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News & ArtsThursday, August 6, 2009
Life Your Daily Poll Dance: Unanswerable Questions Answered Edition
Posted by David Schmader on Thu, Aug 6, 2009 at 9:36 AM
Let's figure this out once and for all.
What's worse?
(FYI, homophobia is a subset of sexism, and by "worse" I mean the one that's caused to most damage to human life on earth throughout history. This one might take some mulling. Do your best.)
3
I don't know what "religious bigotry" means here. Is it bigotry against a religion, or bigotry against all religions? Or is it bigotry practiced by people who identify with a religion, as opposed to bigotry practiced by people who don't identify with a religion?
In any case, this is kind of like asking whether more bruises throughout history have been caused by punches, slaps or roundhouse kicks.
In any case, this is kind of like asking whether more bruises throughout history have been caused by punches, slaps or roundhouse kicks.
4
does racism include or exclude xenophobia/tribalism? I feel like the specific concept of race hasn't existed long enough to compare to the other two by itself; however, the whole 'you came from over there, therefore you're inferior' thing has existed since time immemorial.
5
I forgot my glasses today so my vision is a little blurry. It looked like the third choice said "All of the above."
6
When the cephalopods take over, I seriously doubt they will waste their time arguing about things like this.
7
I blame the Arcturans. They're the ones with the tentacles, not the bug-eyed ones. It's all their fault.
8
I guess religious bigotry kind of covers sexism and racism, so I chose that. Good question though.
9
@5: Even with my glasses on the third choice looked like "All of the above."
The top two options can easily be argued to be subsets of the third option.
"Religious Bigotry" covers a lot of ground.
The top two options can easily be argued to be subsets of the third option.
"Religious Bigotry" covers a lot of ground.
10
David,
I am not sure that those should be the only choices or that question the most appropriate.
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
Arguably, what causes the most human misery is the misconception of "good". Everyone from the Thuggees (look it up), Nazis, Stalinist henchmen, Khmer Rouge, Hutus, Serbian nationalists, Guarda Civil, Ottoman Turks among others THOUGHT they were doing "good" by eliminating the "other". It is very complex. I highly doubt this will ever be settled.
But, I agree with your header Re: Unanswerable Questions
I am not sure that those should be the only choices or that question the most appropriate.
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
Arguably, what causes the most human misery is the misconception of "good". Everyone from the Thuggees (look it up), Nazis, Stalinist henchmen, Khmer Rouge, Hutus, Serbian nationalists, Guarda Civil, Ottoman Turks among others THOUGHT they were doing "good" by eliminating the "other". It is very complex. I highly doubt this will ever be settled.
But, I agree with your header Re: Unanswerable Questions
11
Yeah, a lot of sexism and racism has been justified by religious bigotry but would probably exist without it. My theory is some people are naturally full of hate and love to use 'religion' to justify themselves. Tough question.
12
Its sexism.
Religious bigotry is conducted between two persons, whereas racism and sexism apply to the status of a person. For example, if you don't think someone's religious views are valid, they're a heathen, but if you don't think someone's race or sex is valid, they're livestock.
Racism is widespread and has a huge impact, but it has never entailed the subjugation and slavery of half the world's population.
Religious bigotry is conducted between two persons, whereas racism and sexism apply to the status of a person. For example, if you don't think someone's religious views are valid, they're a heathen, but if you don't think someone's race or sex is valid, they're livestock.
Racism is widespread and has a huge impact, but it has never entailed the subjugation and slavery of half the world's population.
13
Although I would add (and wonder if Charles agrees) that social class is the source of all oppression.
14
@8 i disagree... i think sexism and racism (tribalism?) predate religion. i think those were elements of society, which religion adopted, then codified, and has had a hard time letting go of. you cannot divorce all these elements into nice, separate and entirely distinct categories.
15
let me put it this way: can you imagine a religion that isn't harmful? i can.
but i cannot imagine a sexism or racism that isn't harmful.
but i cannot imagine a sexism or racism that isn't harmful.
18
I wanted all of the above, but I clicked religious bigotry. I picked it because it can be used to justify both sexism and racism, as being morally correct and holy. Religious bigotry can also be used to approve the oppression and elimination from society for reasons such as sexism and racism. It can also be used as grounds to decimate other cultures as well.
But, I think in-frequent @ 15, makes a good point, too.
But, I think in-frequent @ 15, makes a good point, too.
19
It took a bit, but the clincher was the phrase "caused to most damage to human life on earth throughout history".
Obviously religion hasn't existed for all of human history, and although I'm sure tribes and races have been warring forever, I had to go with sexism for my final answer- since as long as there has been man, there has been a woman for him to club and drag back to his cave.
Obviously religion hasn't existed for all of human history, and although I'm sure tribes and races have been warring forever, I had to go with sexism for my final answer- since as long as there has been man, there has been a woman for him to club and drag back to his cave.
20
@ 15, you are reinterpreting the question. The flip side to what you say is; can you imagine a race or a sex that isn't harmful? I certainly can.
I cannot imagine religious BIGOTRY that isn't harmful.
I cannot imagine religious BIGOTRY that isn't harmful.
