy because there are faaaaaaar worst generalizations that have been made to a group of people. Also, let's not pretend for a moment that this is something done only by a white, middle-class male. I have heard this done by plenty of people from various races, classes. More commonly, I have heard people from people from a poorer community who have "made it," tell those who have not "made it," that anything is possible, and you should "just work harder."
......Just sayin'
One of the easiest ideas to conjure is one that over-simplifies a complicated issue. For example, we have all had that person--usually a family member--that likes to blame you for the problem before they have heard the whole situation:
You: My car has been acting funny lately
Parent: Well, you should take better care of it!
Sure. The parent makes a valid point, but a valid point is not equivalent to a fair argument. Yes, taking better care of a car would, in fact, be beneficial. But what if your car is operating funkily because of someone else's tampering? Or a previous accident? Or the car just being shitty? BOOM! It is now your fault automatically!
When an erroneous presentation of a situation surfaces, such as "Poor people should work harder," their is a natural tendency to agree. One might think, "Sure, hard work is good for everyone," not realizing that it implies that poor people do not work hard. Usually, addressing an issue that involves a vast amount of people as if it was a single individual is the first step along the path of being a douche bag. Making very broad, vague statements can easily mislead someone into believing inaccurate information, or a "straw man argument."
A prime example is Marks understanding of poverty being solely the lack of money when it usually incorporates more factors: domestic violence, gang violence, Drugs etc. Marks only talks about not having technology and not trying hard enough. Sure is hard to try when you're focused on not dying and starving. Of course, there are poor people that do not try, but is it okay to assume that is the same case for the majority?
How to avoid being mislead, or making the same mistake Gene Marks made is simple:
1. Avoid providing resolutions to issues that are foreign to you.
If you have no clue about the economics, please spare your friends/family 'resolutions' to the problem.
2. Be aware of Over-simplifications. Listen for absolute words like all, everyone, you people, always, etc.
Not all simplification use those words. In a lot of cases you have to just think critically and beware of hype.
Girls are emotional! (really? Only girls? Aren't humans emotional?)
Men are emotionless (ouch...that hurts my feelings.)
"Black people talk like this.." (Do they? Or does this comedian/rapper/actor talk like this?)
"Why do white people always..." (Wow, you must have had a lot of free-time to have met all the white people in the world)
3. As mentioned above, try not to approach an issue that relates to thousands, millions, billions as if it only applies to one person.
"Rich people work hard for what they have" (Depends on the parents. Lots of people inherit wealth).
Try to remember this the next time you have the chance to voice your opinion online, on the radio, television, internet or argument with your friends. Because having the best intentions is just not enough.
Are we done here? I think we're done here.
Villainy.
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