[moocow]

Yes, being a part of a marginalized group does give you a better perspective on the issues affecting that group. I can keep saying that we can have the Skittles of staff, but I'm not going to. My main points are that even those who aren't in marginalized groups can help those who are marginalized feel welcome as well, and that the mark of a good admin should be if they are administrating fairly, justly, and equally.

we got here because in the calling for tiefling's demotion, the demographics of the admin team were brought into concern because if she's removed then the TTT admin team, as far as i am aware, becomes a space of only one group. while this certainly isn't going to cause the destruction of the server, it does pose concerns of how effective they would be at catching bigotry that may not be overtly obvious to people outside of the demographic.  
this is why in my original comment regarding this i mentioned that there was an incident where an admin was using a derogatory term to refer to black people, again he probably just didnt know as it is one of those covert uses of bigotry that worked its way into society over the decades, but again thats exactly why the representation is important, because he didnt know, but a person who is in or is closely adjacent to the marginalized group would know.  i bring this up specifically because i have had that same term used maliciously against me in the past, so i am able to speak on personal experience, had there been a staff member there who knows of those experiences, the concern of these groups being effectively protected wouldnt be in the question 

Very quickly, communication is important. You had a problem with what somebody was saying. You did the responsible and correct thing and took your concern to someone. That's all that needs to happen. Someone is going to feel a certain way about something. That's life. If that person feels it is a big enough concern that needs to be addressed, the person should take it up to someone they feel comfortable with. I find it hard to believe that there is no one that someone can go to with their concerns. Surely, with all of the staff we have, somebody, anybody, has to be reasonable enough to be reached out to with a concern. Example, you felt comfortable enough going to someone who probably wasn't Black and telling them that you felt uncomfortable. That is how safe spaces are created.


P.S. I'm sorry for the late reply. I was touching grass and spending time with friends last night, something that some of you suggested be done.

 

sorry this snip is a nightmare i am on mobile 

i want to touch on these points specifically.  yes, absolutely people in non-marginalized spaces can be and are an important asset to advocating for those who do exist in those spaces, you are right, but an important part of being that advocate is being able to accept that you may not know everything about what can or needs to be done, and when you have people who exist in those spaces telling you that there are improvements that can be made, its not productive and helpful to plug your ears and throw out how you’re already knowledgeable enough on the topics

yes, non-marginalized people are completely capable of protecting and advocating for minority groups, but that is only if they’re open and willing to learn and listen to perspectives outside of their own. bigotry and oppression towards marginalized groups is constantly changing and evolving with time and not every single bit of bigotry is going to be written down, defined and outlined in the books you consume, there are genuinely only things that come with the experience of existing in those space,  and it’s important to have an open mind to those experiences and not be satisfied with just the knowledge you have