Hand me down that thought will ya?

[Raven's Nest]

I've been trying to understand the root causes of all this hate on the planet...

Religious wars, Gay bashing etc etc.

And I believe it's attitudes like the following that may be the biggest contributing factor.

PLUTO = PLANET!!! just cause someone says its not a planet means we have to RE learn EVERYTHING we were taught....screw that lol. Theres moons in this universe bigger then Pluto. How bout we name those dwarf stars.

(Sorry to single you out there buddy, nothing personal.)

This is the same attitude we had in the good old days when Copernicus said the Earth wasn't the centre of the universe and when whoever (Columbus?) said the world wasn't flat...

It amazes me the way people cling on to ideas and rules that have been instilled upon them without question. None of us have actually seen Pluto with our own eyes yet we all insist it is a planet, because we were told it was in school.

I believe this is how racial, homophobic, religious and sexist prejudices get handed down through the generations. Only a few actually question why they even believe what they believe...

That's what makes the world a sad sad place.

Any thoughts?

Coincidently I too would rather see Pluto as a planet again because it's bad enough being that cold and far away that we just cut it off from our celestial family... Brings a tear to my metaphysical eye...

 

[Nimbus]

Well, religious wars and gay bashing are the fault of religion. Right?

 

[Raven's Nest]

Well, religious wars and gay bashing are the fault of religion. Right?

Any idea is only as strong as those who believe it...

If everyone questioned their beliefs, I like to think some people (who claim to be good people) wouldn't resort to the violence and hatred that typically follows religion around like a bad smell.

 

[Zacharine]

As they say, common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired before age 18.

This is partly why indoctrination is so powerful: if repeated something throughout our childhood, we begin to accept that as an unquestionable, neverchanging truth.

This coupled with the lazyness of people to actually question things that are seen as little or of no consequence and general unwillingness of going through the hassle of learning new things leads people to arguing most ridiculous things in most ridiculous manner.

Most of us want predictability and stability in our lives. To be faced with the uncomfortable feeling that things aren't abolute and on solid foundation makes us insecure and we want that security back. But seeing as nothing we know to be 'true' is absolute, this leaves us in a bit of a quandry. We also have emotional ties to some 'truths', ties to some outcomes that depend on certain presuppositions. Perhaps the day someone learned Pluto is the outermost planet happened to be his/her best day during primary school and that nice feeling becomes tied down to Pluto being a planet. When told that Pluto suddenly is not, they instictively might feel that the nice memory of the great day during primary school is the actual thing challenged. "Pluto is not a planet, therefore that nice day didn't exist" is what they hear instead of "Pluto isn't a planet, because we made the definition of 'a planet' more accurate"

And this is understandable. But regrettable.

And no, I don't care what we call Pluto. I'd be fine if we called it an asteroid and Earth a "Glakomazooie". Because it simply makes no difference to me, as long as I and the people around me can come to an agreement on what the word means.

 

[IAmWright777]

the root causes of hate? selfishness. pure and simple

I would say that and ignorance in a way. Also, I don't feel any religion really causes hatred. I say this, but we can't forget that everybody is different with different opinions. I am a religious person, yet I don't go around spewing hatred for anybody that doesn't believe or act the same exact way I do. Though, I do know people that do just that. It's less about a person's beliefs and more about their stubborness. So I guess selfishness, stubborness, and ignorance are contributing factors.

 

[LooK iTz Jinjo]

Any idea is only as strong as those who believe it...

One of the best things I've heard all year.

As they say, common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired before age 18.

Sadly common sense doesn't seem so common these days.

OT I think you're onto something with this whole clingy thing, notice how most people who are opposed to homosexuals are older? People are afraid of change and they will do just about anything to keep things nice and safe, just the way they are.

 

[CIA]

Coincidently I too would rather see Pluto as a planet again because it's bad enough being that cold and far away that we just cut it off from our celestial family... Brings a tear to my metaphysical eye...

Its still a planet, just it has the word dwarf in front of it now. Anyway Eris is bigger and it wasn't one of the nine I learned in elementary school.

Also check this out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluto

Third paragraph, the binary system stuff. That is so cool. I never knew that before a few weeks ago.

 

[siege_1302]

Yes, a lot of hate comes from what you get taught by your parents. In fact that's pretty much where most of your mental make up comes from. Not genetics, or anything, but you get told how to think by your parents, and it's hard to question stuff hardwired directly to your brain, as it forms the basis of everything you know/are. Also, it never occurs to a lot of adults to question that stuff because they didn't at the time, conveniently forgetting that as kids not many people think very critically.

