How PRIVILEGE Destroys the Unprivileged

A New Perspective on Privilege

Privileged Straight White Man

Much has been debated about the extent of privilege in the Western world. I’m here to tell you the effects of privilege are far more egregious than either side is willing to admit. But it has nothing to do with race, sex, or ability.

It has to do with ideology.

Over the past few months, I’ve read a few articles from aspiring authors on the topic of privilege. I’m always looking to expand my horizons. I wanted to uncover the truth of this ever-elusive demon called privilege, knowing, as they say, privilege is invisible to those who have it.

Many of these articles just so happened to be written by middle-aged white women (plus-sized, I believe, is the preferred term) whose stances, on the topic of privilege and discipline, boiled down to three main conclusions:

1. Discipline is Ableistic, Racist, and Misogynistic

2. Effort is Difficult

3. Life Circumstances are Different

And let me tell you, they are spot on. Yes, differences in mental diseases, chronic pain, and especially IQ play immense roles in cognitive perseverance! Yes, effort hurts! Especially when you’re tired and busy and maybe even, might I say, lazy. Yes, some people have children and multiple jobs! Yes, Lord, yes!

But…

These authors have forgotten one little fact: Success doesn’t care about excuses.

Let me rephrase that.

GREATNESS AIN’T FOR EVERYBODY.

It is wholly evident that these writers never played sports at a high level, or even knew anybody who did. Complaining about the privilege and work ethic of Stephen King and Ernest Hemingway is just as ridiculous as me complaining I’m not 6 foot 9 with a 40 inch vertical.

Do fat-ass 40 year old men who play pick-up basketball write denigrating articles about the privilege of Kobe Bryant because he had the freedom to work out 12 hours a day and the physical health and height and fast-twitch muscle fibers at 18 that they don’t have? Do they blame the systemic oppression of the NBA for drafting giant young athletic freaks?

Do they complain how Mamba Mentality doesn’t account for psychological differences or family circumstances?

No.

Because athletes understand how ridiculous this mentality is. This might come as a surprise, but EXTREME results come from EXTREME effort and EXTREME talent. There’s no ifs ands or buts about it.

But I wasn’t lying in my intro. PRIVILEGE is destroying the unprivileged in nefarious ways, far worse than anyone has previously expressed. Here’s how:

Privilege becomes a mind virus to those who believe they are unprivileged.

If you believe you are unprivileged, you will find every excuse to blame your lack of effort and time management on systemic factors, neuro-untypicality, and biology.

If you don’t believe that narrative, your lack of effort and time management reflects back on yourself.

How did I know this opinion was more of a mind virus than a theory?

Because the articles themselves did not humor me so much as their reception. All the comments, from people of a similar demographic as the writers, championed their own unprivilege, feeling the need to espouse their unique life circumstances that made effort and time management especially difficult. It was a symphony of self-pity, a downward spiral of acknowledgement and appeasing the commenters.

There was one common phrase among them: I needed to hear this.

The results of this line of thinking?

Each of them felt proud of their inadequacy, of their weaknesses, of their lack of discipline. The next time they feel any sort of cognitive friction, they’ll revert right back to the dark overlord of privilege granting them a pass to cast off their effort onto someone else.

Let me tell you something: If you truly need to hear something, it won’t make you feel good. Change hurts. Efforts hurts. Truth hurts.

If success was easy, everybody would do it.

On the whole, this ideology is not only counterproductive, it’s envious, resentful, and wholly ungrateful of their being alive in the freest most prosperous time in human history, with an intellect that allows them to write such articles.

I can guarantee you this:

There is somebody out there dealt a shittier hand than you.

And they’re doing a whole lot more with it.

We all have setbacks, problems, uncontrollable circumstances.

There is only one question that remains:

What the fuck are you gonna do about it?