# What are your prejudices? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 19, 2002, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-prejudices/114873 "2002-06-19T15:27:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-prejudices/114873/41 "2002-06-21T19:21:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Annie-Xmas \* > **Smokers, particularly ones who stop me in the street and ask me if I have a cigarette. Especially when I don’t even know them. My standard reply is "Do I look stupid?"** I couldn’t tell, and don’t know whether you smoke or not, but smokers (well, presumably) ask me this occasionally, and **I don’t smoke**! WTF they think I have a cigarette is beyond me. Maybe it’s racial profiling of some sort? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-prejudices/114873/42 "2002-06-21T19:21:08Z")
This is a big one that I’ve been fighting for the past 4 years. I’m prejudiced against Hispanics. (I hate using that word, but the pretty much covers everybody.) I always assume the worse, realize what I’m doing, recoil in horror from my own bigotry, and try to rectify the situation. No, not all of them are illegal aliens. No not all of them can only speak spanish. No not all of them are lazy. Fuck, not even _most_ of them exhibit the stereotypes I attribute to them. The ultimate irony? I plan on taking my husband’s last name (it’s been a year nd I haven’t yet…) and if I have kids, they’ll definitely take it. What is it? Espinoza. That’s right ladies and gentlemen, my husband is Hispanic (and black, and Native American.) ---
**Author:** ![occ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@occ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/occ)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-prejudices/114873/43 "2002-06-21T19:23:42Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Hamish \* > \*\* > I think almost anyone who grows up in the Western world inherits quite a few prejudices, and it takes a lot of honesty and consciousness to not let them affect your judgment._\* Just out of curiousity, are you suggesting that prejudice isn’t widespread in the so-called “Eastern” world? I’d make the case that, while specific prejudices are learned, the concept itself is universal, and simply a survival instinct that we let run amock. ---
**Author:** ![furr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7ab992/32.png) [@furr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furr)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-prejudices/114873/44 "2002-06-21T21:10:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Podkayne \* > > And, uh, **furr** , does your dyslexia somehow prevent you from using the “shift” key? It would make your writing much more readable. And since you have demonstrated the ability to use an apostrophe (“talkwalky’ing”) perhaps you could throw one into “I’m” now and then. Just trying to help you out, here. You’ll find that Dopers are quite intolerant of the habitual no-shift-key style. Since the written word is the only way you can make yourself look good here, it’s worth the effort. \*\* i understand what your saying but there are certain ‘tricks’ that dyslexics either need to use to be able to even type/read at all, or use to make that process easier for them. some of them are: lack of capital letters, reading by colour, eye patches, little or no puncuation. not all of those apply to this board, but some do. i also understand that many boards and posters have a problem with this, i happen to believe that the content of a post is more important than how badly its presented, but i know this is not a widely embraced idea. im use to people not understanding or in most cases not caring whether theres a reason behind badly presented posts, and this isnt really the place for a long lecture about the symptoms of dyslexia. so i guess its up to the individual, if they want to respond to any of my posts then fine, if they dont , then thats fine to. its mildly amusing that this topic is happening in a thread about prejudices. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-prejudices/114873/45 "2002-06-21T22:15:40Z")
**furr** , I don’t find your lack of capitalization annoying in the least. You see, I’m prejudiced against people who are anal about grammatical rules and spelling, especially on something as informal as a message board. I say as long I can understand what you’re saying, it’s all good. Since people have admitted prejudices against blacks, I feel obligated to mention my prejudice against white people. I tend to assume that they will be arrogant, condescending, clueless, and mean when I see them. Especially if they are male. I know exactly where this prejudice came from. When I was in high school, I was constantly teased by a group of white guys from the popular-rich-wannabe-intellectual set. They made fun of my hair and my clothes and my audacity to believe that–gasp!–I was just as intelligent as they were. They didn’t go to my college, but I nonetheless saw their personalities in many of my classmates there. I know arrogance and meanness aren’t “white” traits, but the irrational link is still there in my brain. