Query for OIers on discrimination: How do you interpret/deal with it?

[Yazman]

I just got to thinking about this recently. To the people here: Assuming you acknowledge discrimination in its various forms occurs (I am referring to sexism, racism, and homophobia), how do you interpret or explain its existence?

I assume that as many in here are not Marxists in some form or Anarchists, that you disagree with us substantially on an interpretive level. From your point of view (whether you are capitalist, primitivist, whatever) how do you interpret or explain these forms of discrimination within your worldview? I do not want to insert mine here so as to get an untainted idea of what you guys think of these phenomena (I just want to hear your views on this rather than incite a debate from the onset of the topic.. we can debate after we hear views). In addition to your interpretations/explanations of these phenomena within your worldview, what do you think is the way to solving these problems/eliminating them? I assume as many of you are not marxists/anarchists you don't agree with the idea of class-based or revolutionary methods, or post-capitalist methods. However if I am wrong here then please correct me.

I guess there would also be some of you who do not agree that these phenomena exist.. if you hold this view then could you please elaborate on that, too?

[Yazman]

I'm not really condemning you here GPDP and I know what you mean, but can we leave that sort of stuff out of this topic until they get a chance to explain their views?

[GPDP]

Right.

[Robert]

Glad you asked, as I had been wanting to post something about the upsurge of racism (read anti-African) in European and Russian soccer matches. It's in the newspapers here lately here and in London at least.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/worldcup/2006-06-01-intolerance-cup_x.htm

(I don't know if the picture displays when you hit the link, but honestly, nazi flags?)


Assuming you acknowledge discrimination in its various forms occurs
Yes, I'd say that's a safe assumption :lol:.

My best guess is that it is rooted in some primeval psychological impulse inherited from neanderthals. In the old days, if you didn't look like me, I'd assume correctly that you were less likely to share the meat from a kill for the good of the group and more likely to run off with it.

[Bud Struggle]

I think there may be something inherently "groupist" that is some sort genetic throwback to the good old days of primative man. My clan with trumph over your clan in the fight for scarce food supplies.

I don't think it is a primary drive in people anymore but I think it can be easily reinforced. I also think it can take a number of forms some harmful (racism, nationalism) some benign (routing for football teams.)

It's should be one of the main functions to instill in people a more universal understanding of who one's group is (mankind) so that society can function in harmony.

[trivas7]

I just got to thinking about this recently. To the people here: Assuming you acknowledge discrimination in its various forms occurs (I am referring to sexism, racism, and homophobia), how do you interpret or explain its existence?

Ignorance, poor socialization. I don't believe that there is necessarily a connection bt one's politics and one's morality. I know anarchists that are scumbags as well Objectivists (who are usually assholes (and I have a visceral hatred of LaRouchites -- dunno why (my discrimination is showing, I know))).

[Yazman]

Thanks for the posts guys, its great to hear your views. Does anybody else here who hasn't posted yet have anything to express or elaborate on in regards to their views?

Robert, thanks for the link. Thats some crazy stuff! They're actually holding nazi battle flags! Just as an interesting aside to that, the other team in that soccer match - the ones the nazi-holding fans are betting against - is Livorno, which has somewhat of a reputation as having a lot of commies and leftists in general on its side, and the team the nazis are supporting - Lazio - does actually have a reputation for having a lot of right-wing fans. I'm not really sure how that rivalry began.

It blows me away that neo-nazism seems to be alive and well in Germany as well! Germany, of all places.

[Dejavu]

Bigotry is first taught in the home.

Rational parenting is needed world wide.

[trivas7]

I'm getting "The requested document was not found." to Robert's link. :(

[Yazman]

I'm getting "The requested document was not found." to Robert's link. :(

There's an error in the link, you have to remove the "and" from the end of the URL and it will work fine.

[Kenshiro]

I think there may be something inherently "groupist" that is some sort genetic throwback to the good old days of primative man. My clan with trumph over your clan in the fight for scarce food supplies.


primitive man and modern man are one in the same. humans have not evolved since humans became human. evolution = hundreds of thousands of years for the most abysmal change.