White Sophism

Definition: White Sophism is the tendency for white people to negate or diminish the arguments and causes of people of color through obfuscating the lived experiences of minorities with opaque quantitative data and obscure interpretations of esoteric research.

How can America be racist when Joseph (2018) clearly demonstrates that "29% of Nigerian-Americans aged 25+ have a graduate degree compared to 11% of the US population?"

A: Being a person of color in America means having to live in a country that is inherently racist.

B: How can America be racist when Joseph (2018) clearly demonstrates that "29% of Nigerian-Americans aged 25+ have a graduate degree compared to 11% of the US population?"

A: That's all just white sophism. Try being black and pulled over by a cop. Try being black and applying for a job. Try being black and walking into high-end clothing store.

PYIWG

Acronym for "Presume Your Intent Was Good" and having the broader meaning of "I'm going to presume your intent in the message I received from you was good."

Used as a response to emails (and other messages) on those occasions when someone sends you a message that - was - actually, quite insulting... but - equally presumably - wasn't intended to be ... It's just that the sender lacks the necessary forms of good judgment (unless, of course, s/he is the recipient!)

A: I don't think my date likes me
B: I'm sure he does. It's probably just that he's used to dating models.
A: PYIWG

cynical optimist

A cynical optimist rejects the position that 'realism' is the only alternative to the extremes of pessimism and optimism. Instead, cynical optimism emphasizes that a reality can be sustained through a blending of the extremes. Indeed, cynical optimists would argue that the blending best describes the "reality" that "realists" have thus far failed to suitably articulate.

A: So, from a cynical optimists point of view - what IS the meaning of life?
B: We're all going to die. And many of us will die slowly and painfully. Then again, we're probably not going to die today. More importantly, MOST of our days, we're going to live; and only on one of them will we die. That's ... not such a bad deal. And, even if WERE a bad deal, it's the only deal in town. So, I'd make the most of the mundane while you still can.
A: How does that significantly differentiate you from existentialists?
B: Dude! Because I'm submitting to Urban Dictionary, not Cambridge University Press.