tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6853635643486173008.post4232619678437132072..comments2023-08-08T11:05:20.803-04:00Comments on Pages From My Notebook: Individual vs. the groupbrohammashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14916793129032434035noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6853635643486173008.post-74900955339234962762009-04-08T12:51:00.000-04:002009-04-08T12:51:00.000-04:00classical one said... Why is it that people div...classical one said...<BR/><BR/> Why is it that people divide themselves based on race or ethnicity? Why are America's prisons voluntarily segregated? Why are our lunchrooms seated by race or nationality?<BR/><BR/> People naturally look for things to divide them from others. This is probably a left over evolutionary trait from long ago; people were alone in small tribes, scattered around the globe. The coming together of disparate races, religions, and ethnic groups has been the scene of monumental violence throughout history. My guess is that xenophobia and racism are outgrowths of long ago survival strategies. The more someone was like and your tribe, the more they shared your priorities.<BR/><BR/>************************************<BR/><BR/>This is a good theory, but it contradicts the incest taboo theory. Would it not make more sense to marry out to different tribes for economic and political alliances to form instead of just counting on just the people in your tribe. I actually believe that racism and xenophobia is similar to religion, in that it develops as a way to explain things that people don't understand. People don't understand that people are usually a reflection of their psychological condition as it relates to the way they were raised and their environment. For the most part, people aren't born bad or "evil". These are things that people learn in life as a result of traumatic psychological experiences and which could be based on genetics psychological disorders passed or maybe even learn as a result of nurturing or lack thereof from their parents. In addition, sociological norms and economic conditions also effects a persons behavior and can ultimately contribute to who this person will be. All people are different and at the same time they are the same. Very rarely will to people ever be alike because it is very close to impossible replicate all the exact same experience in a persons to live to that of an others, even in identical twins. Racism and Xenophobia will probably never disappear until humans evolve mentally to the point where complete understanding of psychology, biology, economics, and sociology is just common knowledge to everyone. When people get to the point of being able to precisely pin point what makes people tick and how to solve inefficiency in society then there will really be progress. Hopefully it comes soon, because the world is becoming a smaller place, the way information travels now, cultures will soon be meshing and in the future, most cultures will probably be close to indistinguishable from one another.JDRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12990505353724853260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6853635643486173008.post-42297383711059458742009-04-03T14:39:00.000-04:002009-04-03T14:39:00.000-04:00Thanks Hagoth.Not everyone would admit that but I'...Thanks Hagoth.<BR/>Not everyone would admit that but I'm glad you did. I have a real concern that my bir-racial children will not be comfortable with other black or white kids, unless they have real life interraction with them.<BR/>For me this is the biggest reason I won't move back "home". I want them to not only appreciate their black background, but feel a comfortable part of it.<BR/>Thanks again......<BR/><BR/><BR/>PROPS RULE!!!!brohammashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14916793129032434035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6853635643486173008.post-45482028954246848792009-04-03T13:07:00.000-04:002009-04-03T13:07:00.000-04:00Good post Dalyn. I actually feel more comfortable ...Good post Dalyn. I actually feel more comfortable in a group of 'white people' than in a group of polynesians. In fact, I rarely go to polynesian get-togethers anymore because I feel very uncomfortable. Playing rugby and making some polynesian friends on the team is helping to ease that tension I have but it's still there nonetheless.Hagoth Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07983648313360698916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6853635643486173008.post-26185984008732782032009-03-27T13:23:00.000-04:002009-03-27T13:23:00.000-04:00Great Post! I agree that many of us are quick to ...Great Post! I agree that many of us are quick to make snap judgments about people who exhibit the tendencies that you discussed in your post. Statements like "that's racist" or "you're racist" rarely lead to any kind of meaningful dialogue (whether contentious or not) and the person in question rarely ever learns something about him/herself. Perhaps it’s just another way to avoid the real conversation we all need to be