Context. I say it from time to time but usually it's when the discussion is about some bullshit. I dont just walk up to a group of poc and hold out my fist and say "hey brothers, fuckin white people amirite"?
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Is it OK to Say "F*cking White People" as a White Person to POC?
- Thread starter HeySeuss
- Start date
A good rule of thumb is if you have to ask a gaming forum if something is okay to say, you're better off not saying it.
White person opinion: I'm sure there's some level of familiarity you could have in your relationship with individual POC where they know what you mean and trust you enough that you mean it, but you should be reeeeeeaaally careful because if you're not at that point it's going to read as hollow, performative wokeness, like you're begging for kudos, to get your acknowledgement as one of the good ones.
Some other white people (I mean from a perspective as a white person) seem a bit fake when doing it, like they are trying to be woke and seem like the cool white person. I mean, there are times for sure when it really fits. But I feel some white people are just trying to fit in to a trend and it comes off as shallow.
This is exactly my first thought when I see white people using this phrase
Only with someone you are close to, and you both already understand each other. Otherwise it's inappropriate.
You can say it, but I don't reccomend. I tend to prefer the mocking of institutions instead. I'm not going to clutch pearls when people do it though since society shits on us on the daily.
This, essentially
Self hating and self depreciation for the purposes of comedy never bother me but saying something in that vein with no comedic edge with the apparent point of ingratiating yourself with the person you are talking to is creepy. It leads to "ummm ok" situations and actually casts as much doubt as the "black friend" to me.
It is OK by society's standards but I don't agree with it. I have a distaste for generalizations. I think it's lazy.
I'll dunk on white people because we're awful and deserve it, and its funny. It's also pretty revealing of the character of other white people when they get upset about it, more often than not they turn out to be less than savory people. But I don't need points, and if it makes a POC I'm around uncomfortable I won't do it.
Black people can tell when you're being performative or when you're being genuine when it comes to this.
So don't use it unless you're being real, and avoid using it unless you're around good friends.
So don't use it unless you're being real, and avoid using it unless you're around good friends.
As a sentiment, I feel it all the time. But, like, would I say that in public, or even around friends unironically? Hell naw. Would just be super cringy.
To add to this, while these utterances come with a great degree of nuance in the presence of people of color, as a white person it is never "cringe" to acknowledge your own privilege societal inequalities and failings enjoyed by white people in general, especilly around other whites who might need to hear it.
To a bunch of strangers - Hell no that's weird.
To friends - Sure, if that's the sense of humor y'all have.
To friends - Sure, if that's the sense of humor y'all have.
Considering you specifically mention using this phrase around only POC, it strikes me as performative wokeness. Also making statements like that about a whole ethnicity isn't cool.
Performative wokeness sounds about right. Also seems like a symptom of self-hatred of your own ethnicity (even if you think it's valid).
It's not going to be "offensive", but c'mon. I can't imagine any context outside of super close friends where this wouldn't come off as cringe inducing/"look how much of an ally I am".
Avoid.
Avoid.
This is very contextual. Some white person at my work doing this would feel incredibly pandering and cringeworthy to me. But I've heard that kind of commentary from my girlfriend, and it's completely fine, because it comes from a genuine place. She's not just saying it to say it. She believes it, and is not blind to the dynamics of racial discrimination and white privilege.
I don't know your workplace, obviously, but I wouldn't be saying shit like that to peers around the office. Not unless you got a truly great personal connection with the people you're saying this stuff around.
I don't know your workplace, obviously, but I wouldn't be saying shit like that to peers around the office. Not unless you got a truly great personal connection with the people you're saying this stuff around.
Same for my wife and I. We literally had this convo just the other day.
I've said it before, but it's always been to people who I'm well familiar with.
People who don't know me that well, naw. Would read as well as saying "I'd vote Obama in for a third term."
People who don't know me that well, naw. Would read as well as saying "I'd vote Obama in for a third term."
I only used it as a punch line. Maybe I misunderstood, but I thought this was done in a joking matter.
The problem with saying that as a white person is that it inevitably comes across like you're distancing yourself from your own whiteness. And while there might be some merit to that, seeing as whiteness is not an innocuous phenomenon, the truth is that you'll never actually be able to do it. You aren't quite capable looking at the world through the lens of a PoC, the best you'll ever be able to do is be somewhat self-aware of your privilege, you'll never be entirely free of your biases. I'm sure you're much better person than, say, the average Trump voter, but are you above whiteness? No, you're not, and even the slimmest pretense that you are is counterproductive.
Here's the thing, though: there's at least one context where you can mostly get around that, and it's when you're around other white people. They're mirrors to you, you're a mirror to them. "Fucking white people" becomes a statement that's actually directed at whiteness, as opposed to a statement that situates you away from it.
Here's the thing, though: there's at least one context where you can mostly get around that, and it's when you're around other white people. They're mirrors to you, you're a mirror to them. "Fucking white people" becomes a statement that's actually directed at whiteness, as opposed to a statement that situates you away from it.
When you live around a lot of White Trash, you might say "Fucking white people" a lot - and I have no problems saying it to other white people or to people of color. Washington/Oregon rednecks are basically The Worst and I have no problems shit talking them openly, regardless of who is around.
And well, we have people like Matt Shea up here.
Also a valid thing to say whenever I see a damn Confederate Flag of all things this far north. Ugh.
And well, we have people like Matt Shea up here.
Also a valid thing to say whenever I see a damn Confederate Flag of all things this far north. Ugh.
