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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Here's the subtext: "I thought you were really dumb/uneducated/below me because you are a teacher/black/young/have an accent but you surprised me and you are actually quite smart/professional/articulate/well spoken"[/quote]

NP.  IMHO, you and the prior PP are just looking for excuses to find offense.  No one raised race or age or accent except [u]you[/u].  The original comment just referenced the profession of teacher.  And it also did not say (or imply) that teachers are inarticulate or stupid.  In my experience, most teachers are moderately smart and moderately well spoken -- certainly more capable at their jobs than most non-teachers would be, but not usually toastmasters and geniuses.  The same could be said about many professions.  So saying a particular teacher is especially articulate and smart "for a teacher" is just saying she's a cut above the norm.  It's a compliment, not an insult.  Quit trying to make something out of nothing.[/quote]

I added the additional examples (e.g. young, having an accent) because those who don't see that this is offensive when about race might understand it more clearly if it's about another attribute.  If you can't understand why assuming that ALL teachers are "moderately" smart and "moderately" well spoken could be offensive (or all black people or all young people) then there's really no point in having this conversation.

Let's turn this around a little "Great presentation.  You are extremely professional [i]for a woman[/i]."  Get it now?[/quote]
You are misinterpreting again.  Nothing in my comment or the original comment about teachers suggested that 'ALL teachers are "moderately" smart and "moderately" well spoken' -- that's your inaccurate distortion.  Can't you acknowledge that there is a range of normal skills for most professions, and that some individuals operated above (or below) that normal range?

Also, your "for a woman" straw counter-example does not fit, because it assumes (incorrectly) there is a normal range of professionalism for all women.  If you want a better comparable statement try this one: "Wow, 6'4"!  You are extremely tall for a woman."  Not offensive at all IMHO, because it's just noting she is outside the norm (just like the teacher example).

I stand by my original view that you're just looking for an excuse to be offended.[/quote]

Wow!  So it's outside of the norm to be 6'4" just like it's "outside of the norm" to be professional while black or female.  Now we understand your thought process.  Sometimes I am ashamed of my race.  You need to read up a little on white privilege and micro aggressions.[/quote]

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