Don't you think everyone is a little prejudice?

Answer 1

no, some are prejudiced a lot

Answer 2

I am prejudiced only when I have to make quick decisions without far-reaching consequenses; if I enter the train and there are several free seats, I'll pick who I'll sit next to based on first sight. I mean, I can't hardly go and conduct interviews can I? :P But in any situation that goes any bit further than that, anyone I'll be working with or who's at a party or in a bar or whereever where I have a bit more time to get to know them, then I don't judge on appearance, I'll walk up to anyone and say hi, and then find out what they're like, not even thinking about some first impression that'd be wrong often as not.

Answer 3

This is one of the most important questions in the world today. People of all groups have their good, bad, and ugly, their heroes and their villains, their brilliant scientists and their jerks. People are equal and start life with a blank slate of beliefs. The idea that everyone is a little prejudiced is a complete myth based on simplified thinking (where you say to yourself "I think thats what I'm noticing") and wishful thinking (in which you say, "I'll feel guilty if I'm the only one.") Prejudice means to pre-judge; making decisions based on no valid information. Humans are hard wired to be ABLE TO pre-judge particular recognizable items for survival. Ex: all fires will burn my hand. That's a case where appearances DO mean something.

Humans are also hard wired NOT to prejudge some things for the same reason. What a horrible setback for humanity if that weren't true. Ex: Some mushrooms are safe to eat and some are not. You don't want to eat them all and you don't want to starve. People are the most complex item of all so it can be tempting and convenient to prejudge them on the basis of something obvious like skin color or religion, and be done with it. We are not born knowing what is a prejudgable item and what is not so we take our cues from our parents, who may be a little, a lot, or not at all prejudiced. If you learn it as a child, it is very difficult to unlearn it in your quest to go from a lot to a little. Others are going from a little to not at all. Great men like Harry Truman and H.G. Wells were taught to despise Jews. They each spent their whole lives cleansing themselves of that belief. Mel Gibson may be in the same boat--intelligent and not wanting to remain prejudiced.

Are we extra careful about strangers and people who are obviously of a different "tribe"? (and I use that term in the ancient sense of events that guided our evolution) Yes, they have different and sometimes opposing interests (all species prefer their own progeny thrive), but that doesn't mean we have rendered a set judgment against them. Those who are free of prejudice will see vast opportunities for alliance rather than continued mistrust. On the other side of the coin, there is a survival penalty for being prejudiced. Judge the other "tribe" inferior, disrespect them, and they will defeat you.

By they way, in the case of someone applying for a job smelling like oily rags (assuming we're not talking about a garage job), you would not be pre-judging them based on nothing--they have handed you a key fact about themselves which would be the same whatever the color of their skin was--so you're disapproval of them would have nothing to do with prejudice.

Admittedly, it may be only a small percentage of the population that grows up free of prejudice, but I was brought up that way, so I know it's true. My best friend in Kindergarten turned out to be black when someone told me there was a separate term for him that made him different than me. Different than me because of his skin color? That's insane. And you know what? That's still insane.

Answer 4

We all pre-judge situations and people. The Key is not to let yourself be controlled by prejudice and to try and avoid irrational prejudices.

If you have a choice between walking past a group of black professionals and a group of white bikers it would be irrational to pick the bikers (unless you are wearing the proper colors).

Answer 5

I believe is human's nature, to be prejudiced about people or countries for whatever reasons lies within their psyche.
Is what we do about it that changes the outlook of how we live life, to accept that one is prejudiced and try to change it by learning more about the subject or try to lift one's head above the water and be a better person everyday day that passes by.

Answer 6

I think we definitely all have our prejudices. I am very prejudiced against trashy people. I don't care what sex, age, race, or religion they are. People who take no pride in themselves and live like scum make me angry.

Answer 7

No. I think if you keep in mind that if someone does something to you such as getting beat by a man, it is that man that beat you and not all men that beat you. If someone steals, it is that person that steals, not the color of their skin that made them steal.

Answer 8

I think that we all judge each other inappropriately from time to time. But hopefully we're all working on it.

Answer 9

yes, we all are, but we shouldn't let it control us.

people who say they aren't are liars.


castle h is a liar.

i wonder if he would have to hire someone for a job, would he hire a man coming in wearing rags and smelling of alcohol? i bet he wouldn't. why? because his prejudice would tell him the guy was a bum.

Answer 10

Yes. I am very prejudiced against stupid, narrow-minded, bigoted people.

Answer 11

I think so but why shouldn't every one like people like themselves more.