Poll: Will we ever see the end of prejudice?
- Thread starter ike_luv
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Doubt it. As long as there is something different. Although, zero diversity isn't something to be aimed for either I guess...
Maybe...something better is for people to, if not get over their prejudices then at the very least work to not have them seriously affect how they deal with other people.
Maybe...something better is for people to, if not get over their prejudices then at the very least work to not have them seriously affect how they deal with other people.
No we will not
Krunk is compleatly right, anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional.
Only two things are infinate: The universe and human stupidity - Albert E.
Krunk is compleatly right, anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional.
Only two things are infinate: The universe and human stupidity - Albert E.
No, because prejudice is actually a useful tool. Without the ability to recognise things within a set, we'd have never get out of the caves.
Problem comes when it's applied without access to logic.
If someone looks like your mother, you wouldn't keep calling them mum after you've found out they aren't; so why attack a racial group because what your percieve of that race in general.
Problem comes when it's applied without access to logic.
If someone looks like your mother, you wouldn't keep calling them mum after you've found out they aren't; so why attack a racial group because what your percieve of that race in general.
No. It's the way the human mind works. We need prejudices to help us categorise information about people and everything else in the world. When we have encountered something, we can take that information and use it in the future when we encounter someone or something similar.
Without them, our information is just a disorganised mess and we'd have to learn about each individual thing separately. We can try and limit the effect by being more aware of prejudice, but they'll always be there to some extent.
Another factor which influences this phenomenon is that humans are social creatures who will almost always divide into competing groups. Many studies, notably Sherif's study of a summer camp in 1956, have proven that in situations where people are purposely divided into groups, those groups will compete and develop rivalries. We can be altruistic to a degree, but that will often be confined to those within our own group.
Without them, our information is just a disorganised mess and we'd have to learn about each individual thing separately. We can try and limit the effect by being more aware of prejudice, but they'll always be there to some extent.
Another factor which influences this phenomenon is that humans are social creatures who will almost always divide into competing groups. Many studies, notably Sherif's study of a summer camp in 1956, have proven that in situations where people are purposely divided into groups, those groups will compete and develop rivalries. We can be altruistic to a degree, but that will often be confined to those within our own group.
I have to agree with all the 'no' answers. There will always be a difference, and even if at some point, the human race becomes 100% homogenous, irreligious, and aesexual/hermaphroditic there's always going to be some jackass that points and says "Hey...look at how it chews! That's different from the rest of us. We have to put a stop to that. Hey, hey...who else chews like that? You have to go sit over there and put on green socks because you're different!"
No.
More importantly, it shouldn't.
It is impossible (let me emphasise that, impossible) to assess every single person you come across as an individual. You simply don't have the time. Nor would you have the resources nor the inclination. The simple fact is, the most assessment you'll have to do in your day-to-day is whether someone is a threat or not, and prejudices serve well there.
Prejudice and its bastard cousin, stereotypes, continue to exist for a reason - they are constantly validated. If a stereotype wasn't accurate at least 51% of the time, it would cease to exist as a stereotype.
More importantly, it shouldn't.
It is impossible (let me emphasise that, impossible) to assess every single person you come across as an individual. You simply don't have the time. Nor would you have the resources nor the inclination. The simple fact is, the most assessment you'll have to do in your day-to-day is whether someone is a threat or not, and prejudices serve well there.
Prejudice and its bastard cousin, stereotypes, continue to exist for a reason - they are constantly validated. If a stereotype wasn't accurate at least 51% of the time, it would cease to exist as a stereotype.
Interesting, but surely sometimes the validation comes from the stereotyped view rather than actual logic.BlueMage post=18.69843.673139 said:
For instance, there was a very famous scientific case that 'proved' that African Americans have a lower IQ than White guys; but it was based on very bad science and the fact that IQ tests are inherently based on Racial Origins.
(For instance, African natives do not have natural access to horizontal and vertical lines in their development, so would be less likely to comprehend some of the topographical problems in main IQ tests.
BUT, they would be far better than Americans at spotting differences in the landscape because it would be within their development, and Americans rarely can spot lions walking through Times Square.)
That's where the logic has to interact with evidence.
Define what you mean by "prejudice"? If you by prejudice mean the concept of people forming opinions about something/someone before being satisfactory informed about the matter in question, then I would say that while it will not disappear completely, I'd say that in time, it will drop to acceptable levels. The better we become at informing ourselves and using critical thinking (especially when directing it at ourselves), prejudice with fade.
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No, because as most of the other posters said, it's a survival mechanism that's been with our species a long time. It's like guys being assholes or women being bitches during that time of the month, its something that's just part of human nature and we won't see go away.
At least, not in our lifetimes.
At least, not in our lifetimes.
Wrong. Prejudice can indeed keep on living despite being wrong because one prejudist person can create many others. As long as accurate information is not entering the loop fast enough to counteract rumors and word-of-mouth, prejudices can keep on living despite being alot less that 51% correct.BlueMage post=18.69843.673139 said:
Example: The pitbull - despite its reputation - is not an aggressive breed, nor are individuals of any of the pitbull or amstaff races prone to attacking people and/or other dogs. Experts on dogs all agree that pitbulls are mentally quite stable and calm dogs. This is also corroborated by the pitbull's history as a breed used in dog fights since things such as aggressiveness and tendancies to attack viciously and unpredictably were all concidered very poor qualities in fighting dogs.
Despite this, pitbull, amstaff and similar breeds still are concidered "ticking bombs" by the general public and the breeds continue to suffer this reputation because the sensationalist media feeds the prejudice by ignoring the above mentioned facts and instead emphasize dog attacks by the supposedly "aggressive breeds" despite them accounting for only 5-10% of all injuries cause by dogs.
So I say you are wrong: prejudice can indeed live on despite being factual bullshit, as exemplified above.
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One more thing... to all the negative sourheads in the thread: cynicism went out of style a long time ago. Anyone can babble negativity about how mankind sucks and how everything is coming apart. It's nothign the first step to becoming that pissy old fart at the retirment home sitting there muttering angrilly about how "things used to be better".
Cynics and other pessimists (and no, don't give me that "no I'm a realist" crap because you're not... you're being a pissy, grumpy, unobjective grouch) are not unique or different in any way. It's perfectly mainstream to be a cynic and has been so for a long time. If you want to stand out today, dare to have a bit of hope and try making an objective analysis as to where we are heading.
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Cynics and other pessimists (and no, don't give me that "no I'm a realist" crap because you're not... you're being a pissy, grumpy, unobjective grouch) are not unique or different in any way. It's perfectly mainstream to be a cynic and has been so for a long time. If you want to stand out today, dare to have a bit of hope and try making an objective analysis as to where we are heading.
/S