Social Equity

[CelestialBody]

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

An Equal Society is a perfect idealistic and good goal.

But any human alive today who does not admit to "judgement of others via cumulative life experience" regardless of the fact might be a judgement in either the positive or negative directions - is either a liar or blinded to that reality.

Everyone is prejudiced regarding everyone else - it's just not politically correct to admit to it.

 

[riff]

Hell yes

I won't go into any long drawn out explanations, but definitely yes!

If you want more from me, ask more specifically.

I'll add this too: Not only do I treat "social constructions" differently based on what I see, but given the same "construction" I'll treat them differently based on how I feel.

People are not static entities, and I am a person too!

 

[Guest]

 

[Tyrael]

When I meet new people I initially have no expectations as to what a person should be like althought sometimes I hope we would share interests. Don't take this to mean I try to be friends with everyone...there's a difference between being someone's friend and being friendly towards someone.

That's why people seek out friends to begin with - common bonds.

I would make judgments based on how I see you interact with myself and other people. If you treat people poorly, you get added to the bitchlist and I continue on with life.

Status in the world only seem to matter to people who choose their friends in the "what can I get out of this relationship" or the "how can I be be benefitted from being seen with him/her?" mentalities.

 

[Andreina]

in a perfect world the answer would be "No" for me, but unfortunately the answer is "Yes" in my case.

Halo

 

[Mensa]

We are family.

I used to many, many moons ago, but I can honestly say that I don't do it any more.

(Sorry, KM, I've got those damned rose-coloured glasses on again )

 

[Calamity Jane]

I try not to. I've lived on both sides of the tracks and know how difficult it is to get people to see through your economic status and get to know the person you are regardless of the amount of money in your checking account.

I catch myself doing it occasionally, and strive not to. It's all i can do.

 

[Mischka]

Do you think you treat people differently because of what you percieve their background to be?

I have an interesting illustration for you. This past week I was at a moot court competition in New York. Sixty US law schools competed, from as far away as Hawaii. In several of the rounds, judges expressly stated that the accent of the oralists affected their scores.

A woman from Alabama was told her Southern drawl made her sound uneducated. A woman of Iranian descent was told that the reason she spoke so quickly was because her last name (19 letters) was so long, she had learned to speak quickly so "she could finish saying her name on the same day as she started it." A man from Berkley was told he wasn't a convincing government lawyer (his assigned role) because he spoke too well and held himself too confidently. Conversely, a Bostonian man was told he sounded "blue collar" to represent the defendant corporation. My complete non-accent (born in L.A.) and deeper voice was categorized as making me sound professional and commanding, though cold and unapproachable; it worked for the defense, but I was unconvincing as counsel for the sympathetic non-profit plaintiff.

Overall, it was a fascinating study in perceptions. None of us can escape, though conscious effort can temper the effects.

 

[Weird Harold]

Do you think you treat people differently because of what you percieve their background to be?

Yes, I do give consideration to background in the way I treat people.

For Example, I don't offer ham sandwiches to jews and muslims or roast beef to hindus. I don't offer coffee to mormons or booze to alcoholics.

I don't ask missionaries who come to my door in to share my porn collection either.

I would be neither human or polite if I didn't take notice of others cultural values and biases when interacting with them.

If you thought I was a poor wrong-side of the tracks boy, would you treat me the same as you do now?

Differently, probably. Worse, not necessarily. If your po-boy personality was obnoxious, then I'd probably ignore you. Since I like and respect your Celestial Body, I treat you like an intelligent person who has feelings and opinions.

 

[plasticman33]

I try to be nonjudgemental. Expect the best from people until they prove me wrong. Sometimes to the point of naivity.

 

[Tyrael]

Harold sez:

"Yes, I do give consideration to background in the way I treat people.

For Example, I don't offer ham sandwiches to jews and muslims or roast beef to hindus. I don't offer coffee to mormons or booze to alcoholics.

I don't ask missionaries who come to my door in to share my porn collection either."


Wow, that is so...not the point.

She asked if you felt differently about people because of the way they look, act and the area they originated from not if they eat ham or not.

Example

You see two women on the street, one is well dressed, hair short and slicked back, carrying a breifcase

The other is wearing a worn, filthy tshirt and sweatpants, a head of hair that looks like a rat's nest.

Which one you you think poorly of? Which one do you not like based completely on the initial appearance.

However you did do a nice job of mocking the thread.

 

[Calamity Jane]

Harold sez:

"Yes, I do give consideration to background in the way I treat people.

For Example, I don't offer ham sandwiches to jews and muslims or roast beef to hindus. I don't offer coffee to mormons or booze to alcoholics.

I don't ask missionaries who come to my door in to share my porn collection either."


Wow, that is so...not the point.

i don't think WH was mocking. CB sis ask about race, and he commented on how race/religion may affect the way he reacts to someone.

 

[Tyrael]

i don't think WH was mocking. CB sis ask about race, and he commented on how race/religion may affect the way he reacts to someone.

Perhaps, but the point I got from the thread was "Do you hate/like someone based solely on their economic status or ethnic background?" not what snacks you serve to whomever your entertaining at the moment.

It just seems he was making light of the situation.

 

[Weird Harold]

Wow, that is so...not the point.

