My Mind is so Very Very Full Right Now and yet I Wish that I could Find the Peace I Need in Order to Move Forward in my Blog. Usually when I Feel Like this, I have a Tendency to just Brain Storm.
Let's see. There is the Subject of Prejudice or should I call it Pre-Judgment. Though the Definition of the Word Prejudice is, In Fact, Pre-Judgment, even so, the Last Time I was Jotting a Few Things Down on the Subject, I Found myself saying Pre-Judgment, rather than Prejudice and the Main Reason is because the Word Prejudice is too Often Connected with Racism, as if Racism is the Only Type of Pre-Judgment there is. I've Decided to Make my Posts on the Subject Broader than that and here I go again.
Perhaps I'm too Stuck on this Subject, yet I'm Finding that I have a Conditioned Anger Response to being Misjudged and it has Nothing to do with Racism. Could it be Possible that Misjudging and Accusing is another Form of the Same Thing as Racism? Think about it. Racism is a Pre-Judgment Based on the Color of One's Skin. Why is a False Accusation any Less of a Pre-Judgment, Based on Whatever? Why should this be Considered any Less Offensive? Why Should someone Who is Experiencing Racism be Any More Justified in their Anger than someone who has been Falsely Accused of Racism, or for that Matter, of anything Else? There are those Out There that have a Conditioned Anger Response to anything that Appears to be Racism, rather it Truly is or not, and then there are Others Out There who have a Conditioned Anger Response to being Falsely Accused. Put these Two Personalities together and what you've Got is a Real Disaster.
Wow!! That Brain Storming Session Came Out more Clearly than Expected.
I'll just Add more Later in the Comment Section.
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22 comments:
Prejudgement is probably pretty common; by our nature, we associate others
by what we know of them.
Commonly in blog-world, that isn't much. So we make assumptions based on
someone's religion (or lack), someone's knowledge base (as we perceive it) or
their political group (we
predict their argument).
As you note this can often lead to "Two Personalities together and what you've Got is a Real Disaster."
Most of us are not trained to listen (imagine if your
doctor was uninterested in your symptoms) nor are we
good at critical thinking (opinion vs fact). Nor can we interepet data (witness how even the most
fundmental facts seem to produce opposite opinion)
So, whether anger is 'conditioned' based upon preconception, or
justified as a defense against unreasonable attack, it certainly occurs. Who among us
has not been 'falsely accused'? Whether we
brush it aside, or let it simmer depends, IMO on
the frequency and intensity of 'false accusation' as well as our own personality. Do we turn the other cheek? Do
we walk away? Do we feel that would be 'weak'? Or
do we battle on, knowing
it to be a lose-lose situation?
Personal example: when I was a tyke, my younger sister was playing with
'Lincoln Logs' and accidently jammed one in her mouth. She started
screaming and spitting blood. My alarmed parents
rushed in "Did your brother do that?" "Yup!"
I got a serious thrashing.
(I'm still letting that false accusation simmer!) :) or not...
Pre-judgment is pre-judgment regardless of where it comes from or who it is directed at.
Hang in there Lista!
Thanks BB,
For all the Suggestions about Other Things that we Base Prejudgment on besides Race.
"Or do we battle on, knowing it to be a lose-lose situation?"
Hmmmmm! You see, I'm not Entirely Positive that that is always True. It Really Depends on the Situation. If the Person is Determined to Hang on to the False Opinion no matter what, I would say yes, but if it is a Reasonable Person who has Simply Misunderstood, then an Explanation in One's Own Defense Might be Helpful.
Thanks for your Comment, BB. It was Excellent.
And Thanks Silver Fiddle. It's too Bad that I Allow Myself to Get Caught Up in my Own "Conditioned Anger Responses". I'd be Reading your Blog by now and Talking more to you if it wasn't for my Tendency to Try and Fix all these Past Messes that Probably don't have Solutions. It Creates a Situation in which that which is Next on my Agenda just gets Put Off and Put Off and Put Off.
I'm Sorry about that. I am Thinking about you. Honest.
