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Discrimination?
know1
Posts: 6,763
I think discrimination is an interesting topic. Most people's initial reaction to the word is that discrimination is wrong, but we all discriminate every time we make a choice.
On what bases (plural) should we be allowed to discriminate on?
On what bases (plural) should we be allowed to discriminate on?
The only people we should try to get even with...
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
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Definition of discrimination -
- the practice of unfairly treating a person or group of people differently from other people or groups of people
- the ability to recognize the difference between things that are of good quality and those that are not
- the ability to understand that one thing is different from another thing
I'd say I'm guilty of the last two. I treat (or think of) some people a certain way based on their actions and character...on an individual basis vs group, unless we're talking pedophiles, rapists, KKK members...you get the idea.
Hmm...I guess I do discriminate.
(good topic!)
When people say "fag" is a derogatory term, they are not talking about the British term for cigarette.
Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
Discrimination, on the other hand, as the word is generally understood, involves intentionally denigrating, or depriving, one individual, or group, based on their race, gender, sexuality, or religion.
If you discriminate racially then you're basically making a statement that says one group of people deserve to be treated differently - invariably to their detriment - than another group. So, in a sense it's a form of violence.
Not quite the same as choosing which brand of toothpaste to pick from the supermarket shelf, to the exclusion of the other brands of toothpaste on display. You're not offending those other tubes of toothpaste, or depriving them of anything, or in any way causing physical or psychological harm to them.
Buying regular produce vs organic, paper vs plastic, carnivorous vs vegetarian...even x brand of toothpaste vs y (Foaming Aqua Fresh, baby!)
Remember that Seinfeld about Poppy being against abortion, and people choosing to leave (or stay at) the restaurant based on his views?
Not to make light of this - of course it's weightier when people are involved, hated out of ignorance or teachings.
For example, more often than not, I find myself thinking the Taliban are a bunch of idiots. I would never hire one of those people or invite them to my house. To some, these people are fine, but to me... I find them intolerable.
Am I correct?
We could likely come to an agreeable consensus on these pages, but on other forums- its not the Taliban who have the problem... it's people like me that do. I scoff at them, while they scoff at me: both factions insistent that it is the other that causes concern.
But, we often have to make choices that involve people and we constantly hear that it's wrong to discriminate. It's essentially impossible to make the choice if you don't discriminate on the basis of SOMETHING.
I just have the opinion that discrimination gets an unnecessarily bad rap. It's fine to have likes and dislikes and to use our past experience and knowledge to help us decide what to do. I think criminalizing is a slippery slope and people need to really consider what they're doing when they outlaw discrimination.
(And before I get slammed for this, I think racism is just about the dumbest thing ever. Right along with it is stereotyping entire groups of people based on the trait(s) or actions(s) of a few).
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
But then, who decides which is which?
I then would support activism that calls out when the property owner discriminates.
I do not support using government force to require private property owners to do anything that they don't want to. Example, I would not support the government forcing a bakery to bake a cake for a customer that they didn't want to.
"Quality used books for the discriminating reader."
Hey, H., I hope that qualifies as an acceptable form of the word!
:-bd
Moreover, even if society deems certain types of discrimination as being unacceptable it doesn't preclude a person from exercising his or her right to partake in such activity. As a society, our threshold of what types of discrimination are acceptable and unacceptable is constantly changing. It's pretty significant when you consider that women in the US had difficulty acquiring a credit card without a male cosigner prior to 1974. I'm pretty certain that in the not-so-distant future there will be a generation that is stunned and even appalled to hear that gay marriage was illegal in many places in the early 21st century.
The poison from the poison stream caught up to you ELEVEN years ago and you floated out of here. Sept. 14, 08
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
Godfather.