Views from the Abyss #29: Micro-aggressions

Q. Didn't you already cover this one?

A. Yes, but in light of recent posts on falsely applied academic ideology, I felt it needed revisiting from a fresh angle of attack.

Much like many 'progressive' ideas, micro-aggressions are an academic construct, and do not apply to the real world.

What in essence the concept describes is 1) an entirely internal experience that has, 2) been projected outward as a means of illustrating the perception of that experience; asserting motive and intent onto third parties that, 3) have done nothing wrong and are oblivious to whatever the 'victim' might be going through. And though, 4) each instance is harmless by itself, 5) the instances add up, contributing to a general fatigue or malaise.

Of course, the experience it describes is indeed very real for some people, but framing such experiences as legitimate victimisation of subconscious acts of aggression is pure academic thought experiment.

For example, I'm sure most of you have experienced running late on your drive to work, only to hit red light after red light after red light. How many of you have gotten angry with the lights for ganging up on you? Be honest!

The lights are not ganging up on you; you know this. You know it's all in your head, but you project antagonistic motive and intent onto the traffic lights anyway, because it feels good; it works as a relief valve.

If you take micro-aggression theory literally though, then as far as you're concerned, the lights really do have it in for you. They need to check their luminescent privilege.

As with many other academic constructs, the choice of wording is paramount. The word 'aggression' was chosen specifically to illustrate the perception of it being an issue that originates externally. The experience it actually describes though is closer to one of umbrage.

And if they were called the more technically accurate 'micro-umbrages', then all the people complaining about them in real life would suddenly sound like the precise bunch of whiny self-entitled brats that they really are. Funny that.

Words shape perception.