Stuff White People Like: Marginalization and Othering

March 8, 2008

Remember Stuff White People Like? It’s that satirical website that has the potential to make race theory more accessible and comprehensible to the masses (through humoristical use of teh internets). Well, judging by some of the articles and many of the comments, the potential has been wasted.

I wrote about their dog article already, where I said:

“That article is NOT satirical anti-racism framed as ‘reverse racism’ to make the point that many white people who think they’re not racist are, in fact, racist. The website’s intention might well be satirical anti-racism, but this particular article doesn’t show it. The point of that article is to say, ‘Stop caring about dogs.’”

Then, there’s this interview by Assimilated Negro with the creator of Stuff White People Like, Christian Lander. The creator is white, which isn’t so bad…at first. He uses the word ‘wiggers’ and he compares being Black to being Canadian. And he calls people of color “minorities”. (FYI dude, in some places they’re in the majority.) And Lander says:

“this site pokes fun at ME. that’s why I use pictures of myself. those aren’t taken out of irony. this is the shit that I do. I need to call myself out for all of the stupid shit that I take for granted. why do I need $300 bike rims? why is a $10 sandwich considered normal?”[...]

“[A] lot of the white people I’m lampooning (including myself) always can laugh at the comic view stuff because we’re like ‘yeah, those OTHER white people, they are ridiculous.’”

Like, those vegan freaks. The SWPL article shows a picture of vegans (Bob and Jenna) from VeganFreak Radio and says:

veganfreaks

“As with many white people activities, being vegan/vegetarian enables them to feel as though they are helping the environment AND it gives them a sweet way to feel superior to others.”

Notice how there’s no mention of animal rights. It’s an example of utter lack of comprehension of vegan philosophy in both the article and the comments. The whole article is just an excuse to make fun of vegans. It’s not at all about race conscious satire. Read the comments to see examples:

10: “The White Man’s Burden Burger (100% Vegan tofu loaf)”

16: “I eat dog. Seriously.”

26: “You see, this is why people dislike vegetarians & Vegans.”

34: “yo, the guy in that pic aint latino! just LOOK at him! he looks like a total faggot”

About halfway in the podcast, VeganFreak Radio comments on the article. Here’s a snippet:

“But I’m not even white! [...] It was really dull. It wasn’t even that funny.”

He’s Latino. But his main criticism is that the article isn’t really funny. I agree. It could have been so much better. But more than that, the article is just plain wrong.

According to a poll of vegetarians (and vegans):

  • 6% of white Americans are vegetarian
  • 7% of black Americans are vegetarian
  • 8% of Hispanic Americans are vegetarian

And according to another poll, the vast majority of vegans do not try to convert omnivores.

“Only 17% of vegans often or always try to convert others to a vegan diet. Of the rest 47% never, or hardly ever, try to convert people. However 63% of vegans know someone who has become veg*an because of their influence.”

The STWL creator isn’t even into race theory. He says the site is about “shared experiences”:

“My blog is not done to demean white people, it’s meant to point out common experiences. [...]So if someone were to start (and they have) a blog called Stuff Black People Like, so long as it’s done to expose shared experiences, it should be fine.”

Except if it’s about shared experiences, then why’d Lander use someone else’s picture? And why’d he pick a topic that fewer than 6% of white people share? And why’d he write about veganism when he doesn’t know anything about it?

Because the shared experience isn’t veganism. It’s bashing veganism. That’s why.

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Posted by Elaine Vigneault | Filed Under Animals, Feminism, Philosophy and Guidance, Racism, The World, veganism 

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Comments

9 Responses to “Stuff White People Like: Marginalization and Othering”

  1. Al on March 8th, 2008 1:48 pm

    I just visited SWPL for the first time a couple days ago and found myself really turned off. I’m pretty smart when it comes to humor, but I wasn’t sure why the site bothered me so much. Thanks for putting your finger on it.

    Al’s last blog post..Like Father…

  2. Elaine Vigneault on March 8th, 2008 3:13 pm

    Oh thanks, but it’s mostly due to the Assimilated Negro interview.
    I like the idea of the website and I think it has potential, but if I had my way I’d do it differently:
    1. I’d make sure the articles get vetted by a few members of each subgroup.
    2. I’d moderate the comments to set an anti-hate tone.
    3. I’d make sure the photos used were of actual white people who self-identify as white.

  3. Dan on March 8th, 2008 3:24 pm

    One thing that seems to give (some) people a sweet way of feeling superior to others is to criticize a legitimate way of avoiding harm to others as merely “a sweet way of feeling superior to others”. Talk is cheap. Put up, or shut up.

