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Parlar
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STEREOTYPES, PREJUDICE, JUDGEMENTS and IGNORANCE!
June 1, 2007 - 11:00 PM
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Why does cultural or racial identity have to separate us so much? Why do stereotypes have to define what kind of people we can be? Why can't we realize that we are all unique and just because some people do not follow the trends of society that does not mean that we do not belong? Something that is considered "cool" with one group of people or one place can be "weird" in another. So many people these days are bullied and tormented for being who they truly want to be. I read of this African-American girl who was made fun of because she liked rock music instead of the usual hip hop and because she used "big words" when she talked instead of the usual slang of the "ghetto." In the country where I live, Canada, we live in a democracy but why do many people feel enslaved by the effects of commercialism, popularity and the media? Just because you do not follow the popular trends of society does not mean that you should be treated like an outcast. We, especially youth, need to feel free to be who we truly want to be. Not what "everyone else" is. This is my opinion. What is yours?
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Iris Lea
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Re: STEREOTYPES, PREJUDICE, JUDGEMENTS and IGNORANCE!
June 2, 2007 - 12:31 PM
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Hello,
I guess 3 or 4 books will be necessary to answer your questions.
I study anthropology in university in Fance, so i ll try to give you some little answers (rather beginning of answers).
According to me, every society has a 'main' culture, telling each citizen what to do in this country. This is also true for groups of any type (family, friends,..) : they have their own ways that u have to follow to be accepted (especially when it comes to money or power).
So a country has a dominant culture and way of life but sub group also exist with their own ways. So anytime a group becomes more influent (cos of its number of members, or cos of it s money, etc) he becomes the dominant group. (i hope u understand what i m trying to explain)
Then to help the world change u can be part of a group that s againts or at least different from the dominant culture in your area. Then you can try to make ur ideas the dominant ones by becoming influent..and in your culture you can declare that u re not against anyone and create laws about it. but well i think the elites (the dominant group) prefer to be a small group to enjoy their ressources the more... still any new generation change a bit the system
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That guy
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Re: STEREOTYPES, PREJUDICE, JUDGEMENTS and IGNORANCE!
June 3, 2007 - 12:14 AM
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Civilization and its phases.
Phase 0: Solitary hunter/gatherer. No culture. Individuals seldom interact, and if they do it is most likely mating or competition due to inability to share information before language.
Phase 1: Nomadic hunter/gather. Life spent in small familial groups with few exceptions. Interactions outside group are still mostly mating or competition.
Phase 1.5: Tool use and transmission of tool plans to the next generation appears. Tool is defined as a creative modification of the environment to further a goal.
Phase 2: Villages. Emergence of permanent settlements near resources and larger social groups. Sense of belonging to the same group expanded beyond your immediate family, although the family subunit frequently remains for the rest of the phases. Culture becomes more advanced. Writing and religion may emerge. Some civilizations may still be seminomadic, but they will return repeatedly to the same sites and travel as groups. Organized warfare against those outside the local social web emerges.
Phase 3: City states. Requires agriculture to support larger populations. Characterized by an increase in the number of members who do not do manual labor. Science emerges, although it remains underdeveloped.
Phase 4: Empire. The individual's sense of belonging expands beyond his immediate surroundings and encompasses people who he or she may never meet yet who are governed by the same political unit. For example, I am an American and somebody from California is also an American.
Phase 4.5: Democracy. Internal social stratifications diminish and the sense of unity improves.
Phase 5: World peace. This stage is hypothetical. The sense of belonging has expanded outwards from a lone individual to a family to a village to a city state to an empire to the entire planet. Large scale war is an obsolete concept. Our common humanity is worshiped.
We just aren't at phase 5 yet.
This post was edited on: 2007-06-03 at 12:16 AM by: wvanbokk
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April
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Re: STEREOTYPES, PREJUDICE, JUDGEMENTS and IGNORANCE!
June 4, 2007 - 02:17 PM
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It is true that society does judge, and they do hold their disaproving eyes on some of the stereotypes out there. But it shouldnt matter.
