[deanCommie]

Throwaway didn't claim bad faith necessarily, but just pointed out an important variable.

It's good to have good faith, but it's also good to understand that good faith individuals also suffer from blindspots and unconscious biases.

Hypothetically if there is a set of leaders, directors, and VPs, that all seem equally incompetent, but you call out only one, what might be the reason for it? It could be random. It could be because they were this person's actual direct manager. It coudl be because they're genuinely the one that are the most incompetent of the lot. But it could also be that they're the one perceived to be the most incompetent of the lot. Why? Does them being a woman or black factor into it? Who knows. Not even OP might.

It's not helpful to jump to racism at a moment's notice. It's not helpful to use race as a shield from criticism. But it's also not helpful to pretend that racism doesn't exist, even unconsciously within folks that would otherwise believe they don't have a prejudiced bone in their body.

In conclusion, people shouldn't ACCUSE, and other people shouldn't get DEFENSIVE. It's OK to discuss. I thought Throwaway did a decent job of not accusing. Many responses got too defensive tho.

[mpalmer]

I agree with you that some reactions were a bit strong.

But I reject that "pretending racism doesn't exist" is a good description of objections like mine above.

In my view it's just as fair to say that taking your position means pretending that racism exists in all interactions between people of different races, and must be contended with before other matters.

Unconscious racism is a thing, yet I question the utility of bringing it up when you have no actual evidence that OP is affected by unconscious racism. He might just hate women too, right? Can't rule that out.

[rondini]

A measured response, thank you for laying it out so nicely.

[marknutter]

Nah, it’s race baiting bullshit, and more racist than the racism it claims to be calling out.