Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2002 01:54:03 +0200 (CEST)
From: Joacim Persson <joacim-AT-ymex.net>
Subject: Re: abstract concepts as tools of authority


On Tue, 1 Oct 2002 bobstopper-AT-australispro.com.au wrote:

> Just for verification - are you saying that, since class exists only in 
> peoples' minds, should everyone ignore the concept of class it would cease
> to be a problem to anyone?

Yes. In practice, this means not treating others in any special way
(neither patronising nor being fawny, hostile etc). The ones yearning to
be treated special then has to constantly insist on it. Eventually, they
get tired with that.  And then it comes to a point when the ones holding on
to the old attitude only makes themselves look silly or odd.

...
> However there is an additional problem. It will only disappear when everyone
> ceases to pay it attention. The "working class" can not completely ignore
> class until the "ruling class" ceases to oppress on the basis of class (as
> an analogy, black people would not simply be freed from slavery through
> ignoring the concept of race, only when white people cease to enslave on 
> the basis of black skin). So yes, it is a helpful step to stop demonising 
> the ruling class and encourage its members to stop attempting to gain and 
> hold positions of power but until *everyone* ignores it it will be a useful 
> concept to understand, if just to understand how to undermine it.

Opression takes effort. The more effort it takes, the more it "pays off" to
ease off.  It can happen gradually. It has:

The English language dropped the "thou" pronoun a long time ago, to confuse
us foreigners. The Swedish language was on the same path. Saying "ni"
("you", plural) to a single person was rather a condescendant thing to do
though (not as "vous" in French).  A servant at a restaurant or so would
rather adress a customer by title and/or surname, and the customer say "ni"
or surname. This was not in practice everywhere, out in the country it was
uncommon or unheard of, but in the cities it was. But something happened in
the 1960's. The "ni" pronoun and using titles went out of fashion, and "du"
("thou") is what is being used today. They say it started in a governmental
agency, when the head of it insisted on dropping titles with the staff,
because he wasn't used to it from home. Then it spread. It didn't take more
than ten years for the knights who say "ni" had vanished.

Ironically, some younger people who have no personal connection to the
ridiculous ni-ing, now make the mistake of adressing old people with "ni"
(young nurses at hospitals or so) in an attempt to be polite, which only
has the opposite effect. ;) Particulary as almost all elders say they only
felt relieved by the change when it happened in the 60's. It was not only
inconvenient and grammatically confusing, it was humiliating for everyone.


> You and I can ignore the concept of race but that won't stop racism alone.

Someone has to start, right?

> Likewise, you and I can ignore the concept of class but that won't stop 
> class oppression. First people must be aware of the class mentality ingrained
> in their society (class consciousness) and only then may they be motivated
> to do something about purging it.

Someone not being aware of classes would hardly treat others in different
ways, according to some class distinction he isn't aware of exist or
doesn't find important.