Pondering stuff white people like

[alias_sqbr]

Reading the article I mentioned in my last post I was reminded of stuff white people like, specifically this video of the creator talking about his experiences was interesting, the way he went from making a blog for fun to book deal in like a month is intense.

Something he said, which took me a while to realise when I first saw the blog, is that it's not about "white people", it's about upper middle class left wing types and the way they we see ourselves as free-thinking unique snowflakes¹. Really most of the digs are about class not race but since "White people" care more about being seen as non-racist than non-classist² and are very self conscious about white guilt etc that name is more effective. Kind of annoying for white people who aren't White People and don't get the joke, I imagine.

See for example #62 Knowing what’s best for poor people. I am often amazed at how openly "left wing" people despise the poor. They watch Today Tonight! And have badly dyed hair! And use bad grammar! (Unlike poor people from other countries who are adorably authentic and charming. Unless they chop down trees or eat McDonalds or something)

Also there was a link to this black guy who set up a stall so people could have their photo taken with him, I salute his bravery :)

I've often pondered talking more about class but am worried about (a)Coming up against the fairly unselfconscious classism a lot of people have³ and (b) Collapsing in self consciousness as I ponder my own class.

1)And I think a large part of the appeal of the blog for White People is feeling smug at how much more self aware they are compared to all those other White People.
2)Which is very different from being less racist
3)Cue my friends from the country saying "Bah! You have it easy!" :)

Comments

[ataxi.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and the other thing is that the motivation to "get an education" in the sense with which we mean it (i.e. go to uni and get your bachelors -- or doctorate, heh!) is almost totally formed by class. So it's not "lazy and dumb", it's just "why would I?".

An interesting phenomenon at the moment is the rehabilitation of the trades in mainstream society -- the ongoing shortage of tradies mean that they earn a lot, and there are these quite noticeable trends in journalism and lifestyle programming to create the idea of the "tradie catch" -- you know, the hot, uncomplicated hunk who earns a lot of money and is great with DIY about the house, like those presenters on Backyard Blitz and so forth. I saw a competition for "Australia's Hottest Tradie" on the SMH website a couple of days ago.

(I wonder if this sort of trend will be accompanied by increasing stigmatisation of the white collar working class? Is The Office an example of that maybe?)

[alias_sqbr]

An interesting phenomenon at the moment is the rehabilitation of the trades in mainstream society -- the ongoing shortage of tradies mean that they earn a lot, and there are these quite noticeable trends in journalism and lifestyle programming to create the idea of the "tradie catch" -- you know, the hot, uncomplicated hunk who earns a lot of money and is great with DIY about the house, like those presenters on Backyard Blitz and so forth. I saw a competition for "Australia's Hottest Tradie" on the SMH website a couple of days ago.

Huh. That had managed to totally pass me by. And thus I have nothing to say on it but "That is interesting" :)