But as to the Libertarian Issue, see my Comments on a Few Earlier Posts, such as my Last One or Two Comments to Dmarks (as of this Date) Below my Post, False Assumptions/Racism/Socialism/Health Care/Etc.
For an Example of "Put these Two Personalities together and what you've Got is a Real Disaster.", Read the Discussion between Dusty and I Below Malcolm's Post, Heroes and Villains. You'll Probably get a Real Kick Out of that one. lol.
BB,
"imagine if your doctor was uninterested in your symptoms."
That is Exactly what the Democrats and Republicans do to Each Other. When Republican are too Extreme, they do not have Concern for the Problems of the Poor Man and when Democrats are too Extreme, they do not Care about the Problems of the Business Man, even though the Problems of the Business Man have an Effect on the Economy, which is something that Effects Everyone.
"When Republican are too Extreme, they do not have Concern for the Problems of the Poor Man and when Democrats are too Extreme, they do not Care about the Problems of the Business Man, even though the Problems of the Business Man have an Effect on the Economy, which is something that Effects Everyone."
The relationship between citizens and their government ought to be fully neutral. By that I mean that neither party nor their government as a whole should oppress nor boost their citizens. I would argue against your overall point and state that it is exactly the opposite in that when a politician begins to concern himself is when he begins to neglect his civic responsibility and begins reshaping and molding to benefit one at the expense of another.
You Know, I Really Chuckle as I Realize that my Particular Audience does not Appear to be too Caught Up in the Subject of Racism, for I've Mentioned the Subject in Three Posts Now and for the Most Part, the Conversation has Always Reared Off in Other Directions and I don't Care either, because my Subject is not Really Racism, but Pre-Judgment and I'm Going to Get Back to that as soon as I'm Done Responding to Soap.
Ah, but Soap, the Relationship Between Citizens and their Government is not Entirely Neutral. Laws are Imposed on People for the Sake of Public Safety and if those Laws are Broken, People are Thrown into Prison, thus Oppressing the Criminal and Boosting the Victim. How Many Times do I have to Say that Total Freedom is Anarchy.
The Real Question is how Far should the Public Safety Idea Go? Shouldn't this be Extended to the Work Place? And is it Really so Wrong if it Includes the Safety from Excessive Psychological and Emotional Hardships as well and not Just Physical Issues of Safety?
It is not the Government that Oppresses, Soap. It is Businesses who do the Oppressing and Having Laws that Protect Workers from such Oppression is Appropriate and not at all Unreasonable.
Now, Getting Back to the Subject at Hand, The Misconception, or Pre-Judgment that is Common among Republicans and Libertarians is that those who have Less Wealth, or who are Having Trouble Succeeding at the American Dream are Lazy. This is not Exactly Racism, but it is a Prejudice against those who are Poor, so if you Want to Talk about Libertarianism or any Other Form of Republicanism, Let's Stick to the Subject of Pre-Judgments and Let's be Honest about the Fact that this is in Reality a Big Part of the Problem.
"It is not the Government that Oppresses, Soap."
Really? So the government doesn't oppress its citizens when it passes "food safety" legislation that sets out to criminalize individuals for growing their own food, having unpasteurized/raw milk, grants a private bank the power to print money and lend it without oversite to god knows who thereby devaluing the dollar and the purchasing power for Americans struggling to pay the bills and provide for their families?
The government doesn't oppress people when it forces them to either be radiated or sexually molested by having TSA workers stick their hands down your pants or touch your breasts all under the name of protecting us from terrorism all the while the US/Mexican border is wide open, the physical fence and virtual fences having been scrapped?
The government doesn't oppress its people when it coerces parents into turning over the education of their children to the state's public education program due to the fact that if they educate their children on their own dime they are still forced to pay into the public education system?
I could of course continue but I think you get the idea.
As for the charge that people can't get ahead because they're lazy......
That part of it pails in comparison to the far greater and much more prevalent occurance which is the collusive and collaborative friendship between government and corporations which drives directly back to my fundamental point which is that the relationship between government and its citizens should be neutral. Bear in mind I did not say it is neutral.
People cannot find the American dream because it is being stripped from them by...yes you're hearing it right and oppressive government Lista. A government that pays lip service to innovation and capitalism and entrepreneuralship (I spell that right?) but who in truth cares about one thing and one thing only which is centralizing power and control.
