25 Oct 07
I'd be interested in what reaction people have to the following quote.
quote
I want to repeat, I have told this because I want to make it very clear to a large number of people that all discrimination, whatever form it takes, is evil and that the world can go to pieces because of it. Actually, literally, go to pieces. Discrimination against someone because of his skin colour or his ears or his hair, or God knows what, we can all die from that. It only takes one person to say, "He isn't as good as I am because he has ...." You can fill in the rest.
/quote
It seems to me that "He isn't as good as I am because" is something that gets said a lot on here by people with very little real understanding of what they are saying.
In the end, is a quote that we should pay attention to or ignore.
25 Oct 07
Originally posted by WheelyColor of skin is becoming a small part of the bigotry of today.
I'd be interested in what reaction people have to the following quote.
quote
I want to repeat, I have told this because I want to make it very clear to a large number of people that all discrimination, whatever form it takes, is evil and that the world can go to pieces because of it. Actually, literally, go to pieces. Discrimination against someone beca ...[text shortened]... hat they are saying.
In the end, is a quote that we should pay attention to or ignore.
C# minor is the key that Beethoven wrote many songs.
25 Oct 07
1 edit
Originally posted by WheelyA bit sensationalist, don't you think?
I'd be interested in what reaction people have to the following quote.
quote
I want to repeat, I have told this because I want to make it very clear to a large number of people that all discrimination, whatever form it takes, is evil and that the world can go to pieces because of it. Actually, literally, go to pieces. Discrimination against someone beca hat they are saying.
In the end, is a quote that we should pay attention to or ignore.
Discrimination is needed to some extent, but it shouldn't be based on factors irrelevant for the subject at hand.
e.g.:
"He isn't as good as I am because":
he has never worked in this field;
he has less experience;
he graduated from a worse university
etc.
Note that none of this make it necessarily so that the other person is objectively better, so they are forms of discrimination that are acceptable. Acceptable because, for exsample, firms cannot give internships to all applicants to be perfectly objective about each one's qualities. So they need to discriminate to some extent.
25 Oct 07
Originally posted by SmookiePWhich is why it is written there. The first tune I learned on the piano was the Monnlight Sonata. It is still the key I always end up composing my rubbish in.
C# minor is the key that Beethoven wrote many songs.
To the main point. This quote specifically mentions colour but also insists that discrimination of any type is the death of us all.
I am interested if we actually agree with this when all said and done. We often say things that are discriminatory without actually knowing it so I want to know if underneath it all we believe the author of the quote or not.
25 Oct 07
1 edit
Originally posted by PalynkaYou are right but I don't see your examples as discrimination as such. I believe the author of the quote is describing the feeling that a person is not as good as you for whatever reason. They might not be as good a dancer as you, for example but that doesn't mean you wouldn't understand that that doesn't make them your inferior.
A bit sensationalist, don't you think?
Discrimination is needed to some extent, but it shouldn't be based on factors irrelevant for the subject at hand.
e.g.:
"He isn't as good as I am because":
he has never worked in this field;
he has less experience;
he graduated from a worse university
etc.
Note that none of this make it necessarily so that ...[text shortened]... rfectly objective about each one's qualities. So they need to discriminate to some extent.
EDIT: I don't think it is sensationalist really. I think it is true.
25 Oct 07
Originally posted by WheelyWell it depends what you mean by inferior. Of course we are all equal but as you well know some are more equal than others.
You are right but I don't see your examples as discrimination as such. I believe the author of the quote is describing the feeling that a person is not as good as you for whatever reason. They might not be as good a dancer as you, for example but that doesn't mean you wouldn't understand that that doesn't make them your inferior.
EDIT: I don't think it is sensationalist really. I think it is true.
Discrimination may be wrong when it is based on:
1. An attribute that has nothing to do with the judgment in question. Eg skin colour during an interview.
2. When the attribute is not a choice of the person in question. Eg birth defects etc.
However looking down on others is common place and discrimination is the wrong word altogether. "Superiority complex" might work better.
I most definitely consider myself superior to certain other people.
25 Oct 07
Originally posted by WheelyI practice discrimination every day. When my subordinates submit their work for my inspection, I have to make judgments based on my experience. When I go to the grocery store, I have to make judgments when I start picking fruits and vegetables. The same applies with people – everyone makes their first judgment based on some sort of visual shorthand because there is some truth in all stereotypes. The problem, however, is when you treat everyone from a certain group the same way without regard to the person's merit.
