Thread by @lawprofblawg

What it is Like to Talk About Hierarchies based on Race, Class and Gender on Twitter with Other Academics

I understand that this thread will likely get me into hot water.

It may even cause me to quit Twitter altogether.

But it needs to be said. (THREAD)

There is a reason that discrimination still exists. And it isn’t all because of people on the right reject that it exists.

It’s us. Well, some of us.

The following are exchanges I’ve had. With Academics. I’ve never been prouder of the Academy. Kidding.

Honestly, it’s been a wild ride, with the ultimate outcome likely to be my silence. Maybe that was the intended result?

I have taken some sentiments from my timeline, and recast them. Some are direct quotes (the more hostile ones). Notice that people who would otherwise sympathize and agree with me are the very ones who are most likely to seek my silence.

This isn’t just a Twitter issue.

Commencing Allegory:

ME: People shouldn’t tailgate.
LEFT TWITTER: So you’re trying to tell everyone what speed to drive? Fascist!

ME: No, I just think….
RIGHT TWITTER: Define Tailgating.

ME: When a car is behind another car but too close to stop safely at that velocity.
RIGHT TWITTER DM: Maybe you’re driving too slow. Coase said….

ME: Okay, but it’s dangerous…..
LEFT TWITTER: You’re not doing anyone any favors by calling it tailgating. It’s male aggression.

ME: I agree with that most of the time, but….
LEFT TWITTER: I’ve been tailgated a lot by people who drive the same car as you. I don’t think you’re really against tailgating. Go home, LPB. You’re drunk.

ME: I’m not drunk, but I’ve been in an accident where people have died.
LEFT TWITTER: That wasn’t from tailgating.

ME: Fine, so, all I’m saying is that….
LEFT TWITTER: This is the dumbest idea ever. (Account no longer exists).

ME: Why is….oh, you disappeared.
LEFT TWITTER: You probably should not be trying to speak for all people who have been tailgated.

ME: I’m not, I just tweeted that tailgating….
RIGHT TWITTER: This is just a knee-jerk reaction to relative velocities.

ME: But I have data that….
LEFT TWITTER: I find it hard to believe that someone driving your kind of car would ever be against tailgating.

ME: Why TF are you stereotyping my car…..
LEFT TWITTER: PEOPLE WHO DRIVE YOUR KIND OF CAR ARE THE PROBLEM!

ME: Well, wait….
FRIEND: Look, LPB is just trying to….

LEFT TWITTER: No one asked you.
FRIEND: Okay, bye.

ME: Maybe I worded my Tweet poorly. I was just saying that people shouldn’t tailgate….
LEFT TWITTER DM: I don’t need a CIS White Male telling me about tailgating….

ME: My apologies. I wasn’t trying to…..
LEFT TWITTER DM: You’re trying to take our voice probably to help those who tailgate. Seen it before

ME: I really don’t like tailgating….Look, here are some tweets and blog posts I’ve written over 5 years ago about….
LEFT TWITTER DM: And you get to mansplain because you’re privileged.

ME: I get I have privilege. I have a full accounting of my privileges and barriers.

LEFT TWITTER DM: F**K YOU and all of your kind!

ME: I’m anonymous. How the TF do you know anything about me? You know nothing about me, my history, nothing.
LEFT TWITTER DM: Your writing speaks for itself. Your necessitated anonymity hides that. Ergo, yer whitey mcwhiterson.

[Interjection: Being called "whitey mcwhiterson" was actually pretty clever]

ME: Sigh.
RIGHT TWITTER: #NOTALLTAILGATORS

FRIEND: You done?
ME: I’m going back to puns.

My thanks and appreciation to:
* the 1,000 plus people who have favorited my tweet
* people who have privately discussed some issues
* people who have asked me for clarification and suggested better drafting of my tweet
* people who agreed with me
* people who disagreed civilly