Strangely Naked

It’s strange to me how badly people want to think of themselves as a victim. This latest presidential pre-pre-election fear-orgy is a parade of logical fallacies trying to convince voters that they are all victims and need the candidate to lead these poor collection of self-martyred underdogs to triumph over the latest scapegoat. And the people love it. There are Christians screaming about religious persecution despite the fact that 83% of the U.S. identifies as Christian. There are rich white entertainers screaming about how they are the victim of “out-of-control P.C. police!” It’s everywhere and it’s exhausting.

Being a victim seems like a fetish people love it so much. “People are persecuting the Southern man by taking away the Confederate Flag!?! I am so turned on right now. I have to go masturbate, then I’m going to go scream about history while standing next to a Klan member and pretend that I have a valid argument. This is so sexy.” It’s part of people’s absolute love affair with outrage. If you’re a victim, you get to taste that sweet nectar of outrage. It’s why biker gangs call themselves “outlaws” so that they can claim they’re being persecuted by the establishment. And I’m talking about being part of a group that’s being victimized by the majority, not the victim of a robbery.

Let’s just all agree that we’re victims in some way. The problem with that is it takes away from actual sufferers of societal injustice. When everyone’s a victim, no one is. Are you a victim in some way? Take my quiz and find out:

1. Are you a member of a minority group subjected to systematic discrimination?

Yeah, that’s it. By the way, being a victim doesn’t imbue you with special rights, privileges or insight. “I didn’t realize that as a woman, I make less money than a man in the same position. I am a victim! What is this feeling? Why am I glowing? Being a victim of discrimination has allowed me to float and the secrets of the universe have laid themselves open at my feet! My skin is impervious to knives and fire. All arguments against anything I say are invalid because I. Am. A. Victim!”

There are a lot of great perks, in fact, to not being a victim. The only draw back of being part of the group that’s inherently advantaged is that you have to actually think of a nuanced, well-thought-out argument to try and not grant equal rights to a minority class which would somehow diminish your privilege. Which no sane person can do, so instead, the privileged have to try and paint themselves as suffering from a system from which they inherently benefit.

Beware anyone who tries to claim their rights are being taken away by giving rights to others or impeding their ability to deny others equality.