Anonymous #1 6w

that’s evidence for why regulating your nervous system matters, not for why detachment is justified. if everyone reasoned ‘i’d rather not know,’ nobody’s suffering ever gets addressed by anybody, which is the actual problem with universalizing that stance. balance makes sense; opting all the way out doesn’t. especially for people who have the privilege to opt out sustainably in the first place.

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Anonymous #3 6w

i think detachment is being aware of the situation while not letting it affect you that much because if your nervous system is dysregulated that makes you less equipped to help

2

Anonymous #3 6w

NTA. It’s not your job to deal with everyone else’s issues at the risk of your own mental health, especially if there’s nothing you can really do to fix the problem.

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Anonymous #3 6w

I actually think it’s privileged to think that everyone needs to know everything at all times. People (especially those working multiple jobs) quite literally don’t have the time for that. Getting accurate information requires fact checking, understanding context… especially now that the media is so polarized

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Anonymous #5 6w

Rhetoric like that gets on my nerves. The OP didn’t say anything about being white, straight, or male! What privilege YOU must have to have the time to not only be completely informed on absolutely everything while also having time to fact check and make sure everything you see is actually true, but to be mentally okay enough to deal with all of it! Have you ever thought some people (Like those who have been SA’d) purposely choose to not know what kind of vile shit comes out of Trump’s mouth…

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Anonymous #4 6w

Knowing everything at all times may be fine for you (although I’m willing to bet even your virtue signaling self doesn’t know EVERYTHING), but other people have completely VALID reasons for wanting to not know, and calling them privileged is unbelievably disrespectful.

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Anonymous #4 6w

Being human toward others’ struggles doesn’t require you to “risk your mental health” or become an expert in their suffering. Most people already have that covered. Demanding fact-checked, context-verified information before you’ll trust someone’s account of their own experience is a very Cartesian move, treating testimony like it needs independent proof before it counts as knowledge. That’s not the same as knowing everything, and it’s not the same as fully detaching either. Kinda the asshole.

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Anonymous #4 6w

#5 never said OP was white, straight, or male. Those were examples of what ‘privileged’ can look like, not an accusation against OP specifically. You’re arguing against a claim nobody made. The actual point stands: not needing to know something because it doesn’t affect you is a privilege, whether or not it happens to apply to OP. That’s not disrespectful, it’s just what the word means.

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Anonymous #3 6w

Quick example of what I mean bc no I’m not talking about fact checking someone’s testimony 😒. Remember October 7th? Without context, I would have been on Israel’s side. (it would have looked like HAMAS attacked innocent people for no reason.) Obviously, that’s not what happened, which I needed CONTEXT to figure out.

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Anonymous #3 6w

And yes, anyone who blindly believes what they see on the news or social media (that’s obviously not just someone saying what happened to them) is an idiot.

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Anonymous #4 6w

That’s a different situation. Believing someone’s account of their own suffering isn’t the same as weighing competing narratives in a geopolitical conflict where multiple sides make claims about each other. Context matters for adjudicating conflicting accounts, nobody said otherwise. It doesn’t require distrusting someone’s testimony about their own pain before it counts. Those are two different epistemic problems, and conflating them is why this thread keeps talking past itself.

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Anonymous #4 6w

There’s a difference between doomscrolling polarized news and knowing things that matter. Knowing your neighbor is starving. Knowing another just needs someone to listen. Knowing the community garden needs hands this week. Knowing the land well enough to survive off it, knowledge indigenous communities held for generations while everyone else forgot. That’s not a burden, it’s the point. Nobody’s asking for opinions on every news cycle, just attention to what’s already in front of you.

1

Anonymous #4 6w

The urge to form an opinion on every international conflict and absorb secondhand trauma from it is its own kind of distraction. It feels like moral engagement, but it often just displaces the harder, slower work of actually healing the people around you. You can’t sit with your neighbor’s grief if you’re spending that capacity being upset about something you have no power to change. Vicarious trauma isn’t proof of caring, sometimes it’s just avoidance wearing a more acceptable face.

1

Anonymous #4 6w

None of this works though if you’re unwilling to learn about hard things when they show up in your own life. You can skip the news cycle and still show up for your community. But if you’re also unwilling to sit with what’s hard close to home, that’s not balance, that’s just avoidance with better branding.

1

Anonymous #4 6w

I didn’t mean to imply that everyone needs to know absolutely everything but being able to choose not to interact with any of the horrors that are going on currently is a privilege. I myself am in a privileged position and there are things that I could ignore but for the sake of the people who are involved (and are victims, like immigrants, poc, and queer folks) I try to stay as informed as possible so I can attempt to be an another advocate for them. As I said I’m not saying OP is a bad person.

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Anonymous #4 6w

Are you seeing the pattern? It’s avoidance dressed up as different things depending on the argument. Skipping the news, forming international opinions instead of local ones, refusing to sit with hard things right in front of you. Different disguises, same move.

