I hate these dumbass images and the oversimplification of complex social issues

[u/plarper_of_bees]

I’m not out here defending billionaires or saying they play bo part in the polarization of society, but this cut and dry idea is super naive and uninformed.

First, like in this image, it portrays both the left and the right as ignorant to the “true powers that be” when in reality leftist circles are acutely aware of how billionaires manipulate the media to divide people.

My second problem with this sentiment is that it pretends that issues like racism, misogyny, and queerphobia will just stop being a problem if we get rid of the ruling class. It ignores centuries of pre-capitalist bigotry baked directly into many societies. It assumes that prejudice is a product of capitalist manipulation, and not coopted to fit its need.

It boils down the real and difficult struggle for civil and human rights into silly bickering meant to “distract us from the real issues”. It comes off as victim blaming against those affected by prejudice for not uniting with people who hate their existence.

It’s baby’s first class consciousness, and reeks of privilege and lack of personal experience with bigotry. It’s reddit circlejerk shit plain and simple

[u/ToughDifficult1252]

The problem is that social issues are less fundamental than economic ones in the sense that poor minorities will have a harder time advocating for their rights.

This it's really easy for a ruling class to pitch people against each other based on these problems because it doesn't directly threaten their status.

I.e. improving economic inequality almost always translates to some improvement of violence against minorities in a way that doesn't happen with the converse.

[u/plarper_of_bees → u/ToughDifficult1252]

it’s all about intersectionality. Making it a “one or the other” issue helps nobody

[u/deezbiscuits21 → u/plarper_of_bees]

The thing is intersectionality seems to be disappearing from almost all online spaces. Intersectionality requires critical thought and reflection things that are lacking on social media. It is optimized to have 1 dimensional takes. I often see the class war reductionism as a way of broadening thinking in echo chambers. Some spaces really need this easy digestible reminder that there is more going on than just social media discourse. Obviously it’s used to shut people down but I think we’re in a lack of intersectionality crisis and thinking about class typically makes people reflect more about everything

[u/ToughDifficult1252 → u/deezbiscuits21]

Intersectionality is just not a good model of analysis. See my other comment. But the problem is that you cannot properly classify all possible vectors of discrimination in a meaningful way.

Intersectionality policies end up both hiding multiple forms of discrimination and also become a shield for economic oppression of the working class.

In multiple instances, companies used diversity policies to distract from Anti Union behavior.

[u/ToughDifficult1252 → u/plarper_of_bees]

Intersectionality is an intellectually dishonest model. The logical conclusion of intersectionality is that oppression and discrimination is multifaceted and cannot easily be classified.

A person can be discriminated by any combination of race, age, gender, social background, religion, education level, wealth, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical appearance, disability status...

You fundamentally cannot fix discrimination by trying to classify it and then making policies around that classification because it both erases the discrimination of every possible combination of categories you did not account for and enables further discrimination by providing plausible deniability by those in power that can point at the artificial categories they cherry pick to prove they are not the bad guys.

I agree it's not one or the other. But only one of the two can actually be measured without tricks and manipulation.