Objective:\”not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts.\”
dictionary defintion
Everyone has feelings. When trying to view or judge the world around us, we cannot help but apply our feelings, our experiences and our opinions. Everyone has their life, their viewpoint.
In order for us to be considerate and inclusive, we need first take an objective view, and then apply our feelings to it.
Feelings are our viewpoint. Feelings can change without changing the world around us. Viewpoints can change without changing the world around us. Facts, taking an objective view, do not chang. Unless active change takes place.
Empirical evidence: \”the evidence of the senses, of direct observation or measurement\”
dictionary definition
Empirical evidence is information acquired by observation or experimentation. Scientists record and analyse this data. The process is a central part of the scientific method. Meaning that they take an objective approach. Only when there is a lack of empirical evidence will they resort to rational evidence. Any anecdotal evidence gets assigned to the footnotes.
Prejudice: \”dislike, hostility, or unjust behaviour deriving from preconceived and unfounded opinions\”
Dictionary Definition
This means that no matter how you feel about a fact that has been shown objectively to the true through empirical evidence, it does not make it false. Nor does it invalidate your feelings. What it does mean is that if you deny the empirical evidence through rationalisation, then you are lying to yourself, and you are being prejudiced.
Rationalise: \”attempt to explain or justify (behaviour or an attitude) with logical reasons, even if these are not appropriate\”
Dictionary Definition
It doesn\’t matter how complex, complicated, difficult or expensive something appears to be, if you explain away a fact through rationalisation, then you are inappropriately justifying a falsehood.
There is such an enormous body of evidence that shows that we live in a biased world. The facts show that women and not treated as equals. Empirical evidence shows that they are currently fighting a vicious circle with inequality. The same for black people. It might make you feel uneasy to realise that, but it is true. To argue otherwise is to rationalise empirical evidence.
If you are any sort of nice and lovely person, who thinks that people should just be able to get on with their lives on an equal basis, the you need to realise that things are not fair right now, that some people need help. They need your help.
If you believe otherwise. If you think that people just complain too much, and things are OK as they are. The world has it right. No change is needed, then heed on.
Authoritarianism: \”a form of government characterized by the rejection of political plurality, the use of a strong central power to preserve the political status quo\”
Wikipedia
Politicians make the rules. They govern your country. So, if all is well, then you believe the world, your country, is being run just fine by your politicians. You wish to preserve the status quo.
Ultranationalism: \”extreme nationalism that promotes the interest of one state or people above all others\”
wikipedia
You believe that your country is right, and others have it wrong. Things are just fine the way they are. You do not want change. The world is not unfair. Other people, irrespective of their experiences, and evidence to the contrary, should change their behaviour to fit in.
Fascism: \”a form of far-right, authoritarian ultranationalism\”
wikipedia
Well. It turns out you are a fascist. You don\’t want change. You don\’t accept facts. Your anecdotal, rationalised evidence fuels hate and divisiveness.
Either, you accept the empirical evidence that you are living in a world, a society, that perpetuates racism and misogyny. Or, you are one of the fascist perpetuating the racism and misogyny. Because the act of denying it, forces the status quo. And anyone who won\’t see the need for change is the cause.
If you feel uncomfortable about this, then that\’s probably a good start. Remember, you can\’t change the facts.
And, stop being such a little shit.
Where do you think all those terms, like mansplaining and white privilege come from? They come from women and black people\’s experiences of their objective lives being rationalised away by some white man who doesn\’t think there\’s a problem.
That\’s you. They are looking right at you. You\’re being fascist. You\’re being racists, You\’re being sexist. And still you bang on about how they just need to change their behaviour.