    Dan’s last blog post..On the Beef Recall and the HSUS Video

  4. Elaine Vigneault on March 8th, 2008 3:46 pm

    Excellent point, Dan.

    We should start a website called “What Omnivores Like.” We can list making fun of vegans, chowing down on rotting flesh, killing cute, smart, friendly, innocent animals for no reason, acting like eating unhealthy foods is a symbol of masculinity, asserting domination over less powerful beings, pretending it’s ‘natural’ to factory farm, using lame excuses to justify unethical behavior, badgering vegans…

    Update: done.
    http://stuffmeatpeoplelike.blogspot.com/

  5. Kendall on March 9th, 2008 3:06 am

    I posted this same comment on the SWPL blog, since I can’t seem to escape it being shoved in my face every time I log onto Wordpress and it’s getting really annoying:

    This site should really be called “Liberal Stereotypes Republicans like to Whine About.”

    Because giving a shit about animals and the environment is all about subjugating disenfranchised communities and people of color and feeling superior. *eyeroll*

    And, ohmygod, “Stuff Meat People Like” is ball-grabbingly amazing.

    Kendall’s last blog post..Seriously, CNN? (aka: Fun with Google Images)

  6. Tony on March 9th, 2008 12:42 pm

    We should start a website called “What Omnivores Like.” We can list making fun of vegans, …, badgering vegans…

    Exactly. How many times have we all had stupid comments directed at us about meat being tasty and good for us and no big deal and whatever? And we’re the ones who badger. Right, as opposed to it being an issue of human nature to encourage others to agree.

    I tried to like Stuff White People Like when I first read it. I don’t get the fascination. The idea is interesting, but the execution there lacks any intellectual flare. I don’t choose to be white. I choose to be vegan. The former doesn’t drive the latter. It doesn’t need to completely drive it to make the joke, but comedy requires some foundation in truth.

    I think Kendall’s comment is correct. It’s liberal stereotypes from conservatives. Call it that and I’d probably think it’s a little funny. Or go further and address stereotypes in general. Conservative stereotypes from liberals would be just as interesting.

    And the libertarian stereotypes could certainly fuel a website of its own.

    Tony’s last blog post..“Do as I command, not as I say or do.”

  7. Elaine Vigneault on March 9th, 2008 1:10 pm

    “It’s liberal stereotypes from conservatives. ”

    Well, I think actually, the writers are liberal. Well, actually, they’re Canadian :)

    But I think a lot of the commenters are conservative. And I think that’s part of why it’s popular is the shared experience of hating on white, liberal, coastal elitists.

  8. Kendall on March 10th, 2008 3:27 pm

    Oh the guy is totally progressive apparently, and that’s why I’m all “um, WTF dude?”

    If you replace “white people” with “liberal,” it could be a Bill O’ Reilly or Ann Coulter book. Just sweeping generalizations that inspire hate speech. Just look at the comments! Whatever the writer’s intention was is totally lost on people. It sounds like the parking lot at a Nascar event. “Yeah those liberals with their yoga and water and caring about animals and the environment and expanding their cultural horizons and getting an education! What assholes!” These people act as if progressives are the only people capable of being elitist. If you’ve ever spoken more than five words to a wealthy republican, uneducated hick who’s proud of his ignorance, or a Christian (or ANYBODY for that matter) you know that elitism and othering knows no bounds.

    I mean, I get it. I see what the guy’s doing and lord knows privileged white folks could stand to be taken down a peg, but the crazy popularity of it with the mainstream public tells me the majority of folks just ain’t getting the satire. He missed the mark hardcore, and it ends up being divisive, damaging, and hateful.

    So yeah, what you said. Intention = good (eh, for the most part). Execution, well, not so much. If I knew that the majority of the fans of MY blog were right-wing fuckfaces, I’d kill myself.

    Kendall’s last blog post..Seriously, CNN? (aka: Fun with Google Images)

  9. Elaine Vigneault on March 10th, 2008 10:17 pm

    “othering knows no bounds” - absolutely!

    “lord knows privileged white folks could stand to be taken down a peg, but the crazy popularity of it with the mainstream public tells me the majority of folks just ain’t getting the satire.” - yup, agreed.

    “If I knew that the majority of the fans of MY blog were right-wing fuckfaces, I’d kill myself.” - hahaha!
    I’d just change my site to a pay site. ;)

3 Trackbacks to “Stuff White People Like: Marginalization and Othering”

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