She asked if you felt differently about people because of the way they look, act and the area they originated from not if they eat ham or not.

That's exactly the point. I treat people differently based on what i perceive will offend them. Where they are from and how they act often has direct implications about dietary restrictions.

Example

You see two women on the street, one is well dressed, hair short and slicked back, carrying a breifcase

The other is wearing a worn, filthy tshirt and sweatpants, a head of hair that looks like a rat's nest.

Which one you you think poorly of? Which one do you not like based completely on the initial appearance.

Unless I had some need to interact with either or both women, I'd probably ignore them.

There is a lot more to first impressions than hygeine and clothing. The latter woman just might be a woman in trouble -- homeless or accident victim -- and her attitude, speech, and general health would all combine to form my first impression.

I try NOT to act on first impressions, because they're so often wrong.

However you did do a nice job of mocking the thread.

Any mockery is the sole result of your inference, not my implication.

 

[Mischka]

Tyrael, Weird Harold answered the question as it was phrased - "Do you think you treat people differently because of what you perceive their background to be?" Simply because you read a deeper discussion of feelings of animosity into the question does not mean that is the only correct way to approach the discussion.

WH is an enormously kind, generous, and compassionate soul. His sage advice on the How To Board has helped countless people. He does not mock or make light of serious discussions. I am amazed you would perceive such a thing, especially after he expressly stated that he holds great respect for CB.

 

[Tyrael]

Tyrael, Weird Harold answered the question as it was phrased - "Do you think you treat people differently because of what you perceive their background to be?" Simply because you read a deeper discussion of feelings of animosity into the question does not mean that is the only correct way to approach the discussion.

WH is an enormously kind, generous, and compassionate soul. His sage advice on the How To Board has helped countless people. He does not mock or make light of serious discussions. I am amazed you would perceive such a thing, especially after he expressly stated that he holds great respect for CB.

Hmm, I've never been scolded for being too deep before.

I was under the impression that "treat differently" was just another way of saying "treat poorly" upon a perceived background. Because everyone treats people differently, it's too broad a statement. I assumed that we were talking about social and economic backgrounds and how we treated them through first impressions.

Respecting someone's religious choices seems different to me because people can choose what religion they want to subscribe to. People can't choose to be white/black/other when they are born. People can't choose what family they want to be born into. People are not offered a choice to what tax bracket they want to be in or what part of the world they are thrust into. Respecting people for the choices that they have to accept are more important to me than accepting the dietary needs of X religion.

So offering him/her ham to eat is of little consequence because you will already respect his/her choices in life and would know that such an action would make him/her uncomfortable.

 

[Tyrael]

Great, I killed the topic.

 

[Weird Harold]

I was under the impression that "treat differently" was just another way of saying "treat poorly" upon a perceived background.

This is the point I was trying to make. "Treat differently" does NOT equate to "treat poorly."

I treat everyone I know or meet differently, depending on the person's background, the context of our interaction, and my mood at the time.

I try very hard not to interact negatively with anyone though. So for me, cultural, ethnic differences, and gender drive choices in how not to offend accidently. (I'm human enough to offend intentionally at times, even though I try to curb my baser impulses.)

I mentioned dietary restrictions only as an example, NOT as the sole element of how I treat people differently based on their background. Religious differences are just one aspect of people's background that was easy to illustrate the point, NOT the sole distinguishing characteristic I base mytreatment of others on.

In my second post, (which you did not address,) I pointed out that appearance is only one aspect of what forms first impressions -- Attitude, speech, body language, a need for interaction, etc, all form a complete picture on which to base the choices I make about how to approach any situation or person.

CB' original question is a bit broad, but I answered the question asked in a way that would open the discussion to positive difference in interaction as well as negative differences.

If this discussion is supposed to be about how a person's background causes negative interactions, then I want to change my vote to NO, because for the most part I don't treat people negatively because of their social status or background. I try very hard not to.

 

[Jack Schitt]

I generally like most everyone and try my damnest not to prejudge, but of course that's next to impossible to do.

 

[Problem Child]

Hmm, I've never been scolded for being too deep before.

I was going to say "don't flatter yourself", but that would go against the new era of good feelings direction the board is trying to take.

Nevermind.

 

[Tyrael]

Gee, is there anything that comes from you that isn't a insult, put down or just plain nasty?

 

[CelestialBody]

 

[kotori]

I said "yes"

Even though it's regretable, and I know better.

My most chastened moment came about eighteen years ago, in New York. I was in Hell's Kitchen, it was late of warm summer evening (still light out). I used to park the car down near the West Side Highway (by the piers), 'cause that's where you could find free parking on the street. Anyway, I'm walking down between 11th & 12th Aves., a real ratty area, and here's this group of Hispanics on the sidewalk half a block in front of me. I start to get a little nervous, they're just hanging out. So I cross the street, trying to make myself look as unobtrusive as possible.

When I got parallel with the group, and got to see what they were doing, I was so embarassed and mad at myself. It was a family group, ma & pa and the kids and grannie--sitting in kitchen chairs and standing on the sidewalk, with the t.v. set in the window, watching the Met game. It was just too hot inside, so they were out on the street. I felt like such an asshole.

 

[Guest]