To Learn is to Live

Just read something on a religious forum which made me want to ::POKE THE INTERNET STUPIDITY::, but with the help of Boyf managed to back away from the keyboard, exhale, and then gradually calm down.

This resulted in a brief conversation about something which is currently amusing the internet security community regards a self labelled 'white-hat' hacker has just published a book whcih is blatently a major cut and paste, and when called out on it is citing 'Security industry Racism'.  

The plagiarist in question happens to be Black (and a collosal eejit, but I digress, and his idiocy and his Blackness are in no way connected), but it made me think about -isim's and marginalised communities and subcultures.

I'm a geek, of computers, science fiction, fantasy, RPG's, gadgets, and rock/alt music.  I'm also a relatively small Black woman.

These factors are of course unrelated, but when someone screams 'racism' and applies it to one of my geekdoms I have to take a moment and think 'really'?

I'm lucky. I've suffered (comparatively) very little  racism in my life. Or I should say I have perceived relatively little racism. I'm sure there has been racism I'm not aware of, but I can't comment on that if it's unknown to me.

I've experienced a lot more sexism, and my interests have often led me to be the only female presence in the room / conference / forum / game.

I was just wondering, within marginalised subgroups / cultures in real life and on the internet, do you think that because they are often on the receiving end they can appreciate how harmful -ism's can be and so are generally more tolerant, or do you think (as a whole) those subgroups can be just as petty / bigoted and full of -isim's as wider culture?

I am interested in other people's thoughts on this because as I've said, sexism is the thing *I* notice more in my geekdoms, but then again it's (subjectively) easier to hide race within the realms of tech, gadgets, and gaming.

My experiences of being non-caucasion in alt/rock music settings has often been one of *obviously* standing out, but not being given hassle for it. And in gaming circles (although this is changing) being a competent female is more shocking - to most sheltered gamers  - than factors of my ethnicity.

I have been described as 'the exotic' girl at a gaming conference once, but that was more amusing than anything else. I think the person using the term though saying 'Black' would somehow offend, but as I was the only non-caucasion person at the conf, it was kinda obvious it was me. I was also the only female volunteer in the team at the time.

When it comes to privilege and invisible backpacks and general -isim's i always want to explore the when / why / how. Breaking it down logically can help me understand some of the more 'wtf?' moments in life. 


So what do you think?