Facebook Stalking and PC Crap

Another day at work made sad by the noisy parade going on below and the fact that I can't join it. :(

Facebook Stalking

So people on Facebook are into these apps that give you an ordered list of people who frequently look at your profile. I've been tagged in a few of these, and I always think, "wtf?" because it's always someone who's profile I hardly, if ever, look at. This guy today, I mean I know/remember him of course, but I can't even remember the last time I clicked on his profile. So I'm pretty suspicious about the way facebook makes these lists. Maybe they're random?

If I ever show up on someone's stalker list who I actually do check out, I guess I won't be able to argue. But anyhow, the entire point of stalking is not to have your stalkable actions emblazoned for all the world to see. If someone is stalking you, you don't tag them in a happy little list, you stalk them back to see what they're up to that would make them want to stalk you.....at least, that's what I'd do/have done. An eye for an eye!

*Disclaimer- By stalking, I mean ala Facebook, not the scary standing outside someone's house stalking.

*************************************

I have a feeling this is one of the posts I'll delete soon...

It's interesting being white, because you're not racially marginalized while everyone else is (I am not about to discuss reverse discrimination here). I mostly hang out with other white people. I don't go out and say, "Hm you're a white person; let's be friends;" things have just worked out that way (I'm talking mostly about casual, peripheral relationships). But my entire network is not white, and is certainly not limited to a WASP culture. Sometimes I forget that that WASP-ish/white culture is default in this part of the south if you're white (and historically...), because I am/have been close to people of different backgrounds. Also, going through the programs I did in college and being involved with HR now, it does influence your thoughts.

I'm thinking of this now b/c in expanding my social network, I sometimes come across white people from my background and realize, in talking with them, that they see race differently than I do. It's a little surprising, cause I've gotten un-used to that perspective, and little awkward, because it puts you in the position of, "what do I do?"

Because I'm white, I can just not do anything, overlook it, and everything will be seamless- no one will notice. I'm not, for the record, talking about mean statements or behavior, just a comment/s with no positive or negative connotation but that still serve to marginalize, or at least separate. It's that racism where perfectly nice people who have no malintent say something that let's you know what color is norm in their world.

At what point do you actually bring up "race" as a topic in response to detecting this? Is there even a point in me doing this? Is it even my job to try to educate someone when I really have no relevant base? (No, it isn't.) In other words, because I'm white, how can I be an authority on racial marginalization? I can't. And no one wants to hear that "Well my best friend/ this awesome guy I worked with/ this guy I used to date...was a different race."

I guess if you're white, and born into a white family, with white neighbors, hanging out in the white circle at school, going to a predominately white school, and growing up to be in a job with other white people....how can you blame anyone for not being broad minded racially? It probably doesn't seem applicable to them, because their lives will probably continue to be mostly white.

Geez, I'm making no sense at all. :/