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Anonymous #3 6w

“Things that matter.” Everything matters. Every child killed in Palestine matters. Every grieving parent matters. I could go on. Knowing all of this is detrimental to your mental health. And yes, being present in your community is wonderful. But I don’t think that’s what the OP is talking about (literally used the phrase “everything” and “horrors of the world”) which are the things that I was talking about. Furthermore, people with serious depression, anxiety, PTSD… physically can’t handle it…

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Anonymous #4 6w

… sometimes. That’s not because they’re privileged. I know the intent of the word privilege isn’t bad, but it’s almost always used that way, as a way to make other people feel bad for what they are/aren’t doing.

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Anonymous #5 6w

Maybe it’s just me, but every time I’ve heard the word privileged used to describe an individual, it’s always been an insult. And it’s possible that’s not how you meant it, but I don’t think it’s ok to say that without knowing the exact circumstances. There are so many instances where wanting to not know something stems from things like past trauma, which is the exact opposite of privilege.

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Anonymous #4 6w

As you said though that isn’t how I meant it and I whole heartedly believe being willfully ignorant is a privilege. Choosing not so see things going on or choosing not to be informed is a privilege because that means you (in the wider sense not anyone specifically) have a choice. For example my friends dad was recently deported she had no choice on whether or not she got to be informed about the unlawful deportations in the US but I technically have the privilege to not need to know about it…

1

Anonymous #5 6w

Because it doesn’t directly impact me. That is what I meant by privileged

4

Anonymous #4 6w

Maybe you’re not facing the horrors of the world then, because my everyday life is pretty fucking gruesome. I can’t just turn off marginalization, diva. Chronic minority stress and housing instability are real things and not having them is a fucking privilege. Don’t feel bad about that. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. The least you can do is be aware of where privilege exists. It’s not supposed to make you feel shame. It’s supposed to make you feel compassion.

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Anonymous #4 6w

You wanna come talk to these fucking roaches in my kitchen???

1

Anonymous #3 6w

Not sure why you have such an attitude. You don’t know anything about me or what I’m going through.

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Anonymous #4 6w

Everyone is going through something. Doesn’t mean privilege doesn’t exist. The problem is that mfs like you and OP think it’s okay to not care.

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Anonymous #4 6w

You are on my last nerve.

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Anonymous #5 6w

That makes sense and if that’s all you meant I’m sorry about calling you disrespectful. I still don’t think you needed to point that out though, because 1. The OP is very likely already aware. 2. Being called privileged has a negative connotation no matter the intent. 3. If I was the OP, it would have made me feel like shit, not because I didn’t know, but because of the connotation behind the word. I mean, every time you see someone on their phone you don’t remind them how privileged they are.

-1

Anonymous #3 6w

NOBODY in this entire comment section said it was okay not to care. You’re being extremely rude and I’m done responding to you.

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Anonymous #4 6w

I have absolutely no business going on a self guided in-depth study of colonialism given my life circumstances but that’s exactly what i’m doing because even I recognize my own privilege comparatively and i want to do right by my spirit and this land. If I can do the hard work of decolonizing myself while i’m actively suffering from systems of coloniality, people with financial stability have absolutely no excuse.

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Anonymous #4 6w

1. As they should be I believe we all should be aware of and acknowledge our privilege 2. This is why we should all practice our reading comprehension because while you came fists swing straight out of the gate I tried to keep my post respectful 3. I believe (and this is personal opinion) if I have a voice I should try and use it to help the people that don’t. Not everyone is privileged enough to be in a position to handle that extra responsibility (like OP) but I feel I am, so I try.

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Anonymous #4 6w

You and OP obviously do not care because nobody is asking you to know everything. It just feels like that because you’re not used to having to know anything. Call me rude but i see through the bullshit.

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Anonymous #5 6w

1. Agree with the first part, but acknowledging privilege in a YikYak post seems a little excessive. 2. That was rude and now you are being disrespectful. 3. Agreed. I’d never not agree to not helping people if you can. But that’s not what the OP is talking about. They’re talking about knowing “everything,” and in my experience “privileged” = entitled, spoiled, rich on Daddy’s money… so not exactly a nice thing to call someone, hence my defensiveness.

-1

Anonymous #4 6w

“privileged = entitled, spoiled, rich on Daddy’s money” is exactly the strawman definition nobody’s using. That’s not what the word means structurally, it’s the connotation you’re reacting to, not the actual claim. And “acknowledging privilege in a Yik Yak post seems excessive” isn’t a counterargument, it’s just discomfort with the timing. If the point stands, where it’s said doesn’t make it wrong.

2

Anonymous #4 6w

And notice how you’ve spent this whole thread arguing about the word instead of the thing it points to…

3

Anonymous #3 6w

I am explaining that connotation matters and that the connotation of the word is why I started off defensively because that’s how it has been used before, not arguing the definition of the word. I’ve already acknowledged that the OP is privileged… so is everyone on here. Just was uncomfortable with you pointing it out because of the negative connotation of the word. The OP did nothing wrong, so using a word with that connotation, no matter the meaning, kinda rubbed me the wrong way.