 

[SamuraiAndPig]

I think you could fill several libraries with books on the topic "Why People Don't Get Along." There's always going to be racism/sexism/homophobia/etc. simply because the sentiment exists that if one is somehow different, then that makes them less of a human being. One of the arguments the American South used as a reason to continue slavery* was that blacks were too stupid to take care of themselves, and enslaving them was the only way to keep them from overpopulating and killing each other. Fast forward to today and the Christian church largely says that the world needs to stamp out homosexuality because "we need to save their immortal souls." The second you feel that you personally, or any one group you are associated with (religion, race, country, political party, etc.) is superior to another, hatred will be inevitable. And it works both ways: nobody likes being told what to do, particularly if it means you need to give up your lifestyle or live in a 6x10 shack with twenty people and work on a field to avoid being shot.

*Disclaimer: that was a pretty nasty thing to say but I'm simply quoting history. Even the fact that I have to remind readers that I am not racist is kind of sad, but here it is anyway.

 

[lucaf]

i think religion does cause hatred, but only in people who would have found a reason to hate anyway. if we got rid of religion, people would kill for different reasons, so its pointless.everybody has a cause they are willing to defend, but there are people who go to far

 

[JemJar]

Anger.




Yeah, I went there.

 

[Cheesus333]

Personally, I think there's so much hate going round because the bastards have loud mouths and the nice people are too smart to open their's. There's more to my belief than that but I'm tired.

 

[The Bandit]

I've been trying to understand the root causes of all this hate on the planet...

Religious wars, Gay bashing etc etc.

And I believe it's attitudes like the following that may be the biggest contributing factor.

PLUTO = PLANET!!! just cause someone says its not a planet means we have to RE learn EVERYTHING we were taught....screw that lol. Theres moons in this universe bigger then Pluto. How bout we name those dwarf stars.

(Sorry to single you out there buddy, nothing personal.)

This is the same attitude we had in the good old days when Copernicus said the Earth wasn't the centre of the universe and when whoever (Columbus?) said the world wasn't flat...

It amazes me the way people cling on to ideas and rules that have been instilled upon them without question. None of us have actually seen Pluto with our own eyes yet we all insist it is a planet, because we were told it was in school.

I believe this is how racial, homophobic, religious and sexist prejudices get handed down through the generations. Only a few actually question why they even believe what they believe...

That's what makes the world a sad sad place.

Any thoughts?

Coincidently I too would rather see Pluto as a planet again because it's bad enough being that cold and far away that we just cut it off from our celestial family... Brings a tear to my metaphysical eye...

Its not because i was taught it in school. Its cause Even my Grandparents were taught it in school. To Say its a dwarf planet is like saying Jupiter isn't a Planet its a gas Giant therefore we have 7. I'd rather continue saying Pluto is a planet before i start saying it isn't not because its what i learned or what people thought but because its an Astronomical body Big enough to be seen and rotates at a set rate around the sun. But thats just my opinion.

So, the length of time something is taught takes precedence over truth?

 

[curlycrouton]

It amazes me the way people cling on to ideas and rules that have been instilled upon them without question. None of us have actually seen Pluto with our own eyes yet we all insist it is a planet, because we were told it was in school.

It's evolutionary to believe things you were told as a child. To paraphrase Richard Dawkins, a child does not have the capacity to validate his mother's claim that cliff's aren't for jumping off, he must simply accept it, or be killed testing it out. It is this which ensures that children will invariably cling on to things they were told as children.

I found this documentary to be a fascinating insight on the subject, even if it is solely about religion. Apply it to the wider world, and it makes sense as well.

As they say, common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired before age 18.

So pretty much this statement.

 

[Disaster Button]

I'd say the root of hate was Opinion. Not saying opinions are a bad thing but if I believe radically different to someone else, chances are we aren't gonna get along too well. Not always the case but probly a good point i hope..

 

[A Weary Exile]

the root causes of hate? selfishness. pure and simple

You need to read Atlas Shrugged.

OP:Some people are just pure-bred dickheads but a lot of hatred comes from collectivist mentality, religion, and a lack of respect.

 

[Raven's Nest]

It amazes me the way people cling on to ideas and rules that have been instilled upon them without question. None of us have actually seen Pluto with our own eyes yet we all insist it is a planet, because we were told it was in school.

It's evolutionary to believe things you were told as a child. To paraphrase Richard Dawkins, a child does not have the capacity to validate his mother's claim that cliff's aren't for jumping off, he must simply accept it, or be killed testing it out. It is this which ensures that children will invariably cling on to things they were told as children.

I found this documentary to be a fascinating insight on the subject, even if it is solely about religion. Apply it to the wider world, and it makes sense as well.

I think we can agree that there is a big difference between telling your child not to jump off a cliff and telling them that certain races of people are bad and not to play with them.

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It really pains me to see some of my friends who whilst aren't directly racist but will still hold grudges against people. Most of the time, there is no justifiable reason. It was simply the way they were brought up. And I for one think that is a pretty bollocks reason.

It seems there really are a very small number of people on the planet who live without any kind of hate in them. They seem to be very happy people.

