Imagine that you’re faced with a problem, and some other agent X is involved in, or at least adjacent to, that problem. You suspect that X is oppressing you. How can you be sure?
Consider the following criterion:
If reality were altered such that X did not exist, and never had existed, would I still have the same problem?
If your answer is “Yes, I would still have this problem,” then consider the possibility that X is not actually oppressing you, but simply failing to serve your goals. Then ask yourself this:
Am I upset that X is not serving my goals?
If your answer is “Yes, I am upset that X is not serving my goals”, then consider the possibility that you are the oppressor.