21
@20, good point, that would be unfair.
but let me clarify, i was addressing 8 that said, I guess religious bigotry kind of covers sexism and racism. i think that was framing the question in another way, ie, "religious bigotry" is (or can be) responsible for all the ills. i was just trying to balance that sentiment by saying while they cannot be entirely separated, to give meaning to question, we have to distinguish them somehow.
obviously if A and B are a subset of C, then C is worse not matter what.
i didn't think that was what the question was asking, so i tried to address the idea that religion is responsible for the most damage to human life on earth throughout history.
by implying that not all religion is harmful, and that not all harm generally associated to religion was caused by religion alone, i was attempting to give meaning to the distinction. once you say, well, there is a difference between religion and sexism, the question has more meaning. religious bigotry can include some sexism and racism, but religious bigotry isn't solely responsible for sexism and racism, or - in my mind - even primarily responsible.
religious bigotry would then be either discrimination against another because of their religion (not sex or race), or because of their lack of religion (still, the "other" of bigotry).
unfortunately, that is not as clear and concise as what i wrote at 15.
but let me clarify, i was addressing 8 that said, I guess religious bigotry kind of covers sexism and racism. i think that was framing the question in another way, ie, "religious bigotry" is (or can be) responsible for all the ills. i was just trying to balance that sentiment by saying while they cannot be entirely separated, to give meaning to question, we have to distinguish them somehow.
obviously if A and B are a subset of C, then C is worse not matter what.
i didn't think that was what the question was asking, so i tried to address the idea that religion is responsible for the most damage to human life on earth throughout history.
by implying that not all religion is harmful, and that not all harm generally associated to religion was caused by religion alone, i was attempting to give meaning to the distinction. once you say, well, there is a difference between religion and sexism, the question has more meaning. religious bigotry can include some sexism and racism, but religious bigotry isn't solely responsible for sexism and racism, or - in my mind - even primarily responsible.
religious bigotry would then be either discrimination against another because of their religion (not sex or race), or because of their lack of religion (still, the "other" of bigotry).
unfortunately, that is not as clear and concise as what i wrote at 15.
22
OMG, if religious bigotry is the worst what does that say about Dan Savage's constant tirades against religion?
23
I always thought that sexism and racism are the direct result of religious bigotry. Religion corrupts everything it touches and usually makes it worse because they blame it all on some mystical and mythical being who can/will doom you to some kind of hell if you don't "act right." Acting right being subjective of course.
24
Dans tirades are the same as women complaining about sexism. I think the bigotry is on the part of religion itself.
26
I know Seattleites hate religion and everyone and everything associated with it, but I'd just like to point out that the three largest democides of the 20th Century and, probably, in human history, were carried out by governments that not only had not adopted a state religion, but which explicitly outlawed or discouraged religion; Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union under Stalin, and China under Mao. Taken together, those three explicitly a-religious governments and dictators wiped out something on the order of 100 million people -- more than the crusades and the witch hunts and all that put together.
27
The unfortunate thing is that we all carry bias - and bigotry is a bias on steroids, and in this city Religious Bigotry goes both ways, there are many who use religion as a weapon, and many who beat up religion without ever trying it on for size. I think both biases come from a complete lack of knowing or compassion toward the others. So unfortunate.
29
@20 also, i think many here *can* imagine a religious bigotry that isn't harmful: their own against fundamentalism! it would be fair to note, however, that such bigotry (in seattle at least) is responsible for very little harm at this time.
31
26, not that I'm arguing for either side, here, but while the governments in those cases were a-religious, the people under them who actually carried out the attacks certainly were religious. Most Nazis were Christian, most Japanese were Shinto, most Chinese in the early days were still Buddhist, etc.
32
I looked for the option that said "Religious bigotry against Wiccan Womyn of Color" but I couldn't find it.
34
Well, personally, I think that treating half the population as second-class citizens (or worse) for most of human history has probably caused the most harm.
35
I'm sorry, racism and sexism are hilarious... the secret is to never take it seriously.
I'm white and get hopelessly flustered around minorities and make an ass of myself, and that's funny.
Blacks really are crazy about fried chicken, and that's funny too.
Camera software alerts saying "did someone blink?" when I'm snapping a shot of my Philippino friend? Funny as hell.
Laughing is loving. If we just laid our cards on the table and acknowledged that our cultural backgrounds imparted some mighty weird habits on us as children, we never outgrew them, and we love it anyway... well, I know it works for me and my friends, and we never run out of things to laugh about. Ever.
I'm white and get hopelessly flustered around minorities and make an ass of myself, and that's funny.
Blacks really are crazy about fried chicken, and that's funny too.
Camera software alerts saying "did someone blink?" when I'm snapping a shot of my Philippino friend? Funny as hell.
Laughing is loving. If we just laid our cards on the table and acknowledged that our cultural backgrounds imparted some mighty weird habits on us as children, we never outgrew them, and we love it anyway... well, I know it works for me and my friends, and we never run out of things to laugh about. Ever.
36
@26: Judah, I think those three were a-religious in name only. Their people actually worshipped Mao, Hitler, & Stalin, wouldn't you say? Best wishes.
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