If you’re not familiar with Preston Mitchum‘s work, we regret to inform you that you’ve been missing out. He’s an adjunct professor with bylines at ThinkProgress and The Root, and he’s got a pretty blue checkmark, naturally. He also happens to be the self-appointed arbiter of oppression:
White people don’t determine what’s racist.
Men don’t determine what’s sexist.
Cis people don’t determine what’s transphobic.
Straight people don’t determine what’s homophobic.
Straight, lesbian, & gay people don’t determine what’s biphobic.
Them’s the rules. Learn it.
— Preston Mitchum (@PrestonMitchum) August 25, 2019
AND ? Non-disabled people don’t determine what’s ableist.
— Preston Mitchum (@PrestonMitchum) August 25, 2019
Them’s the rules, eh? You sure you wanna play this game, Preston?
People who own jets don't get to tell me what causes climate change am I doing this right https://t.co/2w6ojTRABN
— Robert Kroese (@robkroese) August 26, 2019
Determining rules while saying others don't get to determine rules.
— All The Fiends (@TylerDoor) August 25, 2019
That’s not how this works. That’s not how any of this works. https://t.co/2Tcjw8Iqvo
— Heather (@hboulware) August 26, 2019
Dumb and dishonest people don't get to determine any of these things.
Them's the rules. Learn it. https://t.co/Z5RaRpwZ2z
— Molly Ratty (@molratty) August 26, 2019
Preston’s too busy trying to school everybody to realize that he’s one wearing the dunce cap.
I could continue. Point is: people who don’t experience a particular marginalization do NOT determine what oppression looks like for that community. You don’t have the license.
— Preston Mitchum (@PrestonMitchum) August 25, 2019
So, we can’t help but wonder: who gave Preston his license to determine what oppression looks like? As @neontaster points out, Preston doesn’t seem to want to follow his own rules:
Oooooof.
LMFAOOOOOO DRAG HIM
— Bob Malak (@bob_malak) August 26, 2019
— Me (@NeolithicBarber) August 26, 2019
— Mr. Nuclear Cocaine (@MrNukemCocaine) August 26, 2019
— License to Will (@wharrison51) August 26, 2019
— BigJim (@BigJimNC55) August 26, 2019
Preston needs this number. pic.twitter.com/cJQhtARb1B
— Julian Rodriguez (@TheRod1980) August 26, 2019
Speaking of numbers, @neontaster’s definitely got Preston’s.
For the record I think everyone is entitled to opinions on everything. That doesn't mean they're informed or have any value, but every time I see a tweet like this I know for sure I will find them proclaiming something not anti-Semitic, and I'm always right. https://t.co/HHXXG3ZzHv
— neontaster (@neontaster) August 26, 2019