Why can't people just see people as people?

Question

Why does it have to be a label first? Aren't we all just trying to make our own way? I am interested in the responses from people who are homophobic, racist. sexist or any other kind of bigotry, I want to know why you cant. won't or don't. I'd rather not have the ranting abusive stuff, I want to know where you're coming from. I don't want to be confrontational, genuinely want to know why?

Spike I posted it in both sections because I'm interested in the answers and comparisons, I like your thinking

Glimlach: I wonder why?

Glimlach: I know that bunches of lads who go around beating up gay people are called gay b***ers, but I've never seen or heard of a bunch of gay lads going around beating up hetrosexuals, what do they call them?

Bird dog. aaah when a lion or a wolf checks out a strange newcomer, it's driven by a desire to protect what is theirs, rather than to acquaint themselves, so surely this is an act of aggression rather than inquisitivness.

y0081, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but that's a bit nasty methinks

Answer 1

I don't know and I have thought about this a great deal. I think that people are taught to hate and be uncomfortable around some people...I think ignorance plays a major part. I think, also, that these people are unhappy...Happy people don't go around criticizing others...and I think that some part of the human condition makes people need to feel superior to someone else (I don't say this lightly because it implies a 'built in racist, sexist,homophobic,etc condition)...but I do not understand why it is necessary for people to feel this false sense of 'superiority'. over others...

Answer 2

well first off we all judge everybody upon first meeting them, whether it's positive or negative - we NEED to do this, as a defense mechanism for our entire species. However, that phenomenon isn't about bigotry or hate which is what I think you're talking about, for that is a quite UNNATURAL psychological disorder that stems from the human need to have power...and unfortunately some people feel powerful doing this so it's hard to make them stop as power FEELS GOOD. They think being straight is just better and being gay is somehow less fullfilling that is not true, and it creates complexes in people....

Our complex brains are a double-edged sword in that they made us run the earth but also made us have some really messed up problems...

Look at animals in the wild.... now that's NATURAL, and when there's a gay animal they pretty much just go about their business and they do not harm or kill the other animal for it as they instinctively know that homosexuality is a natural part of the universe. Now really, who's the monster and who isn't, see what I mean... humans can be scary to each other. You have every right to stand up to it, god bless you.

Answer 3

I don't know either, I'm in agreement 100%. And I haven't read any answers yet but I'm sure there are some dumb, misspelled answers already from some hateful idiots. Then there will be the bible verses... those are next.

People are afraid of what they do not understand. The problem is, they do not want to take the time to understand.

Addendum: I just thought of something: you may not get a whole lot of answers from closed-minded people because not a lot of closed-minded people surf the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered category. You might get better luck catching homophobes and bigots if you post to the Relgion and Spirituality category. LOL!

Answer 4

Because we are human beings and our brains are wired to make order of chaos. We look for patterns and try to sort stuff into categories.

So everyone, bigot or otherwise has the capacity to recognise difference and group together those with similar characteristics.

I guess therefore what you're really asking isn't why we label, but why we single out groups of people for special negative attention, rather than accepting difference and celebrating it.

That has more to do with the individual trying to gain supremacy and actually says more about that individuals insecurities than it does about the group/individual who is being singled out.

In other words the bigot fears the very qualities that the other group/individual manifests and tries to cancel out the fear of the differnce by either belittling it, driving it away or killing it.

In so doing the bigot reveals his own weakeness and should be pitied, for the poor sorry animal that he/she is.

Answer 5

First of all, please do not be offended by my answer, it is not meant that way and the only reason I am airing my opinion, is because you have asked.
I am a straight, white woman.
I have many, many gay men and women friends, but I do not actually agree with the life style. So i think there are people who are out there who do just let people be people, I think I prove it. The opinion is mine and I do not choose to make an issue of it as I love these people as friends and they do not impose their will on me. If they did it may be a different matter. It does not mean that I like or appriciate my friends and the less.
My love to everyone no matter what race, creed, religion or gender direction.

Answer 6

Your question starts with "why" and the short answer seems to me to have something to do with basic human psychology. We categorize absolutely everything in order to know its use or value.

The first categories are food and non-food. Those are broken down into millions of subcategories.

The next categories have to do with shelter and reproduction. The human animal is taught these things even before we learn speech.

I think you may get the idea of where I'm going with answering the why question. That answer lies deep within our animal nature. We have to categorize.

I don't think your question is about that. I think you're looking for something on a more consciously chosen level.

It's just my opinion, but I believe bigotry is an unidentified desire to fulfill one of the preconscious needs like those listed above. Again it's only my opinion, but I think that most (not all) bigots use "logical" arguments to bolster the things they were taught early on in life.

Answer 7

I don't think most of the people you are posing your question to have enough intelligence to give you a logical answer that's why they are the way they are. Most of it sadly, is learned behavior they get it from their parents, peers and others close to them. I think as long as there are two human beings left on this planet there will be problems. I mean really if you were looking down on this planet from outer space and saw all the problems we humans cause each other and all the wars we get into over the thousands of years, would you want to come here. You would think people would have learned to live with each other in peace by now and treat each other with dignity and respect. Oh well we have have to hope one day things will get better...

Answer 8

People are strange, for what ever reason they have this view of what is supposed to be normal, anything that deiviates from that they go out of there way to make ridicual of. Personally the way I see things is if you are happy with you then what problem is it to me? My eyes where opened a few years ago when I met a guy in the process of gender reassignment, when I listend to her, and her suffering and saw the way she was treated by people in general, it really made me think and see things differently. People who for what ever reason make someone elses life difficult and hard. who judge and condem others are pathetic. No one has the right to hurt or judge anyone, we are all people we all have a right to happiness and be who we are. There is so much suffering that we can see, but even more that we dont see caused by fear of other people, so may wasted lifes so much heart ache... it is crule and unfair. We should just accept us , and others for who we are not what so clown decided we should be!

Answer 9

Sorry, as I am none of the above I couldn't tell you.
My Partner used to be homophobic, (I beat it out of him though!) is still sometimes racist, especially where asylum seekers, and travellers are concerned, and I can honestly say that it is mainly down to ignorance. He sees one bad example and clings to that and, does not look at the bigger picture!
It's lucky I love him really cos he can be so infuriating at times!! lol

Answer 10

That's a good question, I personally can't tolerate any form of racism, I think people are people, good and bad all over the world. All I know the world would be a far nicer place if people were a little kinder to one another.