Humans display a strong psychological desire to identify with a group. Part-and-parcel of that desire is to make some sort of personal gesture to display an allegiance to the group along with directing some contemptuous judgment, however benignly or vilely, toward other groups. We all do it to one degree or another, whether consciously or not.

So whether that desire manifests as racism, sexism, conservative vs. liberal, socialism vs. libertarianism, atheist vs. theist, pro-Bruce vs. con-Bruce, smp vs. politics, or what you’re doing, is incidental. What matters most is first being aware it’s occurring, and then prescribing conditions so that its effects are mitigated. A mundane example of how the effect of that desire is mitigated is with sports rivalries: people get to wear all the gear to identify with a group and express some scorn at their opponents. Satire is another.

My point is that it makes us uncomfortable to think that we have a strong psychological need to direct some degree of contempt towards other human beings. As I said, it’s probably just a consequence of our strong need to identify with a group and maybe something to do with self-esteem, but nonetheless it’s there and probably endemic. So rather than denying it, ignoring it or pretending it’s something easily done away with, we should acknowledge its pervasiveness and then try to find less offensive, less harmful ways for that desire to manifest itself.

It's less harmful for me to manifest my contrarian nature on an internet forum rather than at work or at the poker table or any time I am holding a gun.

Lol it is actually dangge where I grew up. Where I live now it is dancccchhhe.

I shoot bunnies.

Better than robitussin, by far.

I shoot deer, but they are out group deer so it's OK.

It's a terrible terrible dialect and everybody speaking it should be shot.

Edit: Oh no people now will think I shoot people from Zürich.

I shoot poisonous snakes in my yard. It's not their fault they are a danger to the pets and children.

I was actually reminded of this cluster**** thread and OP while doing some census research yesterday. It turns out that for a few years "Mexican" was indeed considered a race, and was indicated as much on the 1930 census form. This piqued my interest a bit, and it seems that this categorization was a response to issues raised following the 1924 immigration legislation (which barred non-whites from becoming citizens). Apparently some argued that this qualified Mexicans as white, since there was precedent for naturalization. In fact, the US essentially forced Mexicans to assume citizenship after we annexed a big chunk of that country in the 19th century. This sounds logical to my (admittedly estrogen-laden liberal) mind, but the federal court system did not agree. Apparently, the census was updated to reinforce this distinction. No idea why it was dropped in 1940; there may be a cultural studies dissertation in there for someone if you want it.

Therefore, according to the Census Department, you could argue that equating Mexicans to cockroaches would have been racist if you did it in the 1920s, but today is merely just very dumb. I am not sure I buy that myself, but I want to do whatever I can to help you logical super-geniuses pat yourselves on the back.

Donald trump bump

Will any essays on contrast be forthcoming?

It is pretty bad when NASCAR is cutting ties.


Knowing how stupid Americans are nowadays Trump will most likely be their next President.

No offense stupid Americans.

Trump as president is my only wish in life

You're a racist POS.

hhahahaha for clarity there is a racist post that was nuked for orbit missing there before jbrochu's post

Oooops.

Lol

holy ****....thread delivers