When stumbling across feminist posts like these on Tumblr and Facebook, I wonder how some people can't see how people might get offended or feel silenced. I re-worded it to hopefully emphasize how these statements can come across as silencing.

Throwaway account. Let me first say something about this post: I do not mean to attack any particular group, race or sub-culture by this and anything I am rewording is just for displaying an example of pragmatic behavior.

I found this quote floating around tumblr (please understand why I wouldn't want to link to the one I saw) and didn't notice any sort of perspective that would show how someone might be offended:

See, what you need to understand is that “Not all guys are like that” is never going to work. Because you’re answering an entirely different conversation than what women are actually saying.

You think women are saying “Every man is a predator and a danger to me.” And you’re replying, “But I’m not like that.”

But women aren’t saying that. They’re saying “There are too many situations where women have to worry about their safety,” and you’re saying “That’s not important.” They’re saying “Women are constantly told it’s their fault if something bad happens,” and you’re saying “Don’t worry about it.” They’re saying “Too often, women find their trust violated by men,” and you’re saying “But you should trust me!”

They’re saying “So many men have decided that what they want is more important than anything about a woman.” And you’re replying “I’m exactly like that.”

As a man I really felt offended by this, I felt silenced. The ways in which I'm objectified by people because of my gender is apparently offensive and that I am damaging people by thinking that I get judged. That is why I decided to re-word it to suit a different context, focusing on a different group to hopefully put it across differently. I hope this example will help see how easy it is to discard the opinions of another when writing things such as this. Once again I mean no ill-meaning from this and I'm only trying to use this as a pragmatic example. If I have offended anyone I am deeply and completely sorry.

See, what you need to understand is that “Not all Muslims are like that” is never going to work. Because you’re answering an entirely different conversation than what Americans are actually saying.

You think Americans are saying “Every Muslim is a threat and a danger to me.” And you’re replying, “But I’m not like that.”

But Americans aren’t saying that. They’re saying “There are too many situations where Americans have to worry about their safety,” and you’re saying “That’s not important.” They’re saying “Americans are constantly told it’s their fault if something bad happens,” and you’re saying “Don’t worry about it.” They’re saying “Too often, Americans find their trust violated by Muslims,” and you’re saying “But you should trust me!”

They’re saying “So many Muslims have decided that what they want is more important than anything about an American.” And you’re replying “I’m exactly like that.”

The second quote would of course been extremely offensive and inappropriate to people, that's no question. But why is it that a very similarly worded quote tends to skip over the heads of many?

This language is permissive to the objectifying of a particular culture (gender culture inclusive). As a man I felt like I had no say in the ways I felt I was objectified and offended and I hope that to whoever doesn't understand and reads the second one, that you please realize that you can indirectly offend anyone regardless of your intentions.

I for one do not discount how women can feel about men and the situations they can find themselves in. But these words do no help to someone who is trying to be understanding of a different perspective. I feel that if I have been objectified at all, I have the right to say something about it, regardless of the original intention. Sorry if there is any misunderstanding.