having.Mr. Nofacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07164229381294354588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6853635643486173008.post-82333678066655833492009-03-27T00:37:00.000-04:002009-03-27T00:37:00.000-04:00Why is it that people divide themselves based on r...Why is it that people divide themselves based on race or ethnicity? Why are America's prisons voluntarily segregated? Why are our lunchrooms seated by race or nationality? <BR/><BR/>People naturally look for things to divide them from others. This is probably a left over evolutionary trait from long ago; people were alone in small tribes, scattered around the globe. The coming together of disparate races, religions, and ethnic groups has been the scene of monumental violence throughout history. My guess is that xenophobia and racism are outgrowths of long ago survival strategies. The more someone was like and your tribe, the more they shared your priorities.?https://www.blogger.com/profile/16834812675776638645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6853635643486173008.post-65024484814014028432009-03-25T16:49:00.000-04:002009-03-25T16:49:00.000-04:00Are you sure you want to be a foot doctor? Becaus...Are you sure you want to be a foot doctor? Because I think you could be a great fiction writer.brohammashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14916793129032434035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6853635643486173008.post-75098362786212733132009-03-25T16:04:00.000-04:002009-03-25T16:04:00.000-04:00I posted like a 3 page comment a few days ago, and...I posted like a 3 page comment a few days ago, and it was so awesome and amazing of a rebuttal mixed in with some agreement, that not only did you apparently refuse to post it, but there is no way i could repeat it again without losing some of its soul-piercing power.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6853635643486173008.post-19188584723295223002009-03-25T11:46:00.000-04:002009-03-25T11:46:00.000-04:00...which makes you both drunk and wise...Ha! I cr......which makes you both drunk and wise...<BR/><BR/>Ha! I crack myself up.Corbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09398238202579667140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6853635643486173008.post-78730689042308284292009-03-25T11:44:00.000-04:002009-03-25T11:44:00.000-04:00Don't give that guy so much credit. I've been dru...Don't give that guy so much credit. I've been drunk with the "publish" power since my first post.<BR/>I'm so drunk with it I only let about 1/3 of my own comments through.brohammashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14916793129032434035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6853635643486173008.post-66551443064429503982009-03-25T11:36:00.000-04:002009-03-25T11:36:00.000-04:00He's a total censor now...ever since that other du...He's a total censor now...ever since that other dude allegedly censored him, he's gone nuts with the power that the 'publish' button affords him.Corbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09398238202579667140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6853635643486173008.post-33171411645780571682009-03-25T11:30:00.000-04:002009-03-25T11:30:00.000-04:00As much as I would like to block a post from you J...As much as I would like to block a post from you Jake, there hasn't been one on this subject to block. Sometimes when one is looking for the cause of a problem, the best place to look is in the mirror.brohammashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14916793129032434035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6853635643486173008.post-55433354453089454182009-03-25T11:23:00.000-04:002009-03-25T11:23:00.000-04:00whats up with you blocking my post?whats up with you blocking my post?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6853635643486173008.post-81952347851788332792009-03-24T20:23:00.000-04:002009-03-24T20:23:00.000-04:00I wanted to come back and say that I liked this po...I wanted to come back and say that I liked this post.<BR/><BR/>Also, I wanted to publicly state that I am not a man-hater. My proof? I'm married to one :)Corbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09398238202579667140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6853635643486173008.post-17945589086297489862009-03-23T13:41:00.000-04:002009-03-23T13:41:00.000-04:00I do not know where I fall on the racist category....I do not know where I fall on the racist category. I think that living on the East coast has helped open my eyes. <BR/><BR/>Last weekend we were in DC & rode the Metro almost everywhere we went. We were riding back later one evening to the hotel when I looked around & realized that we were the only white people on the train. I didn't feel threatened by the fact - I just saw everyone as moms taking their kids home, brothers, friends, & others going about their day-to-day life. I think that in the past I may have been more nervous - but skin color did not affect my ideas about my fellow passengers.