Pissed off with this "Guardian's" gem?

[PeskyBaboon]

Arwa Mahdawi got royally irritated by the WSJ piece titled " HERE'S WHY I'LL BE KEEPING MY SHOES ON IN YOUR SHOELESS HOME". The piece, designed to be light-hearted, was "light-hearted in a deliberately irritating way" (sic!). Now she's properly, self-righteously peeved as the piece is way more than she could handle. Namely, it's "imperialist", borders on "hate crime" as "an overwhelming number of people suggested that ONLY A WHITE-PRESENTING PERSON could have written" such a thing. Being a paragon of cleanliness and godliness herself, with an immaculate sense of personal hygiene and social probity, Arwa's taken up the challenge and relieved herself publicly expressing her disgust in the following: "DEAR WHITE PEOPLE READING THIS, I'M GOING TO SAY THIS AS DELICATELY AS POSSIBLE BUT I'M AFRAID YOU HAVE SOMETHING OF A REPUTATION WHEN IT COMES TO CLEANLINESS." Then, she less subtly goes on with the bang of: "When you are a non-white person who has to deal with stereotypes about 'dirty foreigners' it can be irritating, to say the least, TO SEE PRIVILEDGED WHITE PEOPLE REVEL IN BEING DISGUSTING. Still "irritated", see? And still talking HYGIENE, naturally. These white, disgusting barbarians not taking their shoes off and tossing their filthy suitcases on beds. And then the fascists REVEL in it. So utterly revolting it makes our poor Arwa gag, no less. White shoes, white feet and white suitcases ad nauseam. But fear NOT, all you "dear white people", all's not lost here, there's still hope. She ends up with this gloriously uplifting finale: "BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M NOT GOING INTO THE RACIALISED ASPECTS OF HYGIENE DISCOURSE HERE". Oh, well. You just did. In case, anyone's still in doubt on this one, Arwa's ready to help and clarify: "IF WHITE PEOPLE WANT TO BE GOOD ALLIES, IT'S TIME TO TAKE A STAND! BUT NOT IN YOUR DIRTY SHOES, OBVIOUSLY."
I won't be knocking on Arwa's door anytime soon, mind you. Neither to take my shoes off nor to be her "good ally" and "take a stand". She clearly doesn't need "allies". She manages on her own beautifully by the looks of it. Primarily, by NOT GOING into THE RACIALISED ASPECTS OF ANYTHING she's currently pissed off with.
On a more serious note: I just find this article both really depressing and utterly stupid. Or maybe there's something profoundly wrong with me now? Please, do not hesitate to have a go. I'm Polish, I can take it...

If someone in a national newspaper says and I quote "dear white people, you have something of a reputation when it comes to cleanliness", I ask myself - as a former domestic cleaner - where's your justification, any evidence that warrants such a sweeping statement? Has the author spent a day of her life cleaning other peoples' houses for a living? Scrubbing their toilets and sinks and god knows what? White or otherwise? Just a thought...
So much for "lived experience".

@PeskyBaboon

If someone in a national newspaper says and I quote "dear white people, you have something of a reputation when it comes to cleanliness", I ask myself - as a former domestic cleaner - where's your justification, any evidence that warrants such a sweeping statement? Has the author spent a day of her life cleaning other peoples' houses for a living? Scrubbing their toilets and sinks and god knows what? White or otherwise? Just a thought... So much for "lived experience".

She is using hyperbole to make a point. Her statement isn’t intended to be taken literally. Her use of the word “barbarian” is exaggerated, hyperbolic, not literal.

She is using hyperbole to make a point. Her statement isn’t intended to be taken literally. Her use of the word “barbarian” is exaggerated, hyperbolic, not literal.

The problem is, it’s not a great piece stylistically and the journalist in question is usually quite earnest so confusion was inevitable. Again, the OP was equally confusing. So that was a fun 5 minutes and the WSJ article is still behind a paywall so no getting to the root of it all without coughing up. 🤷🏻‍♀️

So that was a fun 5 minutes

It was, wasn’t it?

Are Japanese regarded as white in this? How does that work?

I’ve just read the WSJ article and the Guardian response to it, and I think OP is affronted that a brown person has had the temerity to voice an opinion about cultural differences related to white people.

The fact of the matter is that on TV white people do walk around homes with shoes and lie on beds with their shoes on. You don’t see this on Asian programming for instance, so it’s bound to become a stereotype that white people walk around with shoes in their homes.

Arwa has written what she herself calls a lighthearted piece about how white society often portrays foreigners are dirty whilst normalising shoes on beds, which other cultures perceive as dirty.

All you have done is demonstrate your white fragility, OP.

To be fair, anything Arwa Mahdawi writes is entitled, victimy shit.

