Part of privilege is being able to treat questions like "should we try to reach out to unrepentant bigots in the interest of 'unity'" like an intellectual exercise. Bigotry isn't just an "abhorrent view, but is it enough to be fired..?" (yes it is). It hurts actual real people.

And by spending your time arguing about "slippery slopes" when bigots face even minor consequences, you align yourselves WITH them, even if it's not your intent. You are empathizing with them... and not the people who are actually the ones hurt by these bigots' actions.

Is that who you want to be? Really?

When "Time's Up" started gaining steam, I watched a lot of people I admired hedge and worry "oh, it's a slippery slope..." when discussions of people being fired for verbal harassment. Or anything less than sexual assault.

(cont'd)

They were identifying with the perpetrators, even if they didn't necessarily understand that. And are not abusers themselves. Their empathy for the victims was non-existent or just intellectual. The saw powerful men facing consequences and thought "what if that happened to me?"

EVEN IF they were not abusive themselves at all.

It can be hard to imagine yourself as a victim when you are part of a group that generally (but not completely!) isn't.

But for survivors? For those who empathize with survivors?

Those statements can make them feel unsafe.

Intent is less important than effect. So if your intent is not to harm, but you find yourself advocating those positions, the answer is not "well, that's not my intent!" The answer is to center survivors and those harmed and NOT perpetrators. The answer is to extend your empathy.

Even if it feels weird or scary or like you're betraying some ideal of "fair" and "what if this goes too far?"

Here's the thing. Abuse, bigotry, all that shit? ALWAYS is going too far. It is never fair. And justice is almost never served.

It is far more likely for a survivor, a member of a marginalized group, to suffer without relief or justice or seeing consequences for those who have harmed them than for someone who has done nothing to be taken down.

And "just talk" or things short of physical harm, STILL create the culture that allows those "worse" things to happen. Bigotry, abuse, it needs to be shut down immediately.

There is always room for repentance. But that's on perpetrators, not on victims or survivors.

You cannot repent without first facing consequences.
Striving for "unity" and "understanding" with bigots normalizes bigotry.
So the intellectual exercise to ponder here it: Is that really the side you want to be on?