Second Degree Bigotry - a working theory

The problem though is that regardless of if we want it or not, there are going to be closed minded or or otherwise brainwashed people who follow the masses. We can stem the tide of bigotry but sadly we cannot stop it without destroying the core reasons for bigotry which will cause self destruction. Such things as scare tactics from the government, religious extremists, Illuminati Believing Nutjobs, or southern supremacy. Whatever the case, what ever the reason, we can only let it happen and laugh at them for being such fools.

you make good points.

though in all fairness though the lady was just giving her opinion about a subject she was asked about. it's not like she brought up the subject and then said it was dumb.

True. we can't change other people's minds. But if we wait long enough, bigotry has a half-life. It'll die out.

And, also true. She was just fairly commenting, and it got under my skin. So that's kind of on me. Her comment about the movie was unprovoked, though. But it makes me wonder about whether we should be careful when talking about things we don't like. It might accidentally tread on someone's feelings and in extreme cases actually oppress people. Maybe its better if we facebook-comment about life and only have a "like" button. Unless you're "working a problem," or it's a legitimate emergency. Then whatever is expedient. But otherwise, isn't it a happier place if we focus on what's good and work on having more of that?

Person A: I like MLP. Do you like MLP?
Person B: I don't like MLP, and I don't understand why some people like it.
Person A: Then you are a close minded bigot.

Fixed the first conversation for you.

Really, an opinion?
I don't like opinions.

You forgot line four, Heimdall -
Person B: Okay.

Ridley, exactly my point. It's just silly.

It was a joke on how you call people who don't have the same opinion as you closed minded bigots.

My point is that when people called me a "weirdo" or a "freak" when I was in school for liking Star Trek or Babylon 5 (FiM wasn't around back then), that all they were really saying was. "Well I don't like that show" or "Well, I don't understand you".

My response back then was to hold back my tears, be emotionally traumatized and feel like an outcast. But I grew up.

Today, my respose is "Okay." To be honest, their opinion of me and what I like is utterly irrelevant to me. We could pick any arbitrary trait or any arbitrary label. If someone expresses their opinion of displeasure about that arbitrary trait, fine. It's their right. It also has nothing to do with me. So if someone called me a bigot, Okay. That's their business. It's irrelevant to me. Unfortunately, calling people names or declaring dislike has a tendency to shut down conversations. If nothing else, it's a party foul.

There are probably better responses out there that I haven't learned yet. But this is a working theory. If it gets modified, good. If it gets thrown away, the wrong idea at least allowed me a stepping stone to pursue the right one.

That doesn't change the fact that you call other people closed minded bigots simply because they don't like the same show as you. You are just as bad as that lady,if not even worse.

It hurt my feelings is all I'm saying. I didn't tell her she's a close-minded jerk for not liking the Big Bang Theory. Also, I'm fine with people not liking the show, but I have a right to not accept their judgment if they come up and offer it to me. And what word would you use instead for someone who does that?

eh, I think most people don't really realize the ways that what they are saying could impact others on little things like that, but I see your point. I would simply just call them "annoying" as opposed to bigots

You have a point, theotter. "Bigot" is a pretty loaded word. Maybe I just needed to let off steam from a lifetime of pent-up junk.

Letting off steam is fun! *hissssss

I think your being waaaay to harsh on him.

I can actually relate. With myself and a lot of my family, I have this problem. My chosen profession of Computer Game Developer is very, very technical and, while I've tried to explain and involve who I'm talking to about the subject as well as I possibly can, it either goes over their head and they dismiss it out of hand entirely.

Once I guess is OK because I've tried to explain it, failed and then we move on.

But to ignore it every single time I talk about any facet of the thing I study, work on and even go to Uni to learn more about? That grates on you. Especially when there's little else to engage with in terms of conversation. I want to share this stuff but I can't and so it forces me to sweep entire parts of my interests out of sight.

But I'm not sure about calling it necessarily Bigotry. I'd probably call it 'Incuriosity' or possibly, 'Prejudice'. It seems more like the examples above are resolute not to explore the subject and understand it better. They don't seem to hate the show, I'd bet they just can't be bothered to explore the issue.

And I agree with you, Aidan: that gets old fast!

^you're
sorry, just a pet-peeve :derpe:

I gave it the qualifier "second degree" to sort of show it's not quite the same. But maybe that's still too much. Maybe I was overreacting. Maybe it was just rude. And silly. Not worth such a big fuss. But you're right. After so many years of being a geek, it does indeed get old. But I think I'm ready to grow a little and release my undomesticated pet peev back into the wild.

There honestly are whole episodes of TBBT without any real sci-fi references in them. I would consider it more of a pop-culture sit-com. Dunno what that lady was thinking.

She said it. She doesn't watch it. So naturally, she couldn't know that about TBBT. Her impressions are based on insufficient exposure. I think we should simply say "I don't know about that" instead of saying "I don't like that" when we've got that small an amount of information, and been exposed so little to the subject in question.