Well you don’t get the privilege just by being white, silly! You have to work it. There are three things to remember:
- Look normal. Dress like everybody else. A nice haircut helps but basically anything that isn’t queer looking. Be physically average. Don’t get tattoos. It is a good idea to be tall.
- Practise the earnest white person face. Eyebrows raised, and pinched slightly inwards. Mouth neutral. It says, is everything OK? Can I help? I am your friend.
- Cooperate, or at least pretend. Appear honest by saying things that are true and offering to help in useless ways. Would you like to see my ID? It expires soon. Be respectful, don’t be a smartass. Someone once told me, “if you fail the personality test, you’ll fail all the rest.” He’s been to prison a lot so he’s either a really good or a really bad source of advice on this.
Welcome to the internet, where the existence of Finland is suspect. Sure, you can never really know what’s in someone else’s head, but the event fits the pattern and sometimes social change needs a catalyst. It’s all an awful ugly mess and if progress can be made at the expense of some asshole being crucified then fuck him, my sympathy is spent. That the judge stood down is about the only decent thing to come out of all this.