I'd be interested in what reaction people have to the following quote.
quote
I want to repeat, I have told this because I want to make it very clear to a large number of people that all discrimination, whatever form it takes, is evil and that the world can go to pieces because of it. Actually, literally, go to pieces. Discrimination against someone beca ...[text shortened]... hat they are saying.
In the end, is a quote that we should pay attention to or ignore.
25 Oct 07
Originally posted by twhiteheadWho are you superior too?
Well it depends what you mean by inferior. Of course we are all equal but as you well know some are more equal than others.
Discrimination may be wrong when it is based on:
1. An attribute that has nothing to do with the judgment in question. Eg skin colour during an interview.
2. When the attribute is not a choice of the person in question. Eg birth d ...[text shortened]... lex" might work better.
I most definitely consider myself superior to certain other people.
25 Oct 07
1 edit
Originally posted by WheelyThe thing it's that it's him that takes the concept of discrimination too far. My point is that if you mean discrimination as it's used most currently in society, then yes I do find it abhorrent. However, if you define it as saying "He isn't as good as I am because" then I don't agree.
You are right but I don't see your examples as discrimination as such. I believe the author of the quote is describing the feeling that a person is not as good as you for whatever reason. They might not be as good a dancer as you, for example but that doesn't mean you wouldn't understand that that doesn't make them your inferior.
EDIT: I don't think it is sensationalist really. I think it is true.
For me, prejudice/discrimination (in the common sense) is dependent on what comes after the because.
Edit - And I think that the "world literally going to pieces" because of discrimination is sensationalism. But this is just form, not content.
25 Oct 07
Originally posted by PalynkaSurely they aren't examples of discrimination though?
A bit sensationalist, don't you think?
Discrimination is needed to some extent, but it shouldn't be based on factors irrelevant for the subject at hand.
e.g.:
"He isn't as good as I am because":
he has never worked in this field;
he has less experience;
he graduated from a worse university
etc.
Note that none of this make it necessarily so that ...[text shortened]... rfectly objective about each one's qualities. So they need to discriminate to some extent.
There's a difference between saying: "I'm better at him, because he has no experience in this field of work."
Or saying: "I'm better than her, because women can't do this kind of job."
25 Oct 07
1 edit
Originally posted by shavixmirThey are discrimination because they are based on averages and not individuals.
Surely they aren't examples of discrimination though?
There's a difference between saying: "I'm better at him, because he has no experience in this field of work."
Or saying: "I'm better than her, because women can't do this kind of job."
So it's still a form of discrimination as when it comes to comparing two individuals with different experiences. That one has more experience than others doesn't automatically make one better, but it is one (among many) objective way of assessing the probability that you are indeed better.
Edit: I agree that there is a difference between both and a very important one, though. Check my post above to Wheely.
25 Oct 07
Originally posted by PalynkaSurely being better than someone else isn't bad?
They are discrimination because they are based on averages and not individuals.
So it's still a form of discrimination as when it comes to comparing two individuals with different experiences. That one has more experience than others doesn't automatically make one better, but it is one (among many) objective way of assessing the probability that you are indeed better.
I'm quite sure a lot of people are better than me at a lot of things. But it's not discriminatory until they generalize. Surely?
25 Oct 07
1 edit
Originally posted by shavixmirYes, that's my point.
Surely being better than someone else isn't bad?
I'm quite sure a lot of people are better than me at a lot of things. But it's not discriminatory until they generalize. Surely?
Technically, discrimination can be exactly defined as the author above implies: "He isn't as good as I am because he has...". What I'm saying is that is a too broad definition of discrimination that includes some things that I find acceptable and others that I find unacceptable (i.e. prejudice).
25 Oct 07
Originally posted by PalynkaHow can anbody consider themselves superior?
Yes, that's my point.
Technically, discrimination can be exactly defined as the author above implies: "He isn't as good as I am because he has...". What I'm saying is that is a too broad definition of discrimination that includes some things that I find acceptable and others that I find unacceptable (i.e. prejudice).
Also, the strong language used in the quote is true as the author well knows.