From John Scalzi:
Today I don’t have to think about those who hear “terrorist” when I speak my faith.
Today I don’t have to think about men who don’t believe no means no.
Today I don’t have to think about how the world is made for people who move differently than I do.
Today I don’t have to think about whether I’m married, depending on what state I’m in.
Today I don’t have to think about how I’m going to hail a cab past midnight.Today I don’t have to think about whether store security is tailing me.
Today I don’t have to think about the look on the face of the person about to sit next to me on a plane.
Today I don’t have to think about eyes going to my chest first.
Today I don’t have to think about what people might think if they knew the medicines I took.
I'm thinking about a few things on his list today, so I really appreciate that someone else is helping me think about them.
Apt. 11d 
I read the whole thing and I don’t think the piece works as well when you start thinking about how well the “victim” groups (for instance gays and Muslims) get on together in real life.
Even within a group, there can be big problems. I’ve often noted the irony involved in the fact that (due to sensory issues and rigidity) an adult Aspie may be the person least capable of dealing with the quirks and noise of an Aspie child.
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Typo on Mr. Scalzi’s name. Thanks for the link.
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oops. thanks!
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Amy,
If you are thinking about the victim groups, then you have completely missed the point of the piece. We should all be treated an individuals, and the more ways you fall out of the mainstream, the less likely you are to be treated as such.
There was no statement in the piece — or even implication — that victims of discrimination are only victimized by those who are not also the victims of discrimination. You have simply made up a condition for the purpose of denouncing a beautiful piece that does meet the condition.
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Ragtime,
I think it’s a bit of a rabbit hole, myself. For instance, why are we assuming that the guy is looking at our chest? Maybe he’s just really shy and hates making eye contact and is being misinterpreted. Or maybe the taxi driver (who is almost always a minority in many major cities) has been mugged several times and had a colleague murdered, and doesn’t want to take any chances, because he’s got a wife and kids who are waiting for him at home, etc.
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From the author himself:
2. Doing a point-by-point rebuttal of some large percentage of the entry (or all of it) is likely to be a) clueless in a tiresome way, b) too long to read in any event;
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Yes, “Clueless in a tiresome way” does seem to hit the nail on the head.
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Well, de gustibus non est disputandum, what? I found the original post clueless in a tiresome way. You know, I liked reading about the Star-Bellied Sneetches when I was six, but I have come to appreciate that the world is a little more complicated, and self-righteous whining generally a less appropriate reaction, than Mr. Scalzi seems to believe.
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I certainly do not dispudandum with my acquaintances who will be rushing home tonight to watch “The Biggest Loser,” but I have no problems making personal judgments of them based upon their gustibus.
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