Off the back of another thread and not planning to make it a sequel if possible. But got me thinking.. We say and think that we are open minded... What prejudices are you aware of and the tough bit... For you own prejudices, from where do they originate? |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
 |
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
I’m currently unaware of prejudices that I have but I’m off course open to being told when I display behaviour that is prejudiced or offends a member of a marginalised group. I try and unlearn prejudices that I have had in the past and any that are made aware to me.
Ones I’ve had have often come from family, traditional Caribbean views and Faith because I was raised a Christian and went ti a faith school. And then I started doing sociology and it’s been all snowflake from there  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
A lot of mine were learnt from the environment I was brought up in. So family and the general area so in general poor and deprived.
I have one that is as a consequence of several incidences with a certain demographic. But I recognise it and I'm trying to work on it.
Think many of us have prejudices. It's just we don't necessarily see them as prejudices, as they are a normal part of life and maybe haven't had to question them. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
The obvious would be to say my background, my childhood, my life experiences and that would be true.
Given that I believe we all have the capacity to change and grow I'd go a step further than above and say it's lacking critical thinking that keeps some firmly entrenched in their biases and assumptions.
There will be someone , somewhere on this thread that says they are not prejudiced in any way and never judge others........ when they do..... just KNOW you are looking at someone who is in denial or in ignorance of the subconscious.
The best we can do it make huge efforts to question our own beliefs and try to overcome whatever biases arise.
I'm off to think about any prejudices I may have shown today and yesterday. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"I’m currently unaware of prejudices that I have but I’m off course open to being told when I display behaviour that is prejudiced or offends a member of a marginalised group. I try and unlearn prejudices that I have had in the past and any that are made aware to me.
Ones I’ve had have often come from family, traditional Caribbean views and Faith because I was raised a Christian and went ti a faith school. And then I started doing sociology and it’s been all snowflake from there "
Haha last bit made me chuckle. I hate people holding a mirror up to me, and it takes a really long time and perseverance, but eventually I get there and realise I'm not perfect. Some threads are good on here at challenging ones thoughts. If nothing else it's shown me there are not many areas which are simply black and white...oh and also how throw away comments.. Are very rarely thrown away. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
Prejudice means pre judgement and I absolutely do that based on the behavioural and language signals people give out. Always open to be proved wrong but generally people are quite predictable and life is too short to risk lots of it on those you have serious doubts about. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"Prejudice means pre judgement and I absolutely do that based on the behavioural and language signals people give out. Always open to be proved wrong but generally people are quite predictable and life is too short to risk lots of it on those you have serious doubts about."
I agree Leo. Which is why I hold that those who say they never judge overlook that it's a life skill we all need to survive/choose our tribe so to speak. BUT...... there is the unnecessary bias which creeps in for some that they don't question ...... Should we call it negative prejudice ??? There's a need to understand both types and more. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
I know I'm prejudiced towards anyone with an addiction. This is down to a brief marriage to a gambling addict and having alcoholics in our family.
I try to avoid too much interaction with people like this because I know I will have trouble seeing past the addiction.
Now we move on to mental ill health. Having been subject to the vagaries of my mother's mental health issues when I was growing up and in a lesser way as an adult. Despite trying to understand and move past it I know I can't be helpful towards someone suffering in this way. For that reason I will avoid becoming too involved because I'm judging based on my own experiences.
Also entirely irrationally, anyone who loads the pockets of tight trousers or cargo pants. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
I think I've held prejudice against certain races of men. I found myself always swiping left and that's when I realised. Several years ago. Had to really examine why I felt that way and there were a couple of experiences that had contributed which I'd buried. I felt intimidated because of those experiences. I kept on challenging myself and trying to unpick how I got there. Because I didn't want to feel like that, didn't want to be that person.
I'm not that person now. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"Prejudice against any demographic/ minority group ... Never
Prejudice against people that accuse me of it ... Absofuckinlutely   "
I’d like to think I didn’t have any prejudices, but I know I will, and I know I’m unlikely to be actively aware of them.
If someone wants to explain why something I’ve said/done might be based in prejudice, then that’s an opportunity for me to correct and improve. I might disagree with their assessment, but if I’m not open to challenging and testing my assumptions and decisions, then that’s pretty much prejudice defined! |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *ea monkeyMan
over a year ago
Manchester (he/him) |
I think that it’s important to try and be aware of personal bias and prejudices that we may have, no one is without them and some systemic or cultural biases exist within blind spots that most have. The only way to change that is awareness and recognition.
