I remember this convo from college and i don't remember how it was resolved then - <div><br><div>The justification for speaking from an identity position is that it gives some authority on the subject being discussed, right? Or is it something else?</div><div>If the argument is, 'I am Hispanic, so I have some expertise on this issue,' then other Hispanics also have expertise on this issue. The question, now put less bluntly, remains. </div><div><br></div><div>The question was, what is the difference between speaking from an identity position and speaking for people who share your identity? It IS a subtle distinction - so what is the distinction? If you're not trying to imply something about the people that share your identity, then what is the relevance of your identity? </div><div><br></div><div>I really don't think it's trolling to ask this, because I read lots of places, not just here, this kind of argument. It looks like an argument from authority, which is not really an argument. </div><div>Not to mention a lot of well meaning people miss the distinction, if any. I had a guy say to me "I can't imagine what it's like to live in fear of being raped every day." I was like 'fuck off, me either.' But he didn't make that up, some other lady told him that was the lived experience of womanhood, he just believed it. </div><div><br></div><div>Anyway happy Friday. I hope your party is fun. </div><div><br><div>On Friday, October 24, 2014, yar <<a href="mailto:yardenack@gmail.com">yardenack@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">On Fri, Oct 24, 2014 at 5:53 PM, Sonja Trauss <<a href="javascript:;" onclick="_e(event, 'cvml', 'sonja.trauss@gmail.com')">sonja.trauss@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
> I just didn't want to seem aggressive or like I'm trying to troll the list<br>
> or criticize you in public.<br>
<br>
Replying privately with an argument is in some ways more aggressive<br>
than replying on the list. It can make people feel cornered, makes it<br>
harder for them to call for backup, and can potentially enable<br>
triangulation gaslighting. Please ask for explicit permission from<br>
people before starting private email arguments.<br>
<br>
> But since you do - can you explain a thing I always wonder about when I read<br>
> authoritative statements about "My Culture" -<br>
> What should I make of Hispanics that don't agree with you - Hispanics who do<br>
> not care who celebrates their holidays, or Hispanics who don't feel<br>
> particularly connected to their holidays? Which one of you speaks for all<br>
> Hispanics?<br>
<br>
Speaking from an identity position is not the same as "I speak for<br>
everybody who shares my identity." Missing a subtle but important<br>
distinction like that and then haranguing somebody else over it, is<br>
the hallmark of a well-played troll. You've been warned several times<br>
on this list for creepy racist behavior. Please end it once and for<br>
all. Thank you.<br>
</blockquote></div></div></div>