What are your thoughts on the idea of "oppression" and how it applies to culture?

30-11-2021 06:07PM #1

Naturally most of us would revise the idea relative to Irish culture.

But of course by global modern day standards, well we've come a long way since the RCC days, but many other cultures exhibit much greater levels of modern day oppression compared to uzzzz.

But consider the term "culture" for a moment.

What does it mean?

Basically, group consciousness, communally adhered to mentality, covert and clandestine in some cases (sub cultures of hatred etc).

Often times oppression goes hand in hand with a double standard (i.e. one practices themselves what they actively oppress in others).

I guess an underhanded means to maintain dominance and control?

What are your thought?

30-11-2021 06:52PM

The "oppressed", particulary the irish based ones appear to me to be some of the most privaleged people ever to walk the face of earth.

30-11-2021 07:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118247129#Comment_118247129

How so ?

Give us some examples.

Fred Cryton · 30-11-2021 07:20PM

The real problem we face is the rise of identity politics whereby group identify becomes primary over individual identity.

It's highly ironic because the Nazi's were a big fan of the primacy of group identity, they certainly didn't care about individual Jews.

30-11-2021 07:34PM

If we only single out one of many variables (conflict), it may depend upon your point of view. And if that POV is at the individual unit of analysis (eg, you), or at a larger one (eg, group, organization, nation, religion, ethnicity, population, etc).

One of many cliches suggests one person’s terrorist is another’s freedom fighter. A contemporary example that goes back thousands of years may be exhibited by the populations in today’s Palestinian conflict. Or for hundreds of years in an area often referred to as the British Isles, depending upon which side you were on. Or in the past 5 or so years across the pond between Trumpsters and those not favoring Trump.

Of course, there are many other ways to approach this OP.

Danzy · 30-11-2021 07:41PM

Have to agree with the above "oppression" is one of those buzzwords that has become a cliché among young rich activists.

It's a class signifier now for young rich kids.

30-11-2021 07:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118247165#Comment_118247165

Well all those oppressed by microaggressions and pronouns to start with. The middle class socialist activists. The welfare class and the race baiters too.

30-11-2021 07:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118247263#Comment_118247263

Completely right.

There's also an element of individual choice involved here, too. When gay marriage didn't exist in this country, I didn't consider myself "oppressed", yet the community itself is considered oppressed.

The meaning of "oppressed" has become so diluted and overused that it bears no significance to how the word was used in the past.

That's not to say that real oppression exists in the world, but the word is often weaponised by small, vocal minorities who speak on behalf of larger communities without each of the latter's consent.

Mad_maxx · 30-11-2021 08:31PM

The victim industry is a key growth area

30-11-2021 08:44PM

Do we not oppress each other as humans?

I was considering last week, what it must be like to come from welfare class.

Don't ever have illusions of getting ahead in life, for that would upset your welfare peers, and they'll either beat you down or ostracize you for it.

I guess the point was, we oppress each other..... do we not?

It just takes various incarnations depending on ones "identity"?

30-11-2021 08:46PM

Gender oppression?

I shall not speak the name but one large culture is known for it.

That being said, does female to male gender oppression exist also?

I think we're so conditioned to the "norm" in this instance that, we can't even conceive it does.

But alas, it does.

Do women oppress men sexually?

Is the idea laughable to you?

30-11-2021 08:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118247747#Comment_118247747

I was considering last week, what it must be like to come from welfare class.

Don't ever have illusions of getting ahead in life, for that would upset your welfare peers, and they'll either beat you down or ostracize you for it.

What are you waffling on about?

Fandymo · 01-12-2021 09:48AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118247747#Comment_118247747

I don't think that is true at all. You are looking at it from the outside in. I'm from a council estate. If someone is successful and ditches their background they'll be ostracised. If they don't ditch their background they are lionised. Look at the pied piper of scauldys, Conor McGregor.

Also, in my experience, scauldys don't think very far ahead. They aren't oppressed by the thought of wanting to get ahead, like us fools that are thinking about doing well at work and getting a promotion/raise etc. It's almost like Only Fools and Horses. They want money etc, but are hoping for a get rich quick scheme.

01-12-2021 06:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118249602#Comment_118249602

So you're disagreeing, but then outline your interpretation which in fact agrees with my contention?

Welfare classes = it's good to be bad.

McGregor never ditched that, and being a good fighter is perhaps the only acceptable form of progress amongst that demographic.

Pursue something intellectual? (and embody the associated character type that facilitate intellectual development?)

I really don't think that's as well received.

Geuze · 01-12-2021 10:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118247747#Comment_118247747

"welfare class"

What does that mean?

Bear in mind that of the 5m population, there are 2 million recipients of welfare in Ireland, and over 3 million beneficiaries.

Fandymo · 02-12-2021 08:54AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118252807#Comment_118252807

It’s doesn’t though. I’m quite successful compared to my peers growing up, because I was intelligent and studied hard.

I was at a 60th of an old neighbour 2 weekends ago and ended up back at a house party in the estate. No one thought ‘Oh here’s Fandymo, the nerd/prick’ etc or asked why I was invited back, because I’m the same with them as I was growing up. I don’t think I’m better than them or the estate and haven’t forgotten where I’m from.

There are others from the same place as me who went to college, got new friends, changed attitude and look down their nose at where they came from. They’re the cnuts that people from estates despise.

banie01 · 02-12-2021 09:17AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118247388#Comment_118247388

Agree TBH.

I was in a coffee shop yesterday and had the misfortune to be stuck listening to 2 students 1 of whom was desperately trying to get into the others knickers...

Discussing labour, market forces, the oppression of the proletariat and what must be done to ensure a living wage.

He was Irish, she was a Spanish Erasmus student. Neither had seen a day's oppression in their lives but kept circling the rhetoric to ever greater revolution 🤷

PS.

I have a fairly good idea of their backgrounds, because I tutor them.

Danzy · 02-12-2021 09:22AM

Hopefully it paid off for him.

banie01 · 02-12-2021 09:48AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118255241#Comment_118255241

Not if my Spanish is anything to go by it didn't 😉

She was on the phone to get GF before they left the place but?

If he did manage to score? He is a mountain, a legend, a hero amongst men!

Danzy · 02-12-2021 09:53AM

Farce turned into tragedy.

joseywhales · 02-12-2021 10:14AM

I think what people are calling oppression now , I think of as competition. I had thought that not discriminating based on characteristics outside of the control of the individual such as race, gender, age, religion etc is the primary ethical rule for a cooperative society. However there appears it be a drive rebalance historic disadvantages. For example I gather in the us now that a white person can not be the victim of racism, it's impossible because they are structurally entitled by the colour of their skin. I cannot understand this. It is a judgement based on ones race which the individual cannot be responsible for.

02-12-2021 10:42AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118254365#Comment_118254365

Where did you get these figures from?

Geuze · 02-12-2021 02:36PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118255635#Comment_118255635

From the Department of Social Protection annual stats.

Here you go:

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/02f594-annual-sws-statistical-information-report/

What are your thoughts on the idea of "oppression" and how it applies to culture?

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