Take me for an example, because i guess i work for this case. I decided i didnt like the "preps" not because of what they wore, but because of how they acted. I dressed up in various fations. One day i looked punk, the other preppy, the other nerdish (glasses i mean), then back to punk. I listen to what i want to listen to because i like it. I have been with friends and walked into stores where the employees have looked at me weird for being in there the way i dressed.
What i'm trying to get to is that society has and will always place their judgements on stereotypes. It is up to you whether you can take it or not, but be who you want to be, and dress the way you want, listen to what you want. Hell, if you wanna run around naked go ahead! (though you may get arrested...)
Even though society tells you to be one way, do what you want, because it is your life, and your happiness. Society doesnt have to grow old and die knowing they werent happy in life. Dress how you are supposed to in school and work (as in if there is a uniform or professional attire), but after work and school, do what you want!
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Hayk
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Re: STEREOTYPES, PREJUDICE, JUDGEMENTS and IGNORANCE!
June 4, 2007 - 04:54 PM
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The question is evry geenral and as mentionned above migth need books to yield a comprehensive answer to.
But if you want a very precise and burning example of nowadays, namely, about stereotypes and prejudices of Westerners about Easterners, then I recommend a book by Edward Said called "Orientalism" in which you will find many answers to your questions and in general thought-formation and development of certain (grossly oversimplified and overly wrong) attitudes of the West influenced by the East.
H.
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Kavidha N.
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Re: STEREOTYPES, PREJUDICE, JUDGEMENTS and IGNORANCE!
June 5, 2007 - 02:14 AM
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april333 wrote:
It
Take me for an example, because i guess i work for this case. I decided i didnt like the "preps" not because of what they wore, but because of how they acted. I dressed up in various fations. One day i looked punk, the other preppy, the other nerdish (glasses i mean), then back to punk. I listen to what i want to listen to because i like it. I have been with friends and walked into stores where the employees have looked at me weird for being in there the way i dressed.
Not to jump on your case, but you're stereotyping right there. Glasses don't necessarily mean the person is geeky, etc. It is because we allow ourselves to classify people in neat little categories is the reason why stereotyping and prejudice exists.
We, in our own subconscious ways, flame the problem. Naturally, we don't mean to. Most of us, anyway.
However, the problem of overcoming this is not as easy as it is talked about.
For one, we cannot be completely accepting of every culture and tradition thrown in our way. There has to exist moral boundaries and such, however because moral is a subjective thing, it varies from place, time and such.
It is also natural for humans to categorize things. It is supposed to help us define, understand and react accordingly to each group. The real problem starts when we are afraid of that which we do not understand.
So the problem stems from lack of understanding, which is probably why when you dress up 'goth' or 'punk' and you go into a store, the shopkeepers are definitely more alert and wary. Not because of you personally, but because of the group they think you're representing, and past experiences with them.
So what you're doing, the whole multi-dress thing (which I totally laud =) is way righteous. Get people so confused, that the only thing they can see is you. And there is no stereotyping individuals, because we're all different and unique. 
That's my two sickles anyway, mind you, I'm superly sleep deprived. XD
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April
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Re: STEREOTYPES, PREJUDICE, JUDGEMENTS and IGNORANCE!
June 5, 2007 - 11:20 AM
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Yes, i categorize as well (And make fun of myself in glasses). However I was just giving examples then. People cant help but to stereotype others as well as themselves sometimes. It is human nature. The trick is to leave it there. Dont brush someone away because of their stereotype or by not giving them a chance to get to know each other because they look different then you. Everyone, despite stereotype or category they fit into that day is a person, and they may suprise you.
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Terri
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Re: STEREOTYPES, PREJUDICE, JUDGEMENTS and IGNORANCE!
June 5, 2007 - 11:34 AM
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I think stereotypes are made from the community someone comes from.
Let me speak as a Kenyan, you were born in a given community and you have practiced some things throughout your whole life.You will be forced under the given circumstances to behave in the way your community brought you up hence the character and behaviour!
Therefore unless the community that is said to have a certain character changes this, the stereotype continues!
I think its not proper to judge people just because they come from agiven community or tribe or region regardless of thier skin color!