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-prejudices/114873/46 "2002-06-22T00:13:27Z")
[quavering voice] I’ll never tell[/quavering voice] Must…not… open … that… closet - Ahhhh… it’s spilling out! Cigarettes - dirty, filthy, low class morons Big, non-discreet tattoos - the loser’s loser. Decorated (especially huge ones) nails - incredibly low class Overdone piercings - desperate bleat for attention by a stupid person with a brain the size of a walnut. Nipple and sexual organ piercings - insecure, pathetic, walking disease factories. Women who can’t bother (or aren’t smart enough) to buy decent fitting bras and have these lumpy cris crosses outlined by their too tight tops - clueless or lazy, can’t decide which. Women over 30 who grow and wear their hair down to their rear ends in “flower child” fashion and are oblivious to how clueless and idiotic they look because no one with any taste will bother to tell them. Older men who refuse to trim their ear and nose hair - disgusting cretins Men (who can afford to get new ones) wearing worn shoes and belts until even Goodwill won’t take them - clueless cheapskates ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-prejudices/114873/47 "2002-06-22T00:25:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WV\_Woman \* > \*\*I have another one. > > When I see someone with a lot of tattoos (I mean where their arm is like, covered or something), I automatically think they’re trashy and maybe a little dangerous. \*\* That’d be me! 😛 No offense taken, I’m used to it. Trashy, perhaps, but about as dangerous as a glass of milk. Lactose free, even. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-prejudices/114873/48 "2002-06-22T01:23:46Z")
Ooh, I thought of another one. I’m prejudiced against people who are 2-3 years older than me. It doesn’t mater who you are or what context we meet, if you were born between Jan 1979 and Jan 1982, I’m intensely uncomfortable around you. And the weird thing is, I can usually sense approximately how old a person is, so I will feel the discomfort even the topic of age never comes up. Why? Because every single cretin who tormented me in school, from k-10 were in that age bracket. It’s weird, I know. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-prejudices/114873/49 "2002-06-22T01:44:26Z")
**People with piercings in places other than their ears.** I absolutely hate body piercings, I think they’re repugnant and stupid looking. Especially the crescent shaped ones that are in the cartilige between the nostrils. Those look like giant boogers. I have no patience for people who wish to appear to have giant solidified snot hanging from their nose. Come to think about it, I’m not so sure I like ear rings. **People who use ‘u’ in place of 'you’** You might be a reincarnation of Richard Feynmann, but I think you’re an idiot. The same goes for not capitalizing ‘I’ if done on a regular basis. Hit the shift key, it isn’t hard. **People on cellphones while driving** Watch the road, dummy! ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-prejudices/114873/50 "2002-06-22T02:05:53Z")
Guys with mullets. I’m sorry. ---
**Author:** ![snermy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@snermy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snermy)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-prejudices/114873/51 "2002-06-22T04:15:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bodypoet \* > \*\*I’m sort of afraid of tall men, \*\* Not really afraid, but tall guys definitely make me edgy when they’re in my space, sort of a claustrophobic feeling. I prefer the direct approach, especially to tall guys who stand too close. Or behind me. “Stop looming , please!” Any of a kajillion restaurant chains that pretend to be named after some dead white guy, you know, that guy in the tinted daguerotypes with the handlebar mustache and the roseate nose and cheeks of the cheery alcoholic bartender so beloved at the turn of the century… “Applebee’s”, “Bennigans”, “T.J.McHogsnouts”, etc. The food’s always some ungodly mishmash of cuisines in some unidentifiable name brand glop i.e. (_you’ll love our new Double-dip-battered mexican catfish crepes, delicately smothered in our famous {insert liquor, barbeque, or marinade brand name} sauce!_ Urk. Women who enjoy counted cross-stitch (If you do, I’m sorry. I’m sure you’re a lovely person. Not boring or, um, anything like that.) People who have to use more than one type of smillie every time they post. they should all be :wally :smack: 'ed until they :eek:! ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-prejudices/114873/52 "2002-06-22T13:02:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KKBattousai \* > \*\* > I couldn’t tell, and don’t know whether you smoke or not, but smokers (well, presumably) ask me this occasionally, and **I don’t smoke**! > > WTF they think I have a cigarette is beyond me. Maybe it’s racial profiling of some sort? 😕 \*\* No, I don’t smoke. I don’t know why they ask me, a middle aged white lady. Especially when I am walking down the street with a cup of coffee and not smoking. If I were a smoker, that’s when I would be smoking. ---
**Author:** ![white-tigeress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f475e1/32.png) [@white-tigeress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/white-tigeress)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-prejudices/114873/53 "2002-06-22T16:54:20Z")
I dislike people who discriminate by race People who dont clean up there dogs shit. Bullies of our children at school. People who blare music and wont turn it down when I ask nicely. ---
**Author:** ![Anomalocaris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b77776/32.png) [@Anomalocaris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anomalocaris)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-prejudices/114873/54 "2002-06-22T16:59:56Z")
Clowns. The’re all evil. 'Nuff said. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-prejudices/114873/55 "2002-06-22T18:28:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by furr \* > im use to people not understanding or in most cases not caring whether theres a reason behind badly presented posts, and this isnt really the place for a long lecture about the symptoms of dyslexia. On the contrary, this board is dedicated to fighting ignorance, and apparently I have some ignorance that needs fighting. I, for one, would be grateful if you would be willing to go into more detail here: [GQ on dyslexia](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=121891) > [@](#): > > its mildly amusing that this topic is happening in a thread about prejudices. Well, yeah. This is a pretty widespread prejudice that _will_ hurt you on this board. You are not going to find many posters with a post count over, say 100, who don’t at least make a stab at correct punctuation and capitalization. Your posts are otherwise articulate and well-written, which is why I find it hard to understand why capitalization and punctuation are such a hurdle for you. I hope that you will be kind enough to take the time to enlighten me! ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-prejudices/114873/56 "2002-06-23T04:47:21Z")
