# I say "Islam" What's the first thing you think of? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 2, 2012, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515 "2012-02-02T06:08:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/101 "2012-02-03T04:07:41Z")
> [@cerberus](#): > > Neither a Nation nor Islamic And? Butterflies are also not flies nor made of butter. ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/102 "2012-02-03T04:25:36Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I’ll admit this is the first thing I thought of as well, followed by a flash of regret for it being the first thing I thought of. > > I suspect that some artistic license is being exercised in several of these “first thoughts.” The words “terrorism” and “Islam” aren’t automatically associated in my memory like they are for some people. I think it’s because I had other fairly vivid impressions already associated with Islam from life prior to 9/11. Interestingly, if you say “Ryder truck,” terrorism _is_ the first thing that comes to my mind. ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/103 "2012-02-03T04:55:19Z")
> [@Sudden\_Kestrel](#): > > The words “terrorism” and “Islam” aren’t automatically associated in my memory like they are for some people. I think it’s because I had other fairly vivid impressions already associated with Islam from life prior to 9/11. > > Interestingly, if you say “Ryder truck,” terrorism _is_ the first thing that comes to my mind. The architecture I described (which I saw in Malaga in 1999) was the first coherent thign that came into my mind from amidst a vast range of clutter that has accumulated around the concept Islam. I was aware of going for the positive amongst said clutter because this was one of those message board things but in a true word association test I’d probably have said something silly like chick peas. Incidentally there’s a rather fine mosque a mile from where I live and a congregation that meets in a shop just down the road so I dunno why I didn’t think of them. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/104 "2012-02-03T06:19:55Z")
> [@Namkcalb](#): > > Inspired by [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=639553)thread on Germany > > What’s the very first thing that springs to mind when you think of Islam? Or has you-know-what coloured your first impressions of it? Minarets. . ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/105 "2012-02-03T06:36:41Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Very strict and oppressive religion. +1 > [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Now, let’s be fair; Texans won’t kill you for worshiping the wrong way. You gotta do something drastic, like look at 'em funny. You state that as if it’s something that’s unique to Texas. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/106 "2012-02-03T06:53:58Z")
Muhammed. ---
**Author:** ![Krouget](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b38774/32.png) [@Krouget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krouget)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/107 "2012-02-03T15:00:18Z")
My Muslim coworkers and their style of dress. Then how different two specific ones are, in observance of their faith. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/108 "2012-02-03T15:47:53Z")
Bean pies and bow ties. I know Nation of Islam are not Muslim but that image is the first one I thought of. Now to read the thread and see what everyone else thought. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/109 "2012-02-03T17:27:56Z")
Turban, sand, hot, Middle East ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/110 "2012-02-03T17:39:01Z")
A generic looking mosque. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/111 "2012-02-03T19:42:19Z")
First thing: stoning. Second thing: What I saw in the grocery store a year or so ago: an adorable little girl with bouncy curls, 5 or so, grinning and running in the grocery store wearing a Dora the Explorer tshirt, who looks _just_ like me at that age. Suddenly she’s scooped up by her mother wearing a niqab. My heart sinks, knowing what awaits the little girl. ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/112 "2012-02-03T20:46:23Z")
an arab dude with a beard. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/113 "2012-02-03T20:59:34Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > What I saw in the grocery store a year or so ago: an adorable little girl with bouncy curls, 5 or so, grinning and running in the grocery store wearing a Dora the Explorer tshirt, who looks _just_ like me at that age. Suddenly she’s scooped up by her mother wearing a niqab. My heart sinks, knowing what awaits the little girl. A clitorectomy? Or would that be too stereotypical? ---
**Author:** ![manila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@manila](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manila)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/114 "2012-02-03T22:14:33Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > A clitorectomy? Or would that be too stereotypical? Really? thats what you associate with Islam? ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/115 "2012-02-03T22:16:15Z")
> [@Namkcalb](#): > > Inspired by [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=639553)thread on Germany > > What’s the very first thing that springs to mind when you think of Islam? Or has you-know-what coloured your first impressions of it? I think of the first person I ever heard speak of Islam at length: Malcolm X. ---
**Author:** ![florez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9e5f3/32.png) [@florez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/florez)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/116 "2012-02-03T22:26:18Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > A clitorectomy? Or would that be too stereotypical? Wow:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/117 "2012-02-03T22:28:50Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Some generic Christian frothing at the mouth about how evil it is. This, more or less. Also, architectural [arabesques](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Roof_hafez_tomb.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/118 "2012-02-03T22:30:43Z")
1. The mosque on the corner of my road. 2. Walking in a Muslim cemetery in Mostar, already pretty upset by the whole experience (bullet holes in the gravestones, war-damaged buildings all around), then hearing the Call to Prayer haunting out across the almost-silent town. I had to just sit down and breathe. 3. Muslim friends and students. I do think of terrorism, especially as this week we’ve had another bunch of plotters convicted, but it’s by no means the first thing that springs to mind. As others have said, it’s not artistic licence; it’s that I already knew things about Islam before that. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/119 "2012-02-03T22:33:08Z")
A distinct lack of bacon sarnies. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/120 "2012-02-03T22:39:54Z")
Oddly, “You say Iss-lam, I say Izlam, but I’ll get to Mecca before ye.” Sung to the tune of You take the high road. After that, I thought Middle Easterners. It takes me a bit to think of American Muslims. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515.md?page=7)