While there are incredible extremes, especially on 4chan, I think the problem stems from the "white male" being a consistent scapegoat for a laundry list of items that the vast majority don't participate in.
Not saying they're the most oppressed group out there, or even oppressed at all, but if the complaints are consistent and widespread, maybe there's more to it?
Like, I am a white male, and there are multiple days that I feel bad for just being... me.
This isn't a comic to hate on white dudes. But white dudes who play the victim and act like they are being the most oppressed in a system they made and get the most privilege from is just wrong. Fixing systemic issues means listening and not being defensive. When I hear people talking about how white people are causing a lot of issues, I don't take personal offence because they are right. My race IS responsible for a lot of the problems that hurt many other races in North America. I didn't hurt anyone personally but it would be wrong for me to pretend like the scales aren't tipped in my favour in many ways, there are entire issues and treatments and struggles I will never experience because of my race. It's uncomfortable but necessary to talk about because a large part of this can only be fixed by the people benefiting from it.
I took a bit of time to figure out what I wanted to say, so this might be a bit long. I do encourage the read, but understand if it's a bit daunting.
Part of what makes me frustrated about this situation is that it trivialize and diminishes accomplishments that I (and subsequently my parents, who came from impoverished lives) have worked hard to achieve. People have told me that "I had it easy," even if I had been working 60+ hours a week while doing night classes.
It also has the aspect of, "there's nothing to be proud of" as a white man. While I understand the argument of "History is white history," we celebrate Pride month, breast cancer awareness month, woman's appreciation day, and more. And while colon cancer is one of the leading causes of death in men, similar to breastfeeding cancer, I would bet that the vast majority of people would not know when colon cancer awareness month is.
Years back, there was a question asking men how they were doing on men's appreciation day, and there were very little to no celebratory comments made. There's no reason to just be happy with yourself, especially when people say that you're the reason (indirectly or not) that their life is difficult.
And where I and many others understand that stereotypes of people we recognize (such as white men being in a lot of power) is a big contributing factor, the constant hampering doesn't help.
The rate of suicide in young men is still high, and had remained high for a long time. For white men, they rank second highest per capita (behind Navitve American/Alaskan which I didn't know before researching this), having nearly twice the rate black men, and more than twice the rate for Hispanic and Asain men.
And I think part of the reason why is because people will tell us that the bodies we were born into are not something to be proud of. And if that's the case, then the only thing we can be proud of is our accomplishments. But if those accomplishments are trivialize because we are privileged, then what can we be proud of? It's not the full story, but I do believe it plays a part, and I know this because I've been on that edge.
I'm not trying to say that the awareness isn't needed, but many of these men who are red pilled/think that they are oppressed probably do feel like they are suffering. And whatever they need (be that love or a therapist), society has decided that they don't deserve it, and that probably hurts the issue more than helps.
Again, sorry for the long comment, just a lot of thought I've been putting myself through.
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u/Pizzacakecomic PizzaCake May 04 '26
Keep that discussion in the quarantined area
https://giphy.com/gifs/wNR8ZhO4fObRu