-5

Anonymous #4 6w

IF DISCOURSE ABOUT PRIVILEGE MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE MAYBE THAT’S BECAUSE YOU HAVE SOMETHING OTHER PEOPLE DON’T HAVE. And you know what, it is a privilege and a honor that I feel so comfortable speaking up about privilege and injustice. Obviously you don’t have that privilege.

1

Anonymous #4 6w

Shit I thought I was replying to #5, still not talking to you #3… my bad. P.S. easier to win an argument if you aren’t an asshole!

-1

Anonymous #4 6w

SEE HOW THAT WORKS??? 🤣

1

Anonymous #4 6w

It is uncomfortable to acknowledge that we are all privileged but it is something we must do. We don’t always want to admit that we have it easier than others but we must. We should also look past the connotations of words to see what people are literally saying yes the context in which they use it and the connotation of the words are important but no more important than the actual means of the words.

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Anonymous #4 6w

Winning?? I don’t speak to win. I speak to express. You indicated that you were unwilling to listen so i indicated that i’m unwilling to coddle you.

1

Anonymous #5 6w

I think your post was a little excessive (I wouldn’t post about how privileged someone is if they were complaining about college for example), but yea you’re right besides that. I’m gonna log off of YikYak so I don’t accidentally respond to #3 again. 😂 I decided a long time ago not to talk to people like that. I hope YOU have a good night though!

-1

Anonymous #4 6w

“people like that” you mean people who speak the painfully uncomfortable truth for everyone to hear. COLLEGE IS A PRIVILEGE. no use getting offended over it!!

1

Anonymous #2 6w

okay semantics queen 🙄

-1

Anonymous #4 6w

I clocked you so fucking hard and you could never have the nerve to take some fucking ownership for it. Prove me wrong!!

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Anonymous #4 6w

P.S. Easier to not get called privileged in a bad way if you weren’t insecure about your privilege!

2

Anonymous #4 6w

Privilege is not inherently bad. Refusal to acknowledge its existence is what’s harmful and you are refusing HARD

2

Anonymous #4 6w

and at the beginning i was so patient with you too. you didn’t deserve that.

2

Anonymous #3 6w

ur a bitch

5

Anonymous #2 6w

Right?! I think they’ll be leaving you alone for a while though… their temper tantrum at me may have got them put in YikYak timeout (or else they thought better of being an ass and deleted some of their posts)

1

Anonymous #4 6w

You’ll do everything but engage with substance. You’ve proven that my tone was never the problem. Privilege is not an insult, and it’s an honor and a responsibility.

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Anonymous #4 6w

I can baby you or I can scream it at you but clearly it doesn’t matter because you already have your mind made up that you can’t possibly be wrong.

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Anonymous #2 6w

Damn, I wish that timeout was longer. 😭 If I were you, I’d just ignore them. It’s clear they don’t know what they’re talking about. Quite frankly, I’m surprised they knew the word “semantics” 😂

1

Anonymous #4 6w

You watched me use the word Cartesian to describe your lack of epistemic trust and you think I don’t know the word semantics? You definitely didn’t read anything I said. Thanks for admitting it.

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Anonymous #4 6w

I love how you report my comments and then act like I got put in time out. You are such a coward doing absolutely the most but still refusing to engage in good faith.

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Anonymous #4 6w

Your silence is speaking volumes.

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Anonymous #4 6w

i'm ngl i was agreeing with them at first like wtf they just wanna be angry

2

Anonymous #2 6w

Yea, not quite sure how insulting people for no reason is good faith. Thank you so much for reminding me not everyone on YY is just trying to start stuff. 🫶

1

Anonymous #2 6w

I lowkey want to block them, but the petty part of me is really enjoying watching them have a tantrum. 😂

1

Anonymous #4 6w

You are literally the one who replied to me. You could have swallowed your pride and moved on but you just had to be a an ass.

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Anonymous #4 6w

Still waiting for you to actually refute my point.

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Anonymous #2 6w

Like I haven’t responded to this person in at least an hour (because I specifically told them I wouldn’t respond to rude people) and they’re STILL going 😂

1

Anonymous #4 6w

this is rude and doesn’t address anything i said.

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Anonymous #4 6w

Still waiting for you to concede that insulation from injustice is a privilege.

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Anonymous #4 6w

You wanna chip away at my composure, moving goalpost by goalpost, excuse by excuse, roll your eyes at me, and then go completely silent when you run out, and somehow you still have the nerve to act like you’re some little angel? Sure, Jan.

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Anonymous #2 6w

i don’t wanna be angry. why are you judging me by my emotions rather than my actual position?

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Anonymous #2 6w

You know what I want? I want to be heard instead of scrutinized. This speaks directly to the point of insulation being a privilege. It cuts both ways because while it protects the privileged from taking on vicarious trauma, it prevents the marginalized from being witnessed. That simple act of erasure is dangerous. It’s how the Holocaust happened and it’s how the destruction of life on earth is continuing.

0