That escalated quickly: When getting on Metro (DC's Subway) yesterday with grocery bags, there was a dude on a smart phone half blocking the door. To get on the train, I had to brush past him. I asked him -- politely! -- to not block the door, and he responded with anger and ire.
Best part? Every time the doors open and close, passengers are told to move towards the center of the car and to not block the car.
This is white male privilege: Unconsciously blocking a door, and responding with anger when asked to be a considerate human being.
His anger continued to increase throughout our conversation. He asked why I didn't say this to other people who were blocking other doors -- I responded they weren't blocking me. Apparently its OK to act like a jerk so long as teenagers are doing the same -- because that is the level of engagement we expect from adults.
He was shocked that anyone would move away from the doors to not block them, and seemed genuinely surprised that my habit was to move from door to door.
At some point, I disengaged after he said I'd better "stop talking". I immediately took this as a threat of physical violence. Luckily, my glorious wife was there to point out that, well, some people just have no human consideration.
We needed to go through the door he was blocking to get off, and he made a point that he wouldn't move. DIanne's last words, in her sweetest South belle tone? Go Fuck Yourself.
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Granted, we exhibited privilege by being able to call out his bullshit without fear.
ReplyDeleteCameron Mount I like to believe that those blocking the doors aren't aware of it. I've been called on taking two seats before -- usually body language works, but sometimes I'm so into something that I'm not aware a train has filled up until someone asks -- so I lead with politeness. And there's something almost transcendentally delightful about making someone lose his temper while being polite.
ReplyDeleteI imagine it varies from city to city. And rush hour is a far different beast from Saturday afternoon. During rush hour, I am much quicker to ire.
ReplyDeleteI am lucky enough to have been a meat cutter for the last decade, white, with a shaved head. I don't fit the unassuming mold, and people tend to get shirty right up until I square my shoulders and lift my chin.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's yet another kind of privilege.
All I can do is shake my head.
ReplyDeleteI once got in a fight with a white man in his 40's in an airport because he sat down right next to me (it was not crowded, he could have sat some where much further from people) and started having this amazingly loud phone conversation practically in my ear. I was reading and after about 5 minutes of this I said something like, "excuse me, could you please have that conversation some where els,I'm try ing to read here." He had the gall to tell me to move, to which I said, "how about I was here first, so no." Then I stared daggers at him until he went away (which to be fair took like 10 more minutes).
ReplyDeleteI was appalled that any one would think those phone manners were ok.
I'm not sure how this is white privilege. I've seen people of all colors be assholes on the Metro.
ReplyDeleteEd Gibbs The privilege is in the self-righteousness at being called out. Lots of people act like shitheads on metro, only a select few do so both unconsciously and while believing they have a right not to be called out for being rude.
ReplyDelete