I don't get it

[maevele]

when educated people are pig ignorant about lives other than their own. Do they just not know anyone not just like them, or do they just not pay attention? Because I am a dropout. I should have an excuse to be ignorant. and sometimes I am. I don't have formal training in critical thinking, or other's cultures, or any of it. So if I can see how your educated, sophisticated intellectual ass is hanging out, what's your excuse?


I guess it must be either only knowing people like themselves, or not paying attention. If it is the first, how does that happen without *trying* to recuse yourself from the "others?" Are most people's surroundings much more homogenous? Is madison wisconsin some extreme example of melting pot diversity? I'd think just being at college would have given these people a chance to interact with people who are not just like them in all ways.

And if it is the second, how do you get by in life without noticing the lives of other people around you? Do you only ignore those different from you, or everyone? And how do you fit in to the world around you if you ignore so many people?

Is there some complexity here that explains why my alleged "betters" don't get other people?

Comments

[naomikritzer]

(And I hope I don't sound like a Sh*tt*rly sockpuppet for bringing up class -- this story is just a good illustration of how an area of privilege was rendered largely invisible to the students who had this privilege. Race, obviously, was visible, but the same set of dynamics helped to create the illusion that we were all exactly alike even if we looked different.)

[haddayr.livejournal.com]

I think this entire conversation is about class -- about how maevele is wondering why people who put on such middle-class academic airs about tolerance and largemindedness are intolerant and smallminded.

WS only uses class to prevent people talking about other stuff. You weren't doing that, not remotely.

Either way, let's not let WS own 'class,' okay? There's a lot to unbundle in class, especially as per this convo.

[sophy.livejournal.com]

THIS so much. Just because I roll my eyes whenever this one individual brings up class, doesn't mean I roll my eyes whenever issues around class are brought up otherwise. It's a legitimate issue, or as you say, bundle of issues.