“To put them into an arbitrary box, and treat them like everybody else who ever fit in it. But it shouldn’t be lost on any of us that this is also true of racism.”
One of the things I so enjoy about you Steve is the unflinching honesty and fresh take you challenge yourself to make in these interactions, while holding a principled, consist…
“To put them into an arbitrary box, and treat them like everybody else who ever fit in it. But it shouldn’t be lost on any of us that this is also true of racism.”
One of the things I so enjoy about you Steve is the unflinching honesty and fresh take you challenge yourself to make in these interactions, while holding a principled, consistent stance on what you feel to be true. It’s a mark of intellectual character that - clearly - draws people to you.
Your final words I re-cite here make so much sense. What you accurately call out as putting people in an arbitrary box seems, to me, the very initial stages of beginning to ‘other’ another person. And we all know where that leads. Well, those of us who disdain the silly illogic of a Kendi know where it leads.
It does indeed lead to racism.
I really enjoyed this exchange. Thank you for sharing.
"What you accurately call out as putting people in an arbitrary box seems, to me, the very initial stages of beginning to ‘other’ another person"
Yeah absolutely. It's basically the beginnings of a kind of intellectual laziness that we're all capable of. *Deciding* what somebody is all about is much easier than *learning* what they're all about by paying close attention. So we use shortcuts that almost always lead us astray. It's especially easy to do online, but we do it in person too, and yes, you're completely right, it's the foundation of all prejudice.
"*Deciding* what somebody is all about is much easier than *learning* what they're all about by paying close attention. So we use shortcuts that almost always lead us astray."
I think/feel this is a VERY important part. Firstly because You recognize it's important to FIND what a person is all about. And then recognizing that some people take more shortcuts than others. Yeah, I don't think anyone will argue against the idea that it's the foundation of all prejudice.
Yeah, the only problem comes when you *do* pay close attention and aren't quite sure you like what you find. Thankfully that's not often the case.
I mean, look at Saoirse, she recognised that she'd made a mistake, clearly went away and thought about it, made a clear and mature apology, and didn't try to shift blame. I couldn't be more impressed with how she handled herself.
Well, if You want to look at the specifics of Saoirse, let's look at the specifics of You and me, Steve. I like what I find in You. I just don't agree with You. If that's what it takes to be impressive to You, that would be unfortunate for both of us. Possibly, I haven't fully impressed on You how much I like You. If not, that's what I'm doing now.
If you disagree with me that's absolutely fine. I'd be happy to talk about what I've said that you disagree with. I always have been. But you still haven't ever actually explained what I've ever said that you have a problem with. At least not that I'm aware of.
“To put them into an arbitrary box, and treat them like everybody else who ever fit in it. But it shouldn’t be lost on any of us that this is also true of racism.”
One of the things I so enjoy about you Steve is the unflinching honesty and fresh take you challenge yourself to make in these interactions, while holding a principled, consistent stance on what you feel to be true. It’s a mark of intellectual character that - clearly - draws people to you.
Your final words I re-cite here make so much sense. What you accurately call out as putting people in an arbitrary box seems, to me, the very initial stages of beginning to ‘other’ another person. And we all know where that leads. Well, those of us who disdain the silly illogic of a Kendi know where it leads.
It does indeed lead to racism.
I really enjoyed this exchange. Thank you for sharing.
"What you accurately call out as putting people in an arbitrary box seems, to me, the very initial stages of beginning to ‘other’ another person"
Yeah absolutely. It's basically the beginnings of a kind of intellectual laziness that we're all capable of. *Deciding* what somebody is all about is much easier than *learning* what they're all about by paying close attention. So we use shortcuts that almost always lead us astray. It's especially easy to do online, but we do it in person too, and yes, you're completely right, it's the foundation of all prejudice.
"*Deciding* what somebody is all about is much easier than *learning* what they're all about by paying close attention. So we use shortcuts that almost always lead us astray."
I think/feel this is a VERY important part. Firstly because You recognize it's important to FIND what a person is all about. And then recognizing that some people take more shortcuts than others. Yeah, I don't think anyone will argue against the idea that it's the foundation of all prejudice.
Yeah, the only problem comes when you *do* pay close attention and aren't quite sure you like what you find. Thankfully that's not often the case.
I mean, look at Saoirse, she recognised that she'd made a mistake, clearly went away and thought about it, made a clear and mature apology, and didn't try to shift blame. I couldn't be more impressed with how she handled herself.
Well, if You want to look at the specifics of Saoirse, let's look at the specifics of You and me, Steve. I like what I find in You. I just don't agree with You. If that's what it takes to be impressive to You, that would be unfortunate for both of us. Possibly, I haven't fully impressed on You how much I like You. If not, that's what I'm doing now.
If you disagree with me that's absolutely fine. I'd be happy to talk about what I've said that you disagree with. I always have been. But you still haven't ever actually explained what I've ever said that you have a problem with. At least not that I'm aware of.
Ah well... Of no moment. Same with this, but think I made mention of it here a while back, mebbe.
https://jt01010.medium.com/why-im-deleting-my-profile-and-vanishing-from-medium-forever-5245dcddcd44
I'm taking a day off or two to do some reading. But I was wondering if You meditate, Steve?
I'll be the first to admit I haven't devoted years to it like some. Just off and on. Maybe a handful of years, total. No more than two.