General Chat

Well, JC, that poses an interesting problem. Possibly one of semantics.

Is it possible for a thief to also be a good person in other ways? for instance, a thief may take old women across the road and nurse injured labrador puppies back to health, but because he is in a group I choose to label as worthy of my prejudice despite his endearing side, am I not then guilty of prejudice as opposed to common sense?

Ophelia I don't think prejudice and labelling is quite the same but it can be used in the same way. Personally if I had a lot of prejudices I wouldn't have any friends or get on with many people at all. In my work I meet an incredible amount of very different people - all races, religions, sexuality etc. Illness is a great leveller.
Sue

ohhhhhh I take the utmost offence as being labelled" bonkers".........slightly off me trolley or demarbled,yes but bonkers..........never :-) lol

Why thank you. I think that comes from Sunday School in the good old United Church of Canada, probably from the ex-Baptist minister I took confirmation classes from. ;)

He had to consider whether to confirm me (precociously at 13, which was lucky, because if I'd waited til 15 like I was supposed to it would've been too late!), when I said I didn't believe in h.e.l.l. He thought about it and said he knew a missionary in the church who didn't believe in h.e.l.l., so it was probably cool.

Of course, that was back before not believing in anything at all became cool for the clergy. ;)

Eldrick you have posed an interesting question. I guess that a thief could be a good person in other ways but we don't see past the thieving part of his character so he is "bad" in our eyes. Do people look at my little granddaughter and see an adorable little child who is smiley and charming and doing everything that most other 2 y.o.'s are doing or do they see a child with a disability and can't get past that?
Sue

Pippi most of the people on here are bonkers so you're in good company. Possibly even "normal" lol
Sue

I am open minded..would not consider myself predudice to the extreme..but would admit..I have certain problems with certain members of people in society..Rude Ignorant people mostly..those without manners and courtesy..

ophelia,thats not prejudice,thats just Brititsh,we are brought up to be expected to be mannerly and polite

But is that prejudice because what you feel is distaste for a certain person because of the way they behave. JC's defination seems to infer that prejudice is generalised prejudging unless I read that wrong.
Sue

Well yes, E2, I was going to consider that problem.

"Is it possible for a thief to also be a good person in other ways?"

Certainly we all know it is. In fact, who among us has not stolen something sometime? Yes, well, I'm sure you haven't.

If your prejudice against thieves prompts you to refuse to treat a thief equitably in some matter having nothing to do with thievery, then he or you or both of you might lose out on something.

Prejudice itself is just a matter of personal disposition. I could be prejudiced against all people with purple skin -- I could harbour the firm belief that they are all born horse thieves of subnormal intelligence prone to spitting in public. But as long as I *treat* them the same as everybody else, individually, and based only on the individual performance of each one, then my prejudice is nobody's business, or problem, but my own.

That's why I distinguish, as do many, between misogyny and sexism, for example.

Misogyny is hatred of women. Sexism is the practice of discriminating against women on the basis of sex.

You can be prejudiced against the whole class of thieves, but still be a perfect gentleman if you don't discriminate against them.

Sue...I think its a case of people seeing phisical characteristics..that are different..and drawing up conclusions before getting to know that individual..(a lot of people have predudices due to ignorance..and being scared)..I always say Downs Syndrome children are extra special..as they have an extra Chromosome..They are so lovable!

well im taking my "bonkers" or " normal" self to bed,goodnight all,very interesting thread!

Surely, JC, sexism is prejudice against men as well as women. I find sexism against men is rampant these days and is leading to a new problem in society - a generation of young men who are having identity crises because they no longer know where they stand in society. A generalisation of course and my view.
Ophelia we always call Aimee our little wonder woman because she has an extra chromosome.
Sue

There's none so blind as those that cannot see, Colin, as the saying goes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIlJ8ZCs4jY

I do love youtube. And no, that isn't Freddie Garrety.


One week of every year is designated National Brotherhood Week. This is just one of many such weeks honoring various worthy causes. One of my favorites is National Make-fun-of-the-handicapped Week which Frank Fontaine and Jerry Lewis are in charge of as you know. During National Brotherhood Week various special events are arranged to drive home the message of brotherhood. This year, for example, on the first day of the week Malcolm X was killed which gives you an idea of how effective the whole thing is. I'm sure we all agree that we ought to love one another and I know there are people in the world that do not love their fellow human beings and I hate people like that. Here's a song about National Brotherhood Week.

Oh, the white folks hate the black folks,
And the black folks hate the white folks.
To hate all but the right folks
Is an old established rule.

But during National Brotherhood Week, National Brotherhood Week,
Lena Horne and Sheriff Clarke are dancing cheek to cheek.
It's fun to eulogize
The people you despise,
As long as you don't let 'em in your school.

Oh, the poor folks hate the rich folks,
And the rich folks hate the poor folks.
All of my folks hate all of your folks,
It's American as apple pie.

But during National Brotherhood Week, National Brotherhood Week,
New Yorkers love the Puerto Ricans 'cause it's very chic.
Step up and shake the hand
Of someone you can't stand.
You can tolerate him if you try.

Oh, the Protestants hate the Catholics,
And the Catholics hate the Protestants,
And the Hindus hate the Muslims,
And everybody hates the Jews.

But during National Brotherhood Week, National Brotherhood Week,
It's National Everyone-smile-at-one-another-hood Week.
Be nice to people who
Are inferior to you.
It's only for a week, so have no fear.
Be grateful that it doesn't last all year!

and while we are on the subject...what about male chauvanists?...I do have a problem with them..

Nah, Sue, saying men are victims of sexism is like saying whites (in our societies) are victims of racism. Bunk.

The systems are built on institutionalized oppression of blacks and women (and others), and every once in a while that doesn't work out to whites' and men's advantage.

When a man couldn't get a job as a secretary, that wasn't reverse-sexism. It was the result of a system in which low-paying, low-status jobs were assigned to women.

I got accused of being a sexist male chauvinist when I held a door open for a woman senior officer.

I feigned a heart attack and that was the end of that.

LOL..J.C....
and this is something that occurs?..
We would have riots in this country if we did anything like that..
Mind you...we do have Gay Pride..And Nottingham Carnival..where everyone gets together..and harmony on most part occurs

She was obviously..not used to it Elderick..I think its a gentlemanly thing to do..