It’s Called A Shakedown, Baby

Attention, rubes, dupes and suckers. Do you pretend to experience crippling racial guilt in order to appear pious and fit in? Is “white supremacy,” “white privilege” and all that other pretentious angst weighing on your shoulders, harshing your buzz? Do you want to empower, or at least enrich, some “black femme freedom fighters”? Do you require monthly “tasks” - and a monthly bill of $100 – to atone for your pallor and “pay reparations” - to prove that, despite being white, you’re not a terrible person, unlike all those other awful white people? 

Then this is for you. 

Via dicentra, who reminds us that the above is not a work of satire. 

Comments

[Hal]

Hmmm. I wonder what might happen if someone got in touch to ask if the website was created to get pin money?

[Sporkatus]

How many angsts can dance on the head of a pin?

[Hopp Singg]

What if my patriarchy has no mantle? Am I invulnerable, then?

[Rafi]

It's all laid bare, isn't it?

[David]

It’s all laid bare, isn’t it?

Pretty much. The basic dynamic – the root motive – is hard to miss. First, you inculcate pretentious, neurotic guilt and make absurd those sufficiently credulous. Then you play gatekeeper and offer the rubes provisional redemption, to be renewed monthly, forever.

It’s a cunning hustle, and a sadist’s playground.

[Hopp Singg]

It's all laid bare, isn't it?

But you can get a tee with a platitude instead of a tattoo with a number, for now.

So there's that.

[dcardno]

From the "Safety Pin Box" website

Leslie is a Brooklyn born activist & first generation American

Which kind of limits her experience with slavery, I would think.

[Hopp Singg]

You would think? Puts you one up on her.

[Descendant of White slaves that are rarely mentioned in media these days]

Godfrey finally monetizing his talent?

[Thomas O]

I like the idea of a "free" gift after paying them $1200 over the course of a year. I guess they don't mean free as in beer.

[Tom]

"Johnson, world-renowned for her work with Black Lives Matter, is a staunch advocate for sacrifice, especially when it comes to privileged white people giving up their comforts to people of color and the marginalized.."

These people are always 'staunch' advocates for sacrifice as long as they're not the ones doing it. You'd think the rubes would catch on sometime.

[Ray]

Reminds me of when I was briefly a member of Greenpeace (Exxon Valdez guilt trip). Give us money and we'll give you a pin!

[Stuck-Record]

Evidence - if any more were needed - that we are now dealing with a religion.

It is medieval indulgences all over again, and a Priest class inducing guilt and fear of Hell. In this case a secular Hell on earth, i.e. Do you want to burn in the flames of racial grievance? No? Then PAY THE F*****G PRIEST ON YOUR WAY OUT, SINNER!!

[Karen M]

They're treating black women as if they were disabled.

[R. Sherman]

Johann Tetzel called. He's pissed because somebody's now working his street corner. "Into the tip-jar the coin rings. Out of pallor purgatory the soul springs."*

*Feel free to use a variation of that for your next fundraiser.

[R. Sherman]

Forgot to close a tag. Bugger.

[Fen Tiger]

It is medieval indulgences all over again

Quite so. Chaucer's Pardoner is still the perfect exemplar.

It shouldn't surprise me, but it does, that these days "well-educated" people seem to be the readiest to fall for this rubbish. The climate question is another area where the same methods are used to extract money from the gullible.

That so many of the most gullible are those who wish - and feel fully entitled - to govern us says something bad about us as well as them.

[Lisboeta]

The Revenge Box

“Send this box to a Trump supporter, bigot, or white supremacist of your choice” Can it be any bigot? Such as the perpetrators of this guilt-trip nonsense?

[DevonChap]

"It is medieval indulgences all over again"

Role on Martin Luther to nail 95 thesis on the door of Everyday Feminism.

I didn't expect the Feminist Inquisition

[David in Michigan]

To me it's an obvious scam. The question is, how many will fall for it. Actually, I'm thinking, not many but (insert appropriate Mencken, Twain, or Barnham quote here).

(P.S. I am a Nigerian Prince who is in need of your help........).

[David]

The Revenge Box

Yes, that was a rather telling touch. Now you can feel neurotic, pious and smugly spiteful all at the same time.

[Surreptitious Evil]

“Black women are the best stewards of their own money.”

Pity they can't go out and earn some then but need to beg for it by exploiting the (admitted rich) mine of SJW guilt.

