One of those things

[fredericks]

I'm on My LJ, arguably the best bit of revamping the Goat people have done (although 100 icons for paid users is plenty nifty as well), checking to see if someone on my FL has a birthday coming up and, as I'm wont to do, I look over the random user entry. What I find is this wonderfully eloquent post on dealing with a relationship that has ended and how powerful relationships never really end. I'm reading it and I'm nodding to myself, saying "yes, EXACTLY, this is just how I felt when X Y Z" and I'm literally moved to tears at one point (I really have been crying entirely too much lately; I have no idea what's come over me). So before I reply and tell this person how wonderful I thought their entry curiosity moves to check out the gentleman's user information. I find the usual pseudo-deep musing and then, in the middle of all of it, this line: [l]ost my spot at Yale to an underpriviledged minority with a BMW. I'm not bitter, of course. I paraphrase the last sentence slightly, but I'll never forget that first one. It dun smacked me in the jaw. That and his libertarian and conservative republican interests clued me in - yup, dude's an ass. Or, to clean that up - he and I have completely different views on the world. *ahem*

Comments

[melancthe.livejournal.com]

I have this from time to time - I read posts on my Friends of Friends page and I'm smitten by the poster's sense of humour or ability to move me, and then I check out the user info and I realise that we have nothing in common. That's always more of a disappointment somehow, because you've already formed a positive impression of the person. Although I have to say I'm pointing-and-laughing at Mr "those damn underprivileged minorities"'s whininess. :)

And I didn't even realise that there was a random journal component on MyLJ. Thank you for mentioning it!

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

I thought it gnarly, the random box. Little windows into the lives of total strangers without the work. *grin*

I don't think I left disappointed so much as sad. It always makes me feel bad for someone when I see them spouting something that, for all extent and purpose, is utter nonsense (racist or otherwise). Get over yourself - you didn't get in and you'll never know why. To say that you lost a spot implies you were guaranteed one in the first place. That's not how things work...unless mommy or daddy pay $20 million and stick a building on campus. Poor sad sack. He was so eloquent too. All respect - gone.

[melancthe.livejournal.com]

The whole "I lost a spot to an underprivileged group, waaah" mentality is very common here in South Africa. We've had a democratic government for twelve years now (wow, time flies!), and I'm getting really sick of the apparently endless number of people who bitch and moan because of how employment equity affects them. What they really mean is "I'm pissed off because I can't get a well-paid cushy job just because I'm white any more". There's that underlying suggestion that jobs and positions in universities/sports teams are being given to the undeserving and unwashed masses instead of to the obviously more intelligent elite, and it infuriates me. And I swear I'm going to smack the next person who says "formerly disadvantaged people" while making quotation marks in the air and pulling a cynical face.

... er, I'm sorry, I just ranted in your journal! I brought my tissues, so I'll clean up after myself. :)

*sigh*

[mzzzunderstood.livejournal.com]

good lord, we're considered 'minorities' in freaking South Africa? what is going on around here?!

Re: *sigh*

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

? She never uses the word "minority" to refer to black South Africans in her comment.

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

:) No reason to apologize. I do love hearing your thoughts on the topic. I've been thinking on the issue for most of the night. There's this assumption that all discrimination and effects of it (and, you know, 300 years of slavery) disappeared as soon as Martin Luther King showed up. It's really hard to point out that is hasn't in this country to someone who never has to face them.

I knew you'd have a different yet similar perspective on it being in SA. Thank you for chiming in. You're like a multi-faceted jewel of greatest. Ignoring the odd composer lust, of course.