This always seemed like one of the biggest tangible advantages of being a white dude. When someone criticizes me or shits on my idea, it never even crosses my mind that it might be because of my race or gender.

Try living in a country like Japan for a while and you may have the experience of having your idea shit on or ignored because of your race.

It's just a majority/minority thing.

As a caveat, it is still a pretty privileged position to be a white person, even in Japan. I think non-white foreigners have a much harder time there.

I'm a woman, albeit a white one, and it never crosses my mind either ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

(Also a white dude.) I think that's not quite the experience, though? I think it's more that members of outgroups feel imposter syndrome more intensely. In other words, the critique is felt more heavily by the individual, not the individual as a member of a specific group.

It's purely a consequence of being in the majority. The exact same feedback can be given to you in an environment where you are a minority and there will be a good chance you will actually begin to factor it in.

I’m pretty sure this advice is aimed at coping emotionally with the unwarranted hostility and exclusion of a biased workplace; not about dismissing constructive criticism out of hand.

It's advice tailored for a particular audience, I don't think it's intended to be universal.

http://slatestarcodex.com/2013/06/09/all-debates-are-bravery...

lmao