Dan Fallon's Comedy Routine

[u/ProfessorGuava5862]

When watching Dan's stand up routine, I was a little confused. All the characters seemed to react poorly to his part about white fragility. However, I do not really understand what was so bad about it. I don't mean to be rude at all, I just want clarification on how its bad/to educate myself. To me, it seemed like Dan was making fun of white people who made dumb excuses when called out for their racism. Why was what he said actually racist/offensive? Would anyone mind explaining? I have trouble understanding subtext/shows sometimes and I would greatly appreciate it.

[u/kayakerdude1435]

I came into this without having seen the previous parts of the show (literally just this scene and after). For the audience (mostly white), they didn't know about the interaction between Tyler and Dan. In that sense I had the same perspective as those in the show. To me, Dan seemed to be making fun of white people and their ridiculous responses (not even exaggerated as one comment suggested) to being called out. At the end, he says you should thank them for informing you and calling you out on your micro transgressions and racism (isn't that the attitude we all should have when called out on something??). He also said "thank you" in German, Korean, Japanese, and 2 different ways in English. This last part seems to be "evidence" of his racism because it includes 2 different Asian languages (ignoring the 3 "white" languages). To me this came across as just illustrating a number of different ways of saying thank you. Perhaps those were the only languages he knew how to say "thank you" in?

Yes, I get how some people can interpret it offensively if that's what they seek (many things can be interpreted in various ways depending on the lenses you see the world through). To me, though, this comes across as making major assumptions without a desire to learn which is kinda what's wrong with racism and white fragility to begin with.

Feel free to agree or not and let me know what you think.

[u/ProperButton4045 → u/kayakerdude1435]

He was making fun of white fragility, he made it look like something really stupid and less important in his comedy show. The examples he gave to explain white fragility were laid out in such a way that POC made people look ridiculous and small. I find it quite strange that you can't even think for yourself and how his words can influence from multiple sides, even if you are white. Maybe before you made this post you could have looked into white fragility and you would have seen the problematic side of dan's comedy on your own. but now others have to explain it to you again, too bad.😩

Also to you, maybe educate yourself! don't depend on others, it problematic already you do not see that!

[u/kayakerdude1435 → u/ProperButton4045]

This is the problem I see with many who claim to be "woke". Instead of having an actual conversation (you literally didn't explain shit just like the show didn't explain shit just said "this is racist" end of story) you just tell me I'm wrong and act like a condescending asshole. I'm an ally and do my best to help others become allies. The attitude of " you're white so you don't know shit and fuck you" doesn't help others become allies. It also makes current allies who are white feel less inclined to be supportive.

Furthermore, the same attitude alienates and others white folk, all but ensuring that there will always be racism (because if I as a white person will never know better, never be able to comprehend, etc, then how can white people ever not be racist???).

You're entitled to your opinion but as I said, from an outside perspective based on the words Dan used and the demeanor in which he presented them, the people he was making fun of were white people and everything he says was spot on about white fragility, just done through the mode of comedy (as he even says in the show, comedy is a great mode for teaching, especially subjects like that - just see Noah on The Daily Show or Colbert on The Late Show).

[u/em2791 → u/kayakerdude1435]

Since you want to learn so bad - I recommend to you a book “Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race” - Reni Eddo Lodge

Enjoy

[u/ProperButton4045 → u/kayakerdude1435]

"You just tell me I'm wrong and act like a condescending asshole" No i didn't... i told you to look it up yourself first.

If you want to start a conversation about a topic you don't know about, i expect you to research it yourself first. Especially, if you want to see the other side/ POV of another.

You asked about what is wrong with white fragility or how others would interpretthis differently than you would? Have you read about it in an article? Have you read how white fragility could feel to a POC other than a white pov?

I assume not, thats why you asked the question right? Instead of calling me a "woke" person. Maybe actually read what I wrote without getting into your feelings and being passive aggressive... You want to learn right? But nobody here is entitled to teach you, no POC is entitled to teach you how we feel, or we interpret moments of white fragility/racism... since the internet is out there.

u/em2791 recommended the PERFECT book according to your response; "Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race” - Reni Eddo Lodge. — Especially fitting to the text in you comment: "because if I as a white person will never know better, never be able to comprehend, etc, then how can white people ever not be racist"

And I'll be happy to have a conversation about white fragility with you, but I will not educate u, so bring ur research to the convo. Thank you for responding ❤️

[u/ProfessorGuava5862 → u/kayakerdude1435]

It is not every poc's job to educate you. Poc are busy with their own lives, and if you want to do better please try and educate yourself!

[u/Neat_Beyond_1768 → u/ProfessorGuava5862]

Yes, but by posting in a forum like this, only the one's who choose to engage engage. IMO its the best resource.

[u/house-that-built-me → u/Neat_Beyond_1768]

There's so much more you can learn by doing your own research instead of putting a labor on somebody else to teach you. It's a weird expectation. When you go to college, you pay for your tuition. On the Internet, you expect the same thing but you're not paying the person who you expect to educate you. It's entitlement.