Hi Soap,
I guess I'll Give you my Longer Response Tomorrow. For Now, I just Want to say that Let's Try and Say at Least a Little Something in Each Comment about the Subject of this Post. For Example, Do You Really Think that ALL Poor People are Lazy? Don't Answer Yet, though, for I have Quite a Bit More to Say about what you have Said Already.
Seriously Lista? That's a rather juvenile question.
False assumptions tell us more about perception than reality. Sort of exemplified by the old joke:
'A fifteen year old Amish boy and his father were in a mall. They were amazed by almost everything they saw, but especially by two shiny, silver walls
that could move apart and then slide back together again.
The boy asked, 'What is this Father?'
The father (never having seen an elevator) responded, 'Son, I have never seen anything like this in my life, I don't know what it is.'
While the boy and his father were watching with amazement, a fat old lady in a wheel chair moved up to the moving walls and pressed a button. The walls opened, and the lady rolled between them into a small room. The walls closed, and the boy and his father watched the small numbers above the walls light up sequentially. They continued to watch until it reached the last number, and then the numbers began to light in the reverse order. Finally the walls opened up again and a gorgeous 24-year-old blond stepped out.
The father, not taking his eyes off the young woman, said quietly to his son..... 'Go get your mother.'
Well, Soap, Republicans and Libertarians are all the Time Talking about the Laziness of the Poor. So Much so, that it Really does Appear that they Think that there is no Such Thing as a Poor Person who Works his or her Butt Off just to Survive.
Anyway, Here is a Response to your Above Comment...
Yes, Banks that Print Money should be Watched and Even Regulated. Yes, the Safety Requirements at Airports has Crossed Over the Line. Yes, the Borders should be Better Secured. Yes, People who Choose to Pay for Private Education should be Given a Tax Break, or Better Yet, Given a School Voucher in Order to Pay for it.
Ok, Maybe I Should have Said that it is not Only the Government that Oppresses. You See, my Philosophy of Balance Goes Like This... Republicans Assume that Only the Government Oppresses and Democrats Assume that Only Businesses Oppress, yet the Truth is that BOTH of these Entities Oppress, BOTH are Guilty and BOTH Need to be Kept in Check.
BOTH the Democrats and the Republicans have a Tendency to See ONLY One Side of the Story.
Some Food Safety Legislation is Necessary, but Some is Excessive and Oppressive. For Example, the Required Labels that Tell what is in the Food are Necessary, so that People Know what they are Buying and Can Protect Themselves if the Doctor has Told them to Avoid Cholesterol, Sugar, Fat, Salt or whatever.
Trying to Legislate what People Should and Should not Buy, though, is More Legislation than is Necessary and Hinders People's Freedoms. If Something is Truly Unsafe, though, then it should not be Allowed to be Sold.
If the Relationship between Government and it's Citizens was Truly Neutral, Soap, there would be No Laws at all, because they would not even be Able to Take the Side of an Obvious Criminal Over a Victim. The Government DOES Take Sides Against One who Murders and Oppresses such a One, while Boosting and Protecting the Victim and this is just as it Should be.
More for Soap,
The Problem Lies in what is and is not Considered Criminal Behavior. It is not Unreasonable, for Example, to Consider the Selling of Dangerous, Non-inspected Food, (Negligence), a Crime, for this is a Threat to Public Safety. Thus, the Food Inspection Laws are Beneficial and Necessary. Food without the Required Labels is Also a Threat to Public Safety, because of Medical Conditions and Allergies.
Drunk Driving is also a Threat to Public Safety and is a Form of Negligence that has the Potential to Cause Harm to Another. Do not Think for a Moment that Crimes of Negligence are not a Threat to Public Safety.
I Agree with Most of what you're Saying, Soap. I just think that you are Willing to Take the Idea of Zero Regulation to an Extreme that I do not Believe in.
Once again, BOTH Businesses and also the Government can be Oppressive , BOTH are Guilty and BOTH Need to be Kept in Check. If you Think that Only One of these Entities has Oppressive Potential, then you are Only Seeing One Side of the Story.