I’m prejudiced against stocky, tough-looking guys. They alarm me greatly. I feel in imminent danger of them hurting me. Contrariwise, I’m prejudiced in favour of people who wear glasses. Someone could come up to me and stab me to death and if they were wearing glasses, I wouldn’t feel in danger until the knife was in me. ---
**Author:** ![baltotop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@baltotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/baltotop)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-prejudices/114873/57 "2002-06-23T12:27:48Z")
> [@](#): > > Cigarettes - dirty, filthy, low class morons — by astro :mad: I dislike people who discriminate against smokers. I dont know where you get the idea that smokers are low class morons. Did a smoker hurt you as a child or something and thats why you take such a childish attitude against smokers… WTF? Heres to the safety of the cyber world, people would never be able to say such things to a smoker face to face. The outcome would not be pleasent… :mad: ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-prejudices/114873/58 "2002-06-23T17:32:44Z")
I feel a not-so-mild disdain towards women who dye their hair red. Posers. I also automatically assume that anyone who drives while using a cellphone is both an idiot and a danger to others. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-prejudices/114873/59 "2002-06-23T18:27:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by baltotop \* > \*\* > :mad: > I dislike people who discriminate against smokers. I dont know where you get the idea that smokers are low class morons. Did a smoker hurt you as a child or something and thats why you take such a childish attitude against smokers… WTF? > > Heres to the safety of the cyber world, people would never be able to say such things to a smoker face to face. The outcome would not be pleasent… > :mad: \*\* Must have been some night at the Hippo the other night 'eh? Still smelling that nasty cigarette smell funk in your clothes and hair and thinking “Who could _not_ love cigarette smoke?” Well read the OP again sweetness. These are our “prejudices” not our “completely justifed, rationally and morally sustainable positions on life, love and the universe”. Our bad, stinky, hidden prejudices we usually kept locked up tight in the closet of social acceptability. But I can be _more_ descriptive in my “prejudices” regarding cigarette smokers if you like. From your thread even! 😉 [Fuck Cigarette Prices!!!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=115663&perpage=50&highlight=smoke&pagenumber=2) > [@](#): > > Yeah those prices are a real killer! > > I wish I could be more sympathetic, and I do understand the infringement on personal liberty that a heavy tax imposes, but unfortunately I hate cigarette smoke with the passion of 10,000 white hot suns. At restaurants where the smoke does not obey the imaginary force field limits of the “smoking area” and comes wending toward me, invading my nostrils, my clothing and my sinuses it makes me want to beat the smokers over the head with a baseball bat till their brains splatter artistically across the Cajun blackened tuna. As I ponder how the stink from their atmospheric excrement stays in my nose and sinuses for days afterwards I want to grab their smoking heads in both hands and pull it from their wheezing, hacking bodies and look deep into their bulging eyes as I tear the bloody stump of their neck from their shoulders, foul tongues swinging lazily about with the still burning cigarette stuck to the end, perched between their yellow, mottled, nicotine stained teeth with a wisp of smoke escaping the neck hole of the trachea leading deep into the pit of Stygian corruption that is their lungs. > > Oops did I say that out loud? :o ---
**Author:** ![MisterBK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8c91f0/32.png) [@MisterBK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MisterBK)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-prejudices/114873/60 "2002-06-23T21:42:57Z")
1. SUV drivers, especially _luxury_ SUV drivers. When I see someone driving an SUV, I assume that person has more money than brains and is a short-sighted, selfish conservative out to destroy the environment. I know I shouldn’t criticize because, well, I drive a car. 2. Christians. This prejudice surely stems from being raised Catholic. I eventually discovered the joys of atheism, and I’m always a little disappointed in people who have not yet reached the same conclusion. My prejudice extends to people of all faiths, but is strongest toward Christians. 3. Women drivers. This is a particularly dumb prejudice, I know, but there it is: deep down, I secretly believe that women are bad drivers. Maybe I’m just generalizing from the example of my mother, who is hands down the most god-awful driver on the face of the planet. So if you’re a woman who drives an SUV with a Jesus fish, I apologize in advance for assuming that you are a complete dolt. In fact, I will give myself a pre-emptive smackie: :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-prejudices/114873.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-prejudices/114873.md?page=4)