Prejudices

[Joe Varo]

On Wed, 27 Nov 1996, Henry M wrote:

> JFHC! Are we so defensive/PC that we're afraid of a little 
> conotation? Prejudice is what happens when you assume. <grin> Happens 
> every time. <grin> Everyone overgeneralizes. <grinagin>
> 
> On 26 Nov 96 at 8:44, Joe Varo wrote:
> 
> > Perhaps instead of using "prejudice" we should use the perhaps more
> > neutral "pre-judgement"?

I don't know that it's really a case of "defensiveness".  It's just that
the word "prejudice" has so much baggage along with it.  "Prejudice"
basicly means a "pre-judging" or, as you say, an "assuming".

Unfortunately, at least here in the US, "prejudice" has come to be very
much equated with "bigotted".

Therefore, when the people state that everyone is "prejudiced" by the
built-in prejudices of their language, it sounds like they're saying that
everyone is "always already" a racist or sexist pig simply because of the
language that they use.

I thought that substituting "pre-judgement" for "prejudice" might aid in
an understanding between the two camps.

Personally, I think that the whole "language/prejudice" thing is a bit
over-blown.  Okay, so an electrical plug is referred to as "male" and and
electrical socket is referred to as "female".  Is this really all that
much of a problem?

As for the feminism topic...I recall once seeing a panel discussion by and
about feminists/feminism.  One of the panelists brought up Camille Paglia.
This panelist was immediately set upon by the others (or should we say
Others?) and squelched.  They didn't want to hear the name Paglia, they
didn't want to discuss her position.  Seemed like a bit of "prejudice" to
me.

Joe