[David]

Somewhat related - remember Ms Tiffanie Drayton? The lady who boasted that, as a feminist and a “woman of colour,” she “completely rejects the premise” that “I have to pay my own way.”

[Lisboeta]

“Black women are the best stewards of their own money.”

“We’re so excited for the potential to just give black women money,” says Johnson. “Black women are the best stewards of their own money.” Aren't those two sentences er, somewhat contradictory? (Unless, of course, Johnson means that black women are savvy enough not to squander their own job-related salaries on spurious causes.)

[Fred Z]

It is immoral to let a sucker keep his money.

-Canada Bill Jones

[PiperPaul]

I wonder if this will work...

.

[PiperPaul]

Hey, look! It worked!

[David]

I wonder if this will work...

Heh.

[Lab Rat]

“We’re so excited for the potential to just give black women money,” says Johnson. “Black women are the best stewards of their own money.”

Bolded highlights (not bold in original quote) kinda say it all.

And the mask slipped a bit when she said "if you wore a safety pin, then you will subscribe" or words to that effect. Maybe I read that wrong, but it seemed to me to be a bit sneering condescension at all those silly white people who think they're helping.

[David]

And being such good-hearted people, they end with a threat of public shaming:

Just be prepared for someone to ask what ally task you completed this month.

Because you have to prove, and prove continually, that despite appearances you aren’t actually a white devil.

[TheTooner]

Well it says it's "for white people striving to be allies" so include me out. Not striving today thanks.

[Twisted Root]

Technology has democratised everything - even the shakedown.

[ac1]

The Incredible Feminist Woman gets an urgent call from Cologne.

[Steve 2 - A Touch of Stevil]

The Revenge Box is our current single use box ($50 per box). Send this box to a Trump supporter, bigot, or white supremacist of your choice. You can include your name or send it anonymously, and the box includes:

• A small box sent to the person of your choosing stating that a donation to an important cause has been made in their name.

• The box includes an encouragement to recipients to “see what their donation helps support” and a link to a website that features highlights of the current movement for Black lives and stories of Black excellence.

Eh... TAKE THAT, Drumpf!

[Gary D.]

You gotta problem, right? Okay, gimme some of your money and I PROMISE you that your problem will go away.

I PROMISE!

(In other words, it's the same old crap - e.g., a protection racket - only repackaged.)

[MC]

@Steve 2 - yeah, you'd have thought that for $50 they'd at least coil down a black woman's turd of power into the revenge box.

We need a quiz for this sort of stuff - Scam or Satire?

[Wildgoose]

Returning to an earlier comment, here is a long (but very good) interview with Professor Peterson that should get general approval from the local clientele.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04wyGK6k6HE

[Burnsie]

Black women receive financial support. White people work to end white supremacy. Black people guide white ally work. White people learn to redirect resources and do racial justice personal development. All of this and more, every single month.

All of this and even more? Count me in! --says no sane person with a drop of common sense.

[aelfheld]

As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul out of privilege springs.

Martin Luther is spinning in his grave.

[NielsR]

I'm somewhat baffled by their pricing. Sure, the more you pay the more Tokens of Virtue (tm) you will receive. But you also get more tasks. Will you get stern looks if you don't do them all? Surely it would make sense for the cheapskates to do more tasks? Given the unit cost of mailing the darn things out is virtually nil.

I'm over thinking this, aren't I?

Someone is going to pay the money just to get access for some epic trolling.

[Dom]

Did you notice that "white" is always spelled lower-case "w" and "Black" is always spelled upper-case "B"? Bastards.

[Theophrastus]

...a sadist’s playground.

Exactly, David. I can imagine that the monthly "tasks" will grow increasingly humiliating, as these race hustlers can barely conceal their contempt for their white "allies".

[David]

I’m over thinking this, aren’t I?

Trying to apply some kind of economic logic is a bit of a non-starter, given the premise. But the important thing is that each subscription is “a form of reparations” for “black freedom fighters.” You see, simply being black is a basis for entitlement and deference. Because black people are exotic and mysterious, and unlike thee and me. A bit like leprechauns or the elfen folk.

[David Gillies]

I suppose they're tapping into the SJW version of the impulse that leads people to pledge monthly donations to animal shelters. Because effectively they're treating black people like pets.

[Jonathan]

I'm sure some White morons people will be glad to cough up:

[champ]

"The question is, how many will fall for it."