<BR/><BR/>I remember being in Disney World on a family vacation & listening to people talking to their kids in all types of languages. I loved the fact that kids & parents are generally more alike than different across the globe. Although I could not understand the words, I could see body language & hear tone of speech & figure out what was going on.Jennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10053294732592347387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6853635643486173008.post-8925592507569593242009-03-23T06:15:00.000-04:002009-03-23T06:15:00.000-04:00UBJ, you had to slip that last bit in, didnt you?UBJ, you had to slip that last bit in, didnt you?brohammashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14916793129032434035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6853635643486173008.post-38940905189515033102009-03-23T04:09:00.000-04:002009-03-23T04:09:00.000-04:00I wish more people of ALL races were open to going...I wish more people of ALL races were open to going beyond their comfort levels.<BR/>I have young cousins who get embarrassed if I hear them listening to Rock, riding a skateboard, speaking in SAE, or thinking that Hanna Montana is cute. It seems that many from all races put limitations on themselves.<BR/><BR/>(What happened to all the Utah teams)uglyblackjohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14404995571276457138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6853635643486173008.post-90947807222339544262009-03-22T18:18:00.000-04:002009-03-22T18:18:00.000-04:00It's nice to have someone bring up questions that ...It's nice to have someone bring up questions that I've never asked myself. You're right - we need a lot more individual interaction between races.<BR/><BR/>I'm uncomfortable in any new group of people - so I pretend that I'm totally comfortable - and by the end of the time I almost always really am comfortable and have made good friends. <BR/><BR/>".... whistle a happy tune and no one will suspect..."Lyrichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01341146111158826868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6853635643486173008.post-60990661195605781112009-03-22T06:43:00.000-04:002009-03-22T06:43:00.000-04:00There are elements of racism in both the grammar a...There are elements of racism in both the grammar and the question... the question would be how many, or which "elements" must be present before a declaration is made. I would say my inclusion of that paragraph constitutes more race baiting than racism.brohammashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14916793129032434035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6853635643486173008.post-65772325743209962422009-03-22T02:24:00.000-04:002009-03-22T02:24:00.000-04:00Just being the devil's advocate here...was the poo...Just being the devil's advocate here...was the poor grammar you chose to use in your quote or the fact that you chose to repeat (even if in "quote" format) the question about Asians racist in any way?Corbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09398238202579667140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6853635643486173008.post-90075595488833381872009-03-21T11:52:00.000-04:002009-03-21T11:52:00.000-04:00Rob, thanks. It is good to hear every now and then...Rob, thanks. It is good to hear every now and then.<BR/><BR/>"Anon", thank you for illustrating why people are so reluctant to have discussions on race, with your automatic assumption that a call to "check yourself" is the same as an accuation of racism.<BR/><BR/>I simply ask that if you find yourself uncomfortable with a group of the "other" but not the individual, you should ask yourself "why?" <BR/>Why is it you see a group of someone as different(which they ver well may be)? If one finds themselves uncomfortable they obviously see that group as different than themselves and/or are unacustomed to said group.<BR/>being uncomfortable is not a sign of prejudice but a a reaction within ones' self that should be looked at and addressed.<BR/>It is simply an internal sign that one may not be as "evolved" as they think they are.brohammashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14916793129032434035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6853635643486173008.post-84396503968926354962009-03-21T11:23:00.000-04:002009-03-21T11:23:00.000-04:00Just because you are not comfortable in a group of...Just because you are not comfortable in a group of Black people as a white person or vice versa, you may need to check yourself?<BR/>Disagree.<BR/>Plenty of situations are uncomfortable- that does not constitute racism. <BR/>The rest of the post is prvoking but on this portion, defend thyself.<BR/>-Kay M.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6853635643486173008.post-59725846333899354282009-03-21T10:31:00.000-04:002009-03-21T10:31:00.000-04:00Dalyn,That was a fantastic post. That was the bes...Dalyn,<BR/><BR/>That was a fantastic post. That was the best explanation I've ever read/heard of why having a (black/brown/asian/white) friend does not grant you immunity from being prejudiced. <BR/><BR/>It had always bothered me when I heard people say that but I'd never been able to think of such a good explanation for exactly why those two things don't always go together. <BR/><BR/>Keep up the good work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com