Let's Look at a Few Misconceptions, Pre-Judgments, Generalizations and Prejudices, though. ALL Poor People are Lazy. ALL Rich People are Evil and how about this One...? All REGULATION is Evil. You Might Want to Think about that Last One for a Minute.
Oh, and Here is the Spell Check that you Requested…
Entrepreneurial & Entrepreneurship
Hey Silverfiddle,
Meet Saopter. He Represents that which I do not Like about Libertarianism. If you are Listening, you should get a Pretty Good Idea about where I Stand on the Subject. Shoot! I Even Answered a Drunk Driving Question that you Once Posted about.
Hi BB,
That was Cute! Thanks so much for the Comic Relief. lol. :)
Also, Thanks for Sticking to the Topic.
To Soap and also the Rest of you,
All I Really Ask is that there is at Least One Sentence in Each Comment that Links what is Said to the Topic. Soap, for Example, Could have Said that he Thinks that my Assumption about Republicans and Libertarians Thinking that Poor People are Lazy is in and of itself a Generalized False Assumption.
Lista,
Iffen yah ain't figgered out the upper case message I sent cha at Black and White is a Choice it wuz,
YOU IS COOL.
Just my opinion, but PREJUDGEMENT is a thought process that has ensured the survival of our specie. I see a rattlesnake, Imma gunna run because it is a threat. Ok,,, maybe,,, it might be a liberal rattlesnake that will lay inna da weeds and not strike out to bite me cuz there are smaller prey to bite inta that won't stomp their head in to the rocks. But I am not gunna stop and cogitate on the maybe's uv yah think this iz a good snake or not cuz dang 'bouts the time I am dun thinking it's too late, I am snake bit.
I will run a few paces and then stop and turn around lettin the snake strike out with the venom of it's true colors. Duz that make me racist against snakes? Yep!
So my "Conditioned Anger Response to being Falsely Accused" of avoidin' things that are a potential threat to my understanding of personal safety iz no doubt a conditioned response to the perservation of my existence.
I mean did not Tyceriotops (got no ideer uv da spellin but it works) look upon da T-Rex az a menace to their communal crunchin upon greenery society?
I mean, did not the Goonie Birds of Midway island look upon the B-52's (boy howdy they dun some good music in their day) az da dukes of hazzard? Okay not a good example, they wuz dumb birds.
I mean, did not Capt Kirk do the Kobe (not the LA dude) massaroo to save the Spock he did'unt like at first, to save the universe az they Hollywoodfantazied about?
I mean I don't know anything black and white other than,
"Wow!! That Brain Storming Session Came Out more Clearly than Expected." NOT
Iffen yah did not catch the nature of wut da life we haffta live thru is all about, I didunt either and cool iz as cool duz. I am just az human as the next one of ya'all and I'll just live thru it in the best black and white greyness I gotta cut thru.
Hi Boy Wonder, or do you Prefer Wonder Man. Perhaps you don't Want a Nick Name, yet I always Seem to Do it Eventually anyway if I Deem you Worthy of it.
Anyway, Thanks for Dropping By. I'm Rather Tired Now, though, and Need my Beauty Rest. I'll Respond more Some Time Tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Can you Read Backwards?
(: .oot looc si uoY
I Guess Prejudgment is Ok Initially, yet as we Get to Know People, sometimes we Realize that Our Initial Impressions were Wrong. Some People are not Willing to Change their Opinion on something or someone once they have Formed it.
I don't Know if I should Tell you this, yet in Reality, you are Supposed to Back Up Slowly from a Snake, cause they Strike at Fast Movements. Caution is Wise, though, Until you are Sure that Snake is not a Democrat, you had Better be Careful. Just Kidding. lol.
Libertarian Snakes are Risky as well, for there are no Safety Nets to Help you if you Make even the Slightest Wrong Move. In Computer Talk, that is Like having a not so "User Friendly" World and since I Mess Up Often, that Thought Really Scares me.
