NationStates Jolt Archive

I never understand people who say "I'm a veteran" or "I'm African American" to make a point during political debate. I realize that veterans served our country, we enslaved the blacks, murdered the Native Americans, etc. but that doesn't make you any more right than anyone else. If someone says "I'm a hippie", does that make them any more right on positions of drug use?

It puts in a sense of relativity. I think comments like "I don't support affirmative action" are a lot more relevant coming from an African-American female than a white male. It doesn't make them any more "right" or "important" it just makes their comments more relative. IMO.

This return statement is quite valid.

-Fury

I rather agree with the thread starter for the most part. Though one may be more directly effected by something doesnt mean their opinion is any better than anyone else's. That only accounts for political arguements though. When one is discussing facts not ideology or opinion, then one's background can hold much more weight with the subject at hand.

Yeah, well I'm a gay Jewish black Eskimo, and I think you guys suck.

It's an inverted ad hominem fallacy at worst, that's a given, but I'd certainly say that the above example of an African-American opposing affirmative action holds a little more weight than some rich whitey doing the same, unless the black guy's middle-class, of course. If a war veteran comes back from a war and protests it, he at least knows what's going on, whether or not you agree with what he's saying. A gay man is going to know more about homosexuality than a Bible-thumper who's never knowingly spoken to a homosexual. Ultimately, any argument needs to have some weight behind it, but if a person has direct knowledge of something, it makes you more inclined to listen. At least, that's the theory.

In persuasive writing these would only be used to embellish a persons history in some way. Only certain people would take that as an offense or defensive manor.

When a African American tells me that someone made a racist comment towards them compared to a white dude. I would be much more concerned, why is that? Because its more powerful to some if not most.

If a Veteran tells you about something on duty or being humble, over a rich prick that has had his ass wiped for him all his life. For some reason the veteran carries more weight. But then what do you do when that veteran is also that rich prick?

its nice to know where people are coming from. it helps to frame your response if you know more about the person you are responding to.

but i do get tired of having to suppose that every veteran is more patriotic than i am or that his opinion on national defense is more sophisticated than mine (although they sometimes are just that)

my biggest complaint is that i am very cynical and tend to disbelieve everyones claim of special status without some other kind of "proof" attached to it. its too easy on the net to claim to be whatever it is you think will end up getting people to pay more attention to your opinions.

or maybe im just envious that no one ever goes "ooooo shes a middle aged housewife, i better listen up"

Veterans I respect quite a bit (for the most part) because they faught for my freedoms.

African-americans, however, don't get any respect from me simply from being and african-american. If grew up in a bad neighborhood, that earns respect, but not because they're black. But even growing up in a bad neighborhood doesn't earn you much respect from me, because if you grew up in a bad neighborhood, and you're one of the reasons it was that way, than no, I do not respect you. It's when you're in the ghetto and you actually do something with your life that earns you respect.