Why do we compete in the Victimization Olympics?

Question

Some guy just implied in another question that homosexuals don't have the right to compare their plight to african americans. This is a fairly typical complaint, despite the fact that I've never known anyone to experience "black bashing", and it has never in my lifetime been illegal for black people to have s*x. In fact, blacks, unlike homosexuals, enjoy a broad range of legal and moral support against discrimination. Still, he absolutely had to remind us that homosexuals don't experience the awe-inspiring discrimination that blacks do. As i ruminated on his question, i began to think of all the white males convinced that hispanics are stealing their precious low wage agricultural jobs, and how many of us are utterly convinced that we're the victims of "reverse discrimination". I throw up a little in my mouth every time feminists freak out about wage disparities, despite the fact that those disparities practically disappear when studies control for professional experience. Who could forget asians everywhere creaking under the pressure of being "model minorities"...as though the expectation that they're intelligent and ambitious is really, on the whole, a problem. I just have to mention all the American christians who feel a sense of kinsmanship with the oppressed christians in China and Africa, as though they really have anything in common to feel.

One of the ironic things about modern society, at least in the US, is that there is a sense of "one upmanship" in armchair sociology. Everyone wants to be the the MOST oppressed. We're not content to admit that all groups experience their own individual hardships and deserve respect and equal treatment. Instead, we absolutely HAVE to make it clear that OURS IS THE MOST MISTREATED.

Why do we have this tendency? Is it unique to the US?

Answer 1

I think you've gone off on one guy who said that quote you have stated in the beginning.  Frankly, I don't see that in the US.  Coming from the upper middle class white american society, I see different aspects of the social structure trying to voice what they deserve in equality.  And now I see you saying that the US is nothing but people one upping their own oppresions.  If you looked outside the box, it appears to others as each individual oppresion voicing their opinion, and when they get upset, they get angry and say theirs is worse and needs more attention.  Kind of like a baby crying for attention instead of waiting their turn.

Answer 2

I don't know about other parts of the world doing this but I agree with you all the way. I think its rather ridiculous on the whole and a waste of everyone's time and energy. I mean every time I look at the tv when there is a black host on, I actually try and guesstimate how long it will take them before they get to the racial issues. I'm not saying this to be a racist or prejudice against my own race, but I really do wish blacks, homosexuals, and just about everybody quit saying, the typical *I'm* more hated than you are arguments. Or the *I* have more RIGHT to be offended than someone else, do to whatever joe schmoe did or said in the past. I think we all need to get over ourselves and just strive to live better lives period. We already know there will be some idiots that won't change but really, do we always have to victimize ourselves when no one else will do it for us? Another thing I can't stand either, is on some message boards there are 99 support groups for all these supposedly new "victims" to run to and ask for support, when if they grew a sturdier back bone and just dealt with any personal conflicts or attacks from others head on they wouldn't constantly need to be babied or supported. I know many will likely disagree but really I'm tired of many people in the world expecting me to feel sorry for THEIR plight, or expect me to join in their crusade of being a victim as my mom is constantly saying I'm being ignorant because white people are out to get us. Funny that is as we freaking live in a all white neighborhood, geesh.