[78_fincdian]

> as a white, heterosexual, cisgender man in America, I live life on the lowest difficulty setting

Seriously, what is this shit? Is there a grant I'm not aware of that's given to straight white men? Free housing somewhere? I'm white and straight and American and I'm pretty sure my children's education is paid for by my near constant work (and my wife's) not by the magical fairy dust that was sprinkled on me at birth.

In no way am I saying Wil does not suffer from depression, but the "my life is perfect, how could I possibly be depressed?" spin rings false. Child stars that go on to find middling success and depression (and substance abuse) later in life is more the norm than the exception isn't it?

As far as I know he never almost died because of drugs, never had a public meltdown and is still gainfully employed, so I'd say he navigated things better than most. I can't speak from experience, but in no way would I say that the life of a child star is easy. It's probably one of the hardest things you could ask a young person to do.

But I have no sympathy for someone who gives in to prevailing rhetoric about "privilege". That is just as moronic as saying "women can't program" or "black people are good at sports".

[mercer]

I'd say applying the 'principle of charity' would help here.

He's probably in an environment where this is a hot button issue, so he's addressing it specifically to avoid your kind of derailing comment (but I guess from what some would call the SJW audience).

More importantly, he's describing a feeling that many people with depression suffer from, a kind of 'impostor syndrome' that can make the whole thing worse and actively prevent people from finding help. I've felt it too, and I've known plenty of people who are the opposite of 'white, heterosexual, cisgender man' who have felt it too. You think so little of yourself that you don't even allow yourself to be depressed, because others have it so much worse. It doesn't help, and it's bullshit.

I do find myself confused that the fact that he considers himself privileged and wants to use this for good is somehow offensive enough to you to make you lose all sympathy. Is that how you actually feel, or are you exaggerating?

[Sukotto]

  Seriously, what is this shit? Is there a 
  grant I'm not aware of that's given to 
  straight white men? Free housing 
  somewhere? I'm white and straight and 
  American and I'm pretty sure my 
  children's education is paid for by my 
  near constant work (and my wife's) not 
  by the magical fairy dust that was 
  sprinkled on me at birth

He is referencing this short essay by John Scalzi:

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/05/15/straight-white-male-t...

It's a good, quick, read

[sjellis]

"Seriously, what is this shit? Is there a grant I'm not aware of that's given to straight white men"

You can get a little badge that says "respectable citizen, handle with care". You don't see it, but people in authority do.

[kilburn]

It's called a stereotype, and it depends more on other aspects than skin color. Mostly on how you communicate (vocabulary, grammar, accent, gestures) and how you look (beauty, illness cues, dress code).

White, heterosexual, cis-gender male that "looks like a junkie", acts disrespectful and speaks slang? Good luck getting authorities to consider you a "respectable citizen, handle with care".

I'm not denying skin color or gender are traits often included in stereotypes, but it is not the only one, nor the most relevant.

[sjellis]

> White, heterosexual, cis-gender male that "looks like a junkie", acts disrespectful and speaks slang? Good luck getting authorities to consider you a "respectable citizen, handle with care".

Yes, that's why I said "can get": it's obviously not an absolute. In some places and situations it's considerably harder for people who aren't a white, heterosexual, cis-gender male to get pegged as someone who should be treated with consideration.

[himom]

He’s better off than almost everyone in Somalia but worse off than Baron von Trump. Identity politics is divisive no matter what, and it looks really weak to appologize for being included in the most hated group of someone else’s victim-hierarchy.

I think the goal of feminism is to indirectly give white men a complex about themselves, life or women, similar to the chip-on-the-shoulder a large fraction of African-American people unfortunately have... creating an endless cycle of punishment, self-doubt, self-sabotage, bitterness and othering just because “we” can.

[yc-kraln]

> Is there a grant I'm not aware of that's given to straight white men?

Yes.

[malmsteen]

Last time i checked in the us universities there was no grant from me and many grants for people having a different "specificity" than me (woman / black / native / disabled...)