When someone criticizes a privileged group to which I belong, I try to stop and reflect to what extent I perform the harmful behaviors being discussed. That's my first move (aspirationally anyway). /1 #IntentionallyVagueTwitter
2) Of course my first reaction is to say #notall ... whatevers. I am human. I am flawed. But I recognize that and try to shift back to my aspiration of introspection and self-examination ASAP.
3) Then I think about ways in which I might improve. I think about what the critic is seeing that I might not be seeing. I try to shift my perspective.
4) If at the end of that introspective process, I really feel I'm doing pretty well, that's super! I still don't say #notall ... whatevers.
5) If I don't, if I see ways to improve, then that's pretty good too honestly. I am always working, always trying to come up with specific things I might do within the framework of the possible.
6) But in all cases, I think it's vital to recognize that marginalized folks, even if you are also a differently marginalized person, have perspectives worth considering.
7) And to recognize the validity of generalized critiques as a kind of default position not mitigated by one's own personal conduct or virtue.
8) I am so far from perfect in this. But I work hard at it. And Twitter, in particular, has been valuable for opening up perspectives I might not otherwise encounter.
9) So thank y'all for keeping me on the path. I'm going to keep trying to do better. And I'm going to keep trying not to "not all" y'all and just be glad that [this time] you weren't describing me. #IntentionallyVagueTwitter
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