Am I a bigot if...?

Question

I'm afraid of schizophrenics, because I don't know what they will do. So I stereotype people on the bus or street constantly, looking out for homeless people -- who tend to have a high incidence of schizophrenia. I'll increase my distance between myself and a homeless person. If I see someone talking to themselves, I'll move away, or at least prepare myself to dodge a crazed knife in my ribs.

This seems exactly like bigotry to me, but isn't insanity a good case of something we Should fear, and, as it were, discriminate against?

6% of homeless are schizophrenic.

those that live domestically constitute only 0.06% or the general population.

It is said schizophrenics are usually peaceful. It does not, however, follow that I can predicate peacefullness on them at any given time. Do you understand, Beth?

My problem is less that I actually do do have this fear, and more that it seems justified to be a bigot in this case.

So what is to stop us from attributing "irrationality" to all other kinds of groups and then justifying exclusionary measures, as I have insinuated here? That is the problem.

http://www.schizophrenia.com/szfacts.htm

Sorry for the typos.

Nice article...

Feels so great to justify discrimination.
Really.
Why did I ask this question...

Too bad I can't delete the question without losing face... haha.

Ugh.

There has to be a dissimilarity between the patently irrational schizophrenic, and the rest of the population, which I assume to have all their capacities, whereby it's quite predictable to know how people will behave, whereas the homeless (and possibly insane) are paradigmatically unpredictable.

I think the article was arguing mostly that a particular group behaves predictably in a certain unfavorable way, therefore discrimination may be justified.

Beh, I don't see much difference.

Either I throw out the stupid idea that "one should fear schizophrenics" or I accept a slippery slope of bigotry.

It's funny that you have to be an absolutist about offering the benefit of the doubt to all people, when there may be quite ample justification to the contrary.

Consider a cult that lives to rape and pillage. They all have tatoos on their forehead. Will I walk from one side of the street to another? Yes.

Agreed Corun. I give up on this thing.

"I'm so perfect it scares me"

I'm not actually afraid of schizophrenics. I put "IF" at the beginning of the argument for a reason. I'm fully entitled to consider schizophrenia as a case of rational lacunae. It is definitionally the case. Hell, every schizophrenic in human history could have had peaceful behavior and it still wouldn't show, for the purposes of this argument, that I'm justified to not fear them. BUT I ALREADY SAID I GIVE UP, FFS.
Way to beat a dead horse... with a wet noodle.

Answer 1

paranoia will destroy ya

Answer 2

Hey,

i don't think that makes you a bigot. i have a father who is schizophrenic (he lives in a home) and they sometimes are very unpredictable and scary (so i can imagine) those who are homeless schizophrenics and not on meds can be scary. i think you are being prudent.

Bigotry has to do with an idea of hate and i don't think that it's you hate schizophrenics you just don't understand them (and actually very few people do) that's what makes them what they are.

Now if you were to say no schizophrenics allowed on the bus, etc. that would be bigotry. You're just protecting yourself...

hope that helps- feel free to email with any questions, etc. [e-mail]

nickster

Answer 3

Every one has to die. No one knows how they will be dying. If you fear death , then believe me it is gonna get you one day any way. As long as your fear for certain kind of people is concerned , i think with the statistics and facts there will be hundreds of other kind of people more dangerous than the kind of people you mentioned here. Your fear is just some psychological deficit . There are millions of other people who have other psychological problems. You should consult a psychologist may be, otherwise be strong enough not to fear any kind of people. But i do admit that there are a whole lot of different kind of dangerous people out there in this world. But what dear, this is world and we are living a life. This world cannot be free from these kind of people and you have to live with them. Throw away all fears and live life.

Answer 4

If you want to let fear rule your life and dictate your actions. Learn to read body language and find out how to defuse a situation before it becomes violent. Check out literature on how to avoid confrontation with aggressive dogs. Humans are primates and we will generally create a scene before any actual violence is done. If the homeless guy is yelling at himself, or the world, seems visibly unstable and/or throwing things, avoid him. A homeless guy sitting quietly, waiting for a bus, does not indicate a possible threat. He might try to ask you for money or a cigarette. If you learn more about human nature, you will be able to learn tactics to avoid crazies. Even Schizos tend to act along certain primate patterns.

Answer 5

right my brother is schizo and he has never hurt anyone in all his life. the majority of schizos suffer from depression and don't want to communicate with the outside world in England the majority if murders are done by cruel cruel people not schizos. they are actually more afraid of you than vice versa. I'm disgusted with your question you are a typical ignorant who will listen to what the press or what anyone will tell you they do this just to scare you. if you want info on schizophrenia then why don't you visit the mental health website, oh by the way, schizophrenia can occur at any age its not just genetic or brought on by drugs, the first side affects is normally paranoia, you've been warned

Answer 6

We usually discriminate against the unfamiliar, something we fear. Fear is unreasonable but can be controlled.
In your case, recognizing that you don't like something because you're afraid of it is the first step to recovery.
Always look for your safety, but understand that it's a disease and they need your sympathy more than aversion.
In my opinion, people are bigots when they feel justified in their ignorance and revel in it.

Answer 7

I think since you understand that how you feel is somewhat irrational, you're not a bigot in the usual sense. A bigot wouldn't care--he would hate them just because of their condition. It sounds more like a phobia for you. If you find that it really upsets you, you might want to get therapy to help you deal with it.

Answer 8

I have removed the article for several reasons:
1. Posting it here violated a copyright
2. The views expressed are not necessarily mine
3. Really i just wanted to show how far you can take the "stereotype" is just statistics reasoning.

Answer 9

You are much more ignorant than you are bigoted. Your assessment of schizophrenics comes from entirely fallacious T.V. hype. I talk to the schizo's in the street around here any time, and they're usually just flakey and hungry.

Answer 10

Go ahead and play it safe, you won't necessarily be a bigot. They are unpredictable......although in my research, I would have to say, no more so than your average man or woman on the street, but hey why take chances? I've spent a good 10--12 years in their company and thus far am fairly unscathed...................

Answer 11

Pseudo-intellectual.