I Hope you Brought your Own First Aid Kit, cause if you didn't, the Government is not going to Help you, for there are no Government Programs. Not Even One and no Regulations to Protect you Against the Snakes. In case you Don't Know, Libertarianism is Republicanism Taken to an Extreme. Sorry if I'm Being too Basic, but when you Say that Sometimes you just Scratch your Head when you Read my Blog, I'm not sure Exactly what Part of it you Need me to Explain.
I don't Think you're Angry, though, Man of Wonder. I Think you are just being Cautious.
She Smiles. You Know I Wonder what you are Like in Real Life. You Come Across like the High Energy Class Clown Type. Am I Close?
Sticking to the Theme, if I am Prejudging you Libertarians, then Please, by all Means, Correct me.
prejudgment is a self-survival mechanism within us. it is a means we have to alert us to some type of danger at any given time.
it is a neccessary tool we use when we do not have all the facts available for us to make a sound judgment at any given time.
another word that might be used in place of it is the word profiling.
and it goes along with the idea of foresight when judgments must be made rather than hindsight when judgments are evaluated.
Hi Griper,
That's Sort of What Man of Wonder Said and I Guess I Could Respond to you in Much the Same Manner as I Responded to him. Prejudgment is Actually Only Wrong when a Person Insists on Hanging on to a False Idea about Someone, even after Evidence to the Contrary has been Presented.
Profiling and Racism is Actually not the Same Thing, for a True Racist will Continue with their Negative Assessment even After a Person has Shown Evidence of Good Character. Profiling, though, is Nothing More than an Assessment Based on the Information that can be Collected in a Limited Time Frame. To Confuse Profiling with Racism Hinders an Approach to Security that is Actually Fairly Effective.
Politicians are Often Judged Unfairly in "Hindsight", when in Reality, the Decision that was Made was Quite Rational and Sound, Based on the "Foresight", or the Information that was Available at the Time in Which the Decision was Made. Bush's Decision to Go to War with Iraq is One of those Types of Decisions.
Thanks for your Comment, Griper. I hope Life is Treating you Well.
"Profiling and Racism is Actually not the Same Thing"
not necessarily true.
it could be considered as profiling in foresight but perceived as racism in hindsight.
example;
a person could go into a strange district that is dominated by a certain race.
and that person may think it to be a dangerous area, thus prejudging the people there.
but statistically would be considered a safe neighborhood.
this would result in an accusation of racism even tho that person had no idea of what kind of neighborhood it was until afterwards.
jesse jackson alluded to this once when he asked
"why do i feel safer in a white neighborhood than i do in a black neighborhood?"
what someone perceives sometimes takes precedence over reality.
Lista: I am not opposed at all to a public welfare safety net. This can, in fact, be accomplished with no socialism at all (vouchers, payments etc).
Hi Griper,
I'll Get Back to You Later after Taking the Dog for a Walk, for he hasn't had One yet and he is Driving me Nuts.
Dmarks,
My Comments have been Directed at Extreme Libertarians and that May not Be What you are. Perhaps you're just Republican and that's Cool. I'm Republican too.
Ok Griper,
Let's See what's here for me to Respond to.
"it could be considered as profiling in foresight but perceived as racism in hindsight."
You Use Words Like "Considered" and "Perceived". Are you Talking about Definition or about Perception? I sort of Thought that the Word "is" was about Definition.
A Profile IS "A Set of Data Often in the form of a Graph, that Shows the Important Characteristics of Something or Someone". Profiling is Done by Professionals and the Judgments Made are Based on Scientific Research. Racism Involves Judgments Made by Amateurs that Quite Often have no Basis in Any Real Evidence or Facts.
Whether One Considers or Perceives the Motives and Actions to be One or the Other is Irrelevant, for it is what ever it is and False Assumptions that Call Profiling Racism are False Assumptions Plain and Simple.
You are Right, that What One Perceives is what Takes Precedence, yet to Prejudge is to not see Reality Correctly and any Incorrect View of Reality is Going to Effect the Accuracy or Lack Thereof of that Person's Views on all Sorts of Things. Any Judgment that we Make about Life that is Based on an Incorrect Pre-Judgment is Going to be another Incorrect Judgment and if this Happens too Regularly and is Never Corrected, then the Person will Misjudge People and have a Distorted View of Reality.
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