Is it still bigotry if it makes you think happy thoughts? - Page 2

puddycat · #21 21.03.2011, 13:31

	Quote:
	I have no problem with that at all. I dislike all children equally.

Of course. This is a prerequisite for your profession, isn't it?

...And so that I don't digress from the topic: I think after a similar experience myself, I would be reminded of the fact that no one nationality comprises of 100% angels. Even Albanians appear to have cheeky, smart-arsed (though polite) little snots.

Puddy

NotAllThere · #22 21.03.2011, 13:58

Bigotry really involves being negative towards another group of people, while being overly positive to your own. So on that basis, no.

Of course, it is biased But I'd always assumed that you're a member of the human race, so I'm not the least bit surprised. And when it comes to a particular nationality/ethnic group, your emotional response is not really of any account, compared to how you actually treat people.

cannut · #23 21.03.2011, 14:18

	Quote:	Nil
	It is not a bad thing. I think it is because you got to know their culture and you know that they didn't mean bad. It is same for me. I know well the culture and the mentality, which make me think twice about some behavior. And I may accept more or less depending of what it is about...

I am so relieved , some day you think the same way about the swiss

cannut · #24 21.03.2011, 14:26

	Quote:	DilysDidoreth
	I am positively disposed to wards Indians. I like their funny accents and that head bobbing thing and the fact that they can make a film where people die in horrible ways and yet they still include singing and dancing in it. I like the Germans because they are straightforward and get things done. *Can't comment on the Swiss. Don't know enough of them*.

Read all the thread in EF ,and start hating theme

Nil · #25 21.03.2011, 15:08

	Quote:	cannut
	I am so relieved , some day you think the same way about the swiss

I think the swiss are great! I share more with my swiss neighbours that I have ever share with any others! I saw all of them naked, at least once and I believe they probably saw me too.... See? I know them very well....

No, but seriously;

My direct window neighbours are absolutely awesome, every morning, he wave at me while I am preparing my coffee and funny faces to my daughter at dinner time. He always smiles and same for his partner. She is very nice and they both love to chat with us. I gave them some Mapple Syrup and a Christmas card, they gave us a lovely basket of Swiss made product they bought specially for us in one of their trip in the country.

I have some bad experience with some swiss but of course I have, I am surround by them, it can't be everybody who are nice and kind... Like everywhere else! In Istanbul, I had a neighbour who pitched a rat at me.

I don't hate culture, I hate people, equally. The background doesn't change if someone is a good person or a bad person.

cannut · #26 21.03.2011, 15:55

	Quote:	Nil
	I think the swiss are great! I share more with my swiss neighbours that I have ever share with any others! I saw all of them naked, at least once and I believe they probably saw me too.... See? I know them very well.... No, but seriously; My direct window neighbours are absolutely awesome, every morning, he wave at me while I am preparing my coffee and funny faces to my daughter at dinner time. He always smiles and same for his partner. She is very nice and they both love to chat with us. I gave them some Mapple Syrup and a Christmas card, they gave us a lovely basket of Swiss made product they bought specially for us in one of their trip in the country. I have some bad experience with some swiss but of course I have, I am surround by them, it can't be everybody who are nice and kind... Like everywhere else! In Istanbul, I had a neighbour who pitched a rat at me. I don't hate culture, I hate people, equally. The background doesn't change if someone is a good person or a bad person.

You just made my day

And all this from a lady from Montreal

DilysDidoreth · #27 21.03.2011, 15:57

	Quote:	Nil
	I think the swiss are great! I share more with my swiss neighbours that I have ever share with any others! I saw all of them naked, at least once and I believe they probably saw me too.... See? I know them very well....

Maybe this is the key to integration.

Nil · #28 21.03.2011, 17:49

	Quote:	DilysDidoreth
	Maybe this is the key to integration.

Oh, believe me, forget the language learning and etc.... this is true integration!

olygirl · #29 21.03.2011, 17:51

Before George W Bush, everyone was delighted with meeting an American.

After George W Bush, I definitely feel some bigotry.

Can one politician change how the world sees a whole nation?

grumpygit · #30 21.03.2011, 17:55

Hitler /Lenin / Pol Pot ...........

eddiejc1 · #31 22.03.2011, 01:46

You probably sympathize more with those guys knowing that they're Albanians because as an outsider in Switzerland you feel that you are in the same boat, more or less. That doesn't necessarily mean that if three native Swiss guys barged into the subway like those Albanians did---that they would be be wrong or right.

There's no way to completely eliminate bias or prejudice, but it's a good idea to be open to the possibility that your first impressions might be wrong.

mirfield · #32 22.03.2011, 08:37

	Quote:	grumpygit
	Hitler /Lenin / Pol Pot ...........

You going for a Super Godwin?

#33 22.03.2011, 12:12

So... in a nutshell, I shouldn't really do it, but it's human nature, and I should just be careful not to act upon it.

Next time I shall jolly well give them a piece of my mind, whatever nationality they might be!

Hedgehog of death · #34 22.03.2011, 12:21

	Quote:
	So there I was, rushing to the platform from which my train was about to leave, when a couple of burly lads quite literally moved me out of the way (not just pushed, but actually lifted and shifted me aside) with a "Sorry, sorry, sorry" as they ran to get their train. I was a bit miffed, but had to catch my own train, so I just muttered an obscenity under my breath and hurried along. Less than a minute later, as the lights over the doors of my train began to flash, there was a commotion as these same lads piled on, ran upstairs and installed themselves in the seats around me. You can imagine how delighted I was to see them again, but my indignation soon turned to fascination as I tried to work out what language they were speaking, as it was clear from their few sentences of German that they weren't Swiss. It soon became clear that these lads were Albanian. Upon realising this, I instantly felt better disposed towards them. I've never met an Albanian I didn't like, and have a longstanding interest in their country and the Balkan peninsula in general. They're alright, them Albanians, you see... It was only after I'd got off the train at my own station that I started thinking about my reaction to the situation. Had these lads been Italian or French or German, I'd have sat alongside them, stony faced with rage at their insolence in pushing me around. But they weren't Italian or French or German: they were Albanian. My attitude towards them and their behaviour was coloured by who they were, not what they had done. I was prepared to allow more, to forgive more, purely due to an accident of birth. On reflection, I feel a little bit ashamed about this - but should I? Is it still bigotry if you choose to take an irrational like to someone on the basis of his ethnicity? What do you think?

Just think what your reaction would have been if they had been welsh ....

DilysDidoreth · #35 22.03.2011, 22:57

	Quote:
	So... in a nutshell, I shouldn't really do it, but it's human nature, and I should just be careful not to act upon it. Next time I shall jolly well give them a piece of my mind, whatever nationality they might be!

No no, bigotry serves the useful purpose of giving us something to talk about on the internet. Yes you should do it and yes you should act on it next time you feel inexplicable affection towards Albanians;-buy them a drink, get their number;-who knows what might happen.

#36 22.03.2011, 22:59

	Quote:	DilysDidoreth
	buy them a drink, get their number

I don't like them that much...

cannut · #37 22.03.2011, 23:25

	Quote:
	So... in a nutshell, I shouldn't really do it, but it's human nature, and I should just be careful not to act upon it. Next time I shall jolly well give them a piece of my mind, whatever nationality they might be!

I always new there still hope for you

Except if there swiss of course