RpNation

I don't know how fine it is for people to hold such views. There is a limit to what can be tolerated (e.g. how much alcohol is too much alcohol; people have different thresholds so you can't measure them to the same stick) and what cannot (e.g. teaching our children that it is perfectly okay to continue cycles of violence because it was what their parents taught them).

There is a difference, too, between 'being exposed to' and 'being educated in' different views, much as there is a difference between hearing about a band and judging them right off the bat *or* hearing their songs then judging them afterwards. You don't need to beat someone over the head with words to make them change their view. Dialogue is often more than enough to do what browbeating can't, if done well.

Yes, you are wrong, because the difference is that you would be physically hurt and your safety would be compromised. In that situation, I likely would step in to help you out of a situation if your parents were beating you. But if someone where simply saying "Black people are all violent" that doesn't compromise the safety of black people.

That may aid in the spread of stereotypes if you want to believe that. But people often have already established opinions and views. In no way am I saying that civil conversations or debates are a bad thing. Just look at what we're doing. But have you not noticed how we are not convincing each other of anything? And how we are still sticking to our own sides of things?

And people's views and opinions are often times conceived on the bases of their experiences. Who am I to judge what the standards are for right or wrong? Who are you to do the same? I only have my set of morals, attitudes, and views, and you yours. There are limits and exceptions to everything, of course.

I stay flexible in my ways. I do not have a true method that works 100% for everything. I take things case by case. And in this case, I am simply letting people believe in what they want because I'm hardly the standard.

And by the way, if it *were* compromising the safety of black people, then let's deal with it then. I feel that if nobody is getting physically hurt by stereotypes, then why *not* just let people be?

I wouldn't say I'm completely wrong if the example you use is that of 'black people are all violent'; physical abuse amounting to death has spawned from comments such as these and if you're going to wait for people to be hurt before you do something about it, you're confirming the point I made above. Is it proper to wait until people have suffered and died before we finally take action?

Turning a blind eye to your somewhat off-putting overload of conjunctions at the beginning of sentences is one thing but turning a blind eye to opinions that can and will give rise to violence, stigmatizing and social division (amongst other things) is another entirely. I find it peculiar that you would deem this a civil debate then turn around and ask why I happen to be judging when you yourself are judging too.

Not that I'm complaining; you've proven my point about humanity and its hypocrisy in your statements. We can't impose normality and standards on people, you are absolutely correct in saying that, but by continuing the conversation you are carrying the assumption that you have a standard and a zone of normality you stand by. I admit to having one too; hence my investment in this debate.

However, much like the landmine of grammar, there are limits and exceptions but a hard and fast set of rules that society is obliged to follow. Stereotyping, though not institutionalized, is nonetheless one of those sets of rules. Everyone will follow their own (for instance, I differ from the Oxford standard when it comes to the use of em dashes in bracketing text) but there will be one that is privileged.

It's the abuse of privilege that I'm against, it's the institutionalizing of apathy and narrow-minded world views that I'm opposing, and no number of exceptions or excuses can ever justify the need for irrational ideology, violence and prejudice spawned from it, and the systematic oppression of those who happen to lose out.

I wouldn't say that you are wrong at all, friend. And LOL, I apologize for my "off-putting conjunctions" I wrote it how I would speak it. Anyway, no I wasn't judging you, just asking you if you felt that you were at such a high position to judge. Obviously I've already said that people can believe in whatever they want. And while I do have standards for myself, I am not the standard for everyone else.

Yes, humanity is full of hypocrisy. That's just one thing that likely will never change. But like I said, I take things case by case to keep my mind flexible. Anyway, That's all fine and dandy, friend. In short, you do you. I'll do me. That's all I have to say. This was a very nice conversation in my opinion. You have a good day/night.

I wrote as I spoke as well, but I suppose that isn't the main point of this debate/conversation. Like I mentioned before, I am but another of the billions of hypocrites populating the earth; nobody is ever in any better a position to judge than the other, but that has never and will probably never stop people from judging each other regardless.

There is a difference in a belief and a conviction, but the crux of the issue is that there are too many beliefs that *turn into* convictions. Oftentimes, people are not content to simply sit around and happily wallow in their beliefs; they will wave them aloft like banners, mow down any who stand in their path and devour them whole. *That* is why I'm for nipping the bud before it blooms.

Flexibility of mind is the sort of thing we need if we want people to tolerate each other, but unfortunately not many people will bother to be open-minded and accept others at face value. Sadly, to prove my point, I will have to quote the stereotypical view of humans being inherently selfish and thereby justifying their hypocrisy through preaching open-mindedness but stuffing it in people's faces.

Whilst this debate might end here, though, it is just that: a debate, a clash of two not entirely compatible ideologies... but it is only a dialogue on a small scale and will probably never impact anyone beside ourselves and those reading along. All I can do is post statuses on this wall and hope they reach others someday.

I'm glad I at least found another person who will admit to their hypocrisy. Props to you. I also formally agree that we are all hypocrites in some way, including myself. I won't lie, I do agree with you on many things. Our methods are just different, but that is perfectly normal and perfectly fine.

I wouldn't say that this didn't impact *anybody.* While I will still keep to my own ways, it was nice being challenged and I did enjoy it. You seem like a passionate person and I admire that. Goodbye for now!