Fortunately, it will only ensnare foolish progressives...

[Hopp Singg]

Presumably competition will appear and compete on price, possibly with a little fentanyl thrown in for good measure.

[Dan]

I'm disabled but these ableism activists certainly haven't done shit for me. I love how they raise awareness (apparently) of my issues but in real life I had to arrange my own workplace and work hours modifications like a normal person.

[Deborah]

Jonathan,

WTF! That certainly looks like child abuse. Why is the kid the only one without shoes?

What would you bet that the kid grows up to be a serious problem for Ma and Pa Freakshow?

Good grief!!!!

[Hal]

Why is the kid the only one without shoes?

What would you bet that the kid grows up to be a serious problem for Ma and Pa Freakshow?

[Hal]

Jonathan,

WTF!

Given that the top picture has a nice handy logo to do Googlemancy with . . . .

[ftumch]

Just heading to bed, so.... OT, but I had to leave this somewhere:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soloish/wp/2016/12/05/trumps-election-stole-my-desire-to-look-for-a-partner/?utm_term=.e4bdbdd23ff2

[Hopp Singg]

Her list of publications is here: https://stepville.com/published-in/

Samples:

“Saying your house is messy…is a privilege,” Washington Post, May, 2016.
“Donald Trump is a fraud…,” Salon.com, April, 2016.
“Not Tonight, Honey. And Maybe Not Ever Again,” DAME, August, 2015.
“Free-range parenting is a privilege,” The Establishment, August 2016.
“Why I’m Buying my Daughters Vibrators,” Cosmopolitan, April, 2016.

More at the link. But not all links have to be clicked.

[Deborah]

Gee, thanks Hal.

Google not necessary.

I knew exactly what I was seeing.

No need to blog-splain.

I stand by my comment; child abuse or parenting by lefty loons, if you prefer.

[Hal]

I stand by my comment; child abuse or parenting by lefty loons, if you prefer.

The circumstances do look utterly bloody interesting, yes.

[Lord Bob]

Not to circle back to the Revenge Box, but the whole idea is that you find a person who, more-or-less by definition, believes you're wasting your money on a preposterous scam, and tell him "hey guess what I wasted my money on? That'll show you!"

Anyone insulted by this glib summary is invited to show me the error of my ways by buying me many revenge boxes.

[Alex]

Just heading to bed, so.... OT, but I had to leave this somewhere:

The comments, when sorted by 'best', show an encouragingly vigorous pushback from saner WaPo readers and are worth the read.

[David]

Not to circle back to the Revenge Box, but the whole idea is that you find a person who, more-or-less by definition, believes you’re wasting your money on a preposterous scam, and tell him “hey guess what I wasted my money on? That’ll show you!”

Fetch cake for Lord Bob.

[Barb the Evil Genius]

I'd love to see Diamond and Silk's take on this.

[sk60]

Looks like the BBC are big fans.

https://twitter.com/rissaoftheway/status/807616495773741056

[sk60]

"Super excited"

https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews/videos/10154191215917217/

[David]

Looks like the BBC are big fans.

But of course.

[Atempdog]

Garrett Morris et al were, so it seems, just slightly ahead of their time.

[WTP]

So Attemptdog, this life is a joke. I said as much on an Enlglish composition paper back in 1977 or so as a cynical teenager. IIRC I got a C- and eye rolls. Perhaps I should request a recount.

[Squires]

Because you have to prove, and prove continually, that despite appearances you aren’t actually a white devil.

Always maintain the proper expression before the telescreen.

[Hal]

So Attemptdog, this life is a joke. I said as much on an Enlglish composition paper back in 1977 or so as a cynical teenager.

According to assorted notes, this was an email reply to a mailing list back in about 2002 . . .

[Flag 5 enemy in sight]

I love the $100 box. Not only do you pay $1200 a year you are given a list of tasks to perform every month and you have to report back on it. The Annual performance review should be fun too "nope still a white bigot."

[Ragu]

Not to circle back to the Revenge Box, but the whole idea is that you find a person who, more-or-less by definition, believes you’re wasting your money on a preposterous scam, and tell him “hey guess what I wasted my money on? That’ll show you!”

This is what I'm struggling with. I go out to the letterbox and read a note that says "I paid a hundred bucks, feel guilty motherfucker!" accompanied by some sort of demand.

It's a sure fire way to alienate people. People that may have been under the impression they were your friend.