AT THE SPEED OF NOOR

While commuting home on the LRT earlier, there were 2 men standing in front of me, animatedly talking to each other. They were so engrossed in their conversation that the man standing directly in front of me kept leaning back and came in close contact with me (even slightly touched me a few times). It probably wasn't intentional on his part, but it made me very uneasy so I kept inching back, but I couldn't go far because there was a pole behind me. Seeing me looking uncomfortable and casting glances at the two men, a man close to me spoke up and told the guys that I was behind them, which made them move further away. To everyone (especially those with more privillege) who step in to help those who are afraid/unable to speak up in these kinds of situations, from the bottom of my heart, keep being awesome. It's the least all of us could do to be better members of society, but not many would care enough to do it, so thank you.

If you're not disabled, you don't get to decide what's ableist. If you're from the majority/dominant ethnic group, you don't get to decide what's racist.  If you're not poor, you don't get to decide what's classist. And so on and so forth. Instead of (re)defining what is or isn't discriminatory when you're not on the receiving end of policies/events/sentiments that are harmful to your social group, it's best to share/signalboost the voices and ideas of people who ARE affected by them. Use your privilleges to help rather than suppress those who have been/are still being silenced/sidelined.