I think that many people ignore them though, they believe that they’re good people and so can’t be ‘ist’ in any aspect. They get defensive when questioned or have them challenged, which perpetuates the issue |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"I think that it’s important to try and be aware of personal bias and prejudices that we may have, no one is without them and some systemic or cultural biases exist within blind spots that most have. The only way to change that is awareness and recognition.
I think that many people ignore them though, they believe that they’re good people and so can’t be ‘ist’ in any aspect. They get defensive when questioned or have them challenged, which perpetuates the issue"
this.
I think the issue hasn’t always been handled well. Sometimes well-intentioned challenge of un-known (can’t use the ‘sleepy’ word in forum) or unintentional bias is taken by the receiver as an accusation of active racism (for example).
Am I actively racist? Absolutely not. Are my assumptions, decisions, instincts and responses influenced by the fact that there were no black kids at my school as I was growing up? For sure. And I need to actively challenge myself to make sure those assumptions, decisions, etc. don’t cause unintended harm. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
Thanks every body for some really significant shares...when I kicked this off I was kind of thinking a little less significant but none the less still prejudices... White stilettos, BMW drivers, football fans,... But we've gone right in at the deep end.
So exploring a little further... Are they by definition irrational and we try to rationalise or justify them? And... Does anybody think, that somebody external telling them not to be (whatever prejudice) they may have, makes any difference or does any remedy have to come from within? |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"Thanks every body for some really significant shares...when I kicked this off I was kind of thinking a little less significant but none the less still prejudices... White stilettos, BMW drivers, football fans,... But we've gone right in at the deep end.
So exploring a little further... Are they by definition irrational and we try to rationalise or justify them? And... Does anybody think, that somebody external telling them not to be (whatever prejudice) they may have, makes any difference or does any remedy have to come from within? "
The only irrational prejudice I have is against stuffed pockets. There's an entirely rational reason for the prejudices I mentioned, in my opinion anyway |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Prejudice means pre judgement and I absolutely do that based on the behavioural and language signals people give out. Always open to be proved wrong but generally people are quite predictable and life is too short to risk lots of it on those you have serious doubts about.
I agree Leo. Which is why I hold that those who say they never judge overlook that it's a life skill we all need to survive/choose our tribe so to speak. BUT...... there is the unnecessary bias which creeps in for some that they don't question ...... Should we call it negative prejudice ??? There's a need to understand both types and more. "
Yes, I think there are positive and negative prejudices, the former based on experience and used for self survival/protection, the latter used against someone else. Also of course conscious and un conscious ones. I think we're stuck with the un conscious ones but we can notice patterns which we could address with our conscious decisions. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
I had to do an (word not allowed) asleep bias course at work and was amazed how prejudiced I was against people - not for their colour/gender/sexuality, just them as people.
It was quite uncomfortable at times, but it certainly opened my thought process to how to treat people equally & not instantly judge. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"Prejudice against any demographic/ minority group ... Never
Prejudice against people that accuse me of it ... Absofuckinlutely
I’d like to think I didn’t have any prejudices, but I know I will, and I know I’m unlikely to be actively aware of them.
If someone wants to explain why something I’ve said/done might be based in prejudice, then that’s an opportunity for me to correct and improve. I might disagree with their assessment, but if I’m not open to challenging and testing my assumptions and decisions, then that’s pretty much prejudice defined! "
Sometimes you aren't given the opportunity to maybe |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"Prejudice against any demographic/ minority group ... Never
Prejudice against people that accuse me of it ... Absofuckinlutely
I’d like to think I didn’t have any prejudices, but I know I will, and I know I’m unlikely to be actively aware of them.
If someone wants to explain why something I’ve said/done might be based in prejudice, then that’s an opportunity for me to correct and improve. I might disagree with their assessment, but if I’m not open to challenging and testing my assumptions and decisions, then that’s pretty much prejudice defined!
Sometimes you aren't given the opportunity to maybe "
Very fair point. I know I have a tendency to pounce on things and challenge them - often not with the nuance and care that’s required.
Also important to not beat ourselves up and recognise that our “lizard” brains are primed to use these biases to help our monkey bodies stay alive.
In early evolution of our species, someone that didn’t look like you was likely to be a threat - your body getting into fight/fright/freeze mode could save your life/family/etc.
Skip forward to today and when people are using these same lizard brain instincts to decide who to hire, or for cops which car to pull over…. then we have a problem.
The reason it’s so damaging is because the people with the problem are (by its very nature) usually unaware of there being a problem.
Similar lizard brain mechanisms cause reflexive defensiveness when challenged on it. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
» Add a new message to this topic