The whole religion thing with it's anti-gay policy... Wake up folks, some dude over a thousand years ago wrote down in a book that he thought God hates gays. All of a sudden it becomes law, and you must abide the law! Don't even think about questioning it, all you have to do is hate gays and you will be welcome in our club and be rewarded in heaven...

No thanks, I think about the way I feel about things. If that makes me an outsider then so be it. If I don't fit this supposed pack mentality then I don't mind. If your the sheep then I'm the wolf...

That being said, religion is only as powerful as it's followers let it be. I blame the morons who believe in the problematic parts of religion more than the religion itself.

In the UK (and most places I guess) people don't like outsiders. Recently we have had swarms of immigrants pouring in at every port. Africans, East Europeans, Asians you name it we got it. Understandably this puts a strain on resources, employment, housing etc. But the majority of the British public actually hate them for it. Non-descriminate hatred. Being polish in the UK now is probably as bad as it was in Poland circa 1939... Well almost.

Now when or if the UK settles down, the people will still hate polish people. Our kids in turn will hate them, their kid's kids and so on. The river of hatred and racism runs ever stronger...

Can anybody justify why events in the past that no longer directly affect us should affect the way we think now?

Yes the slave trade 100 years ago was bad, yes black people had it tough, yes wanting revenge is understandable. But when some black guy comes up to me says he hates me because I'm white, and whites imprisoned black guys, so this guy wanted to take it out on me? WTF I wasn't there, he wasn't there. Why were we even having that conversation? He didn't think any better because that's the way his parents brought him up. When I pointed this out to him, he actually backed off and apologised for starting on me.

Some people aren't that easy to convince. But unfortunately most people just don't care.

/rant

 

[curlycrouton]

It amazes me the way people cling on to ideas and rules that have been instilled upon them without question. None of us have actually seen Pluto with our own eyes yet we all insist it is a planet, because we were told it was in school.

It's evolutionary to believe things you were told as a child. To paraphrase Richard Dawkins, a child does not have the capacity to validate his mother's claim that cliff's aren't for jumping off, he must simply accept it, or be killed testing it out. It is this which ensures that children will invariably cling on to things they were told as children.

I found this documentary to be a fascinating insight on the subject, even if it is solely about religion. Apply it to the wider world, and it makes sense as well.

I think we can agree that there is a big difference between telling your child not to jump off a cliff and telling them that certain races of people are bad and not to play with them.

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That wasn't my point. My point was that we, as humans, are genetically primed to believe what we are told as children.

 

[Raven's Nest]

It amazes me the way people cling on to ideas and rules that have been instilled upon them without question. None of us have actually seen Pluto with our own eyes yet we all insist it is a planet, because we were told it was in school.

It's evolutionary to believe things you were told as a child. To paraphrase Richard Dawkins, a child does not have the capacity to validate his mother's claim that cliff's aren't for jumping off, he must simply accept it, or be killed testing it out. It is this which ensures that children will invariably cling on to things they were told as children.

I found this documentary to be a fascinating insight on the subject, even if it is solely about religion. Apply it to the wider world, and it makes sense as well.

I think we can agree that there is a big difference between telling your child not to jump off a cliff and telling them that certain races of people are bad and not to play with them.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That wasn't my point. My point was that we, as humans, are genetically primed to believe what we are told as children.

But that doesn't absolve us of the choice whether or not to question that when we get older. It's that choice that sets people apart.

I can't expect everyone to share the same views as me on everything but there really is nothing worse than trying to get a point across to someone who doesn't even understand what they believe. It's like rabid fanboyism but on subjects that can affect peoples lives and futures.

despite what people keep saying i still say at the core of it is someone being selfish.

people may say its a lack of respect, religion, cultural issues, etc but at its heart is the simple fact that the person is only thinking of themselves not how their actions might effect another

I agree with this entirely.

I got asked a question, "Which five things would the world be better off without?"

My answer was Greed, Apathetic Ignorance, Hate, Selfishness and Fear.

 

[curlycrouton]

It amazes me the way people cling on to ideas and rules that have been instilled upon them without question. None of us have actually seen Pluto with our own eyes yet we all insist it is a planet, because we were told it was in school.

It's evolutionary to believe things you were told as a child. To paraphrase Richard Dawkins, a child does not have the capacity to validate his mother's claim that cliff's aren't for jumping off, he must simply accept it, or be killed testing it out. It is this which ensures that children will invariably cling on to things they were told as children.

I found this documentary to be a fascinating insight on the subject, even if it is solely about religion. Apply it to the wider world, and it makes sense as well.

I think we can agree that there is a big difference between telling your child not to jump off a cliff and telling them that certain races of people are bad and not to play with them.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That wasn't my point. My point was that we, as humans, are genetically primed to believe what we are told as children.

But that doesn't absolve us of the choice whether or not to question that when we get older. It's that choice that sets people apart.

Oh, I absolutely agree. I'm not contradicting you in that, just pointing out one of the main causes of what you describe.