@BellatricksStrange

To be fair, anything Arwa Mahdawi writes is entitled, victimy shit.

Any examples or are we just supposed to take your (unreliable) word for it]?

Calling someone else barbarian is hyperbole & exaggeration & licencia poetica just for effect, so I must not take it soooooooooo seriously and literally. Ok, thank you for that. I feel well instructed. On the other hand, when the author says about herself "having to deal with stereotypes about 'dirty foreigners' and seeing privileged white people revel in being disgusting" I should absolutely take every word literally, with grave seriousness and grateful she was so generous as to share her thoughts on the matter. I now know where my place is. Thank you.

She’s talking about celebrities, OP.

You keep quoting her out of context.

although it's not a great article the point it alludes to is valid- a frequent element of racism involves white people describing non white people as dirty/smelly/unhygienic etc. As well as being insulting (and racist) I can imagine non white people finding this a bit much given many habits of white people - outdoor shoes inside being a good example, but wiping with dry toilet paper being another. I can only agree that these are not good practices. Even though I'm white.

Chill out, OP. It’s just a Polly Filler piece in a newspaper. Read something else.

I read the article, it seemed pointless. It consisted of random comments about hygiene, the writer commenting on how white people have a reputation amongst (presumably) non-white of being unhygienic and that this was ironic given the apparent stereotyping of “dirty foreigners” (not sure she acknowledged this irony).

Probably just an article to give today’s reason for self flagation amongst the Guardian’s readership. But pointless outside these circles

Are you quite ok, OP?

You seem unduly unhinged about this.

and also thanks for the PM but I’ve blocked your PMs as you are coming across quite confusing.

I'm not a big fan of arwa Mahdavi as I find her articles usually lack substance, however, she's touched upon some interesting Points here.

1. Dirty smelly foreigners: I'm not sure if any non white person living in the UK has never experienced some aspect or the other of themselves or their ethnic background being dirty or smelly. there are endless comments about smelly food, smElly hair oil, smelly houses, smelly roads, smelly Shops, etc.

So I assume it's a bit like saying: "you don't even remove your shoes at home but you call me dirty???"

There's so much to unpick in this article hit I need to go.

Im curious though: op, why are you so mad at this? I don't really understand your outrage.

@user1478172746

If you are Polish, you would not wear outer shoes inside anyway. You would have slippers for that. ;)

Not necessarily.

It's not an outrage or offence, my god. It's the sheer stupidity of her lecture. I am Polish. I WAS called "dirty pole", "eastern shmuck", "stupid foreigner", etc. Or asked (Brexit voted in) when am I going to pack and fuck off. This is the irony. According to Suspect6 I am "unduly unhinged". I am perfectly fine, dear. I am both hinged and duly. I just don't have a stomach for stupid peppered with self-righteous shit all over the place. Light-hearted or not. Stupid is fucking stupid. No cure for that.

How could people tell you were Polish, OP? Black and Asian people and others don’t tend to have the option to pass as white.

They could tell I'm Polish by 1. the accent/2. name they could see in my documents/3. Polish language (sounding eastern enough) I used on occasion talking to polish friends/family in public. Was always asked: where are you from? So I had to tell the truth. Just life.

Guardian is for amusement only, don’t be pissed off. It’s the place you go to read stuff written by people and mostly read by people who love an echo chamber, detached from the real world.

@MrsTerryPratchett

Wall of text hurts me.

What is your actual issue? In a few, clear words.

I really can't be bothered reading this ramble.

sst1234
"Guardian is for amusement only, don’t be pissed off. It’s the place you go to read stuff written by people and mostly read by people who love an echo chamber, detached from the real world."

Bang on. So I am reading it regularly for entertainment purposes. And to check the current status of my overall (white incl.) fragility. Or cognitive decline. Serves brilliantly. Breathing the air of their sanctimonious flatulence is good for my health apparently. Keeps me fit and operational.

According to Suspect6 I am "unduly unhinged".

I did not make a personal attack. I wrote, “You seem unduly unhinged over this.”

If you think I have made a personal attack against you, please report the post and MN will delete it.

@PeskyBaboon

They could tell I'm Polish by 1. the accent/2. name they could see in my documents/3. Polish language (sounding eastern enough) I used on occasion talking to polish friends/family in public. Was always asked: where are you from? So I had to tell the truth. Just life.

So they asked you where you are from or saw it on your documents and called you a ‘dirty pole’?

God, I am so confused at what’s going on here.

OP, you appear overly invested in something that is just a fluffy opinion piece. That is all it is. Opinion. I read countless articles that truly offend me but I appreciate the world I see through my eyes is not what everyone else sees or experiences. I simply click on to something else I find more palatable and I’m much happier for it.