I’ve decided to write a list of rules to help me stop imposing my white/male/hetero/cis privilege (read: oppressing people) everywhere I fucking go.  Let me know if this is a dumb idea:

• If no one asks you a question, you don’t need to answer it.
• If you don’t know much about something, anything coming after the phrase “Well, I don’t know much about…” is probably irrelevant.
• Any sentence starting with “I’m sorry that you feel…” or “I’m sorry if I…” is not an apology.
• Not everything can be solved with an analogy.
• Rational thought cannot solve irrational behavior.
• Anger is a strange reaction to hurting someone else.
• If identity could be neatly categorized and labeled, it would probably be worthwhile to make the argument that your relationship with another person permits you to speak on a given topic.  But it’s not, so it’s not.
• You are not in charge.  You do not need to be in charge.  Being motivated to do what you think will help is not the same as being motivated to help.
• It is okay if someone refuses to let you help.  You are not entitled to be involved in everything.
• Your ears don’t close on their own but your mouth does.  There’s probably a reason for that.

Any additional notes would be helpful.