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Kavidha N.
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Re: STEREOTYPES, PREJUDICE, JUDGEMENTS and IGNORANCE!
June 6, 2007 - 09:50 AM
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april333 wrote:
People cant help but to stereotype others as well as themselves sometimes. It is human nature. The trick is to leave it there. Dont brush someone away because of their stereotype or by not giving them a chance to get to know each other because they look different then you. Everyone, despite stereotype or category they fit into that day is a person, and they may suprise you.
Exactly. =) The problem begins when we let our categorizing get in the way of our interactions/perceptions.
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Wambui
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Re: STEREOTYPES, PREJUDICE, JUDGEMENTS and IGNORANCE!
June 13, 2007 - 03:20 AM
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As much as all the above are unfair ways of treating people, they exist because anyone who deviates from what is accepted as normal is shunned by mainstream society.
There have been certain norms, some which are tied to culture which develop and are accepted over time.Anyone who desires to break away must be ready to face prejudice and opposition from the mainstream society.
However I believe in the freedom of the individual to follow whatever path he/she chooses so long as it does not intefere with another person's individual freedom to be what they choose.
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bgem
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Re: STEREOTYPES, PREJUDICE, JUDGEMENTS and IGNORANCE!
June 14, 2007 - 01:25 PM
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Very good discussion! Normally I have only one answer for those who can't see beyond color, race and creed and that is "Everyone has the same red blood running through their veins . think about it"
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ntadepalli
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Re: STEREOTYPES, PREJUDICE, JUDGEMENTS and IGNORANCE!
June 15, 2007 - 05:47 AM
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The important thing is that we must allow other people to understand us ,as we are.For this proper dress and manners are definitely required. We like to be distinguished by our ideas and tolerance towards others` ways.We have to blame ourselves if we dress like a buffoon and expect others to take us for intellectuals.
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Jacobs
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Re: STEREOTYPES, PREJUDICE, JUDGEMENTS and IGNORANCE!
June 15, 2007 - 09:16 AM
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if you want a real example of stereotyping that put some people into trouble a loot of times too take this example :
Middle eastern
a lot of ppl now see a "muddle eastern" looking guy what they got in mind is arab & terrorist thats the worst ever stereotype in the history of mankind
going to any embassy to take a visa while being a middle eastern as they say is like going to god asking for forgiveness to let them enter paradise
a lot of those ARABS made mistakes and was involved in terrorism acts but how can you judge over 200 million people from the acts of 100 only is that fair ??
why am i as a middle eastern classified as dangerous country just because some bunch of fools did something wrong
take an example a canadian who goes to any embassy to take a touristic visa and how they are gonna meet him and take the same embassy if a Middle eastern went inside  its not really something pleasant
that if you really want to talk about serious trouble regarding stereotyping 
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hekatea
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Re: STEREOTYPES, PREJUDICE, JUDGEMENTS and IGNORANCE!
June 19, 2007 - 10:43 PM
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Hi friends,
There is a good link that I want to share with you that tackles prejudices and assumptions on people. There is a nice "test your assumption" and "test your level of tolerance" and see if your assumptions on people are right and if you're tolerant.
[link="http://www.spreadtolerance.org/content/page.php?cat=4&content_id=19"]
I realized, that assumptions make you think inside the box! Enjoy the test.
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Волк Апокалипси
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Re: STEREOTYPES, PREJUDICE, JUDGEMENTS and IGNORANCE!
June 22, 2007 - 10:24 AM
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As a member of a group that faces much prejudice I thought I should add my two cents, pardon the colloquilalism. Since the very foundation of the first soviet comitern, there has been political, personal and religious resistance to the ideas brought forth by Comrades Lenin, Trotsky and Marx. Speaking from a personal level however I wish to adress the difficulty of living as a communist in modern-day society. People think I am some kind of faceless servant of evil. The image that was created by Stalin, that of a corupt and decadent government which abuses its people is not only outdated but insulting. Modern-day communists fight for the freedom and liberty of all peoples and continue to strive to liberate the proletariat and facilitate the revolutiaon against oppression.
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