Societal scapegoats?

Mr Benevolent · 27-02-2012 12:35AM #1

Nearly every society has a social minority used to some extent as a scapegoat. Is it just me who finds this strange? It's usually the *insert indigenous population* or the Gypsies, although a few countries have variations on the theme, for instance Native Americans or Aboriginies. Russians have Gypisies, we have Travellers, the Australians have Aboriginies and the Americans have the Native Americans. There are many more examples. In almost all cases there has been enough hate to cause genocide for no appreciable reason. We're conditioned to blame them for their own problems and for some of ours too. It's a 'dysfunction family' trait, a positive feedback loop.

Interesting when you think about it. What caused these biases in the first place? Why do we continue to propagate them? Can you really justify them? Can you really override cultural programming? I'm as biased as the rest of you, but I don't know HOW I got like this. No Traveller or Aboriginie has done me any harm.

Yeah, some guy will come along blaming the travellers for the majority of his ills. QED, in that case. Can we discuss this reasonably please?

squod · 27-02-2012 12:38AM

Confab wrote: »

Can we discuss this reasonably please?

No. IBTL

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 27-02-2012 12:39AM

who else is there to blame if we can't blame travellers?

Ricardo G · 27-02-2012 12:40AM

Confab wrote: »

Nearly every society has a social minority used to some extent as a scapegoat. Is it just me who finds this strange? It's usually the *insert indigenous population* or the Gypsies, although a few countries have variations on the theme, for instance Native Americans or Aboriginies. Russians have Gypisies, we have Travellers, the Australians have Aboriginies and the Americans have the Native Americans. There are many more examples. In almost all cases there has been enough hate to cause genocide for no appreciable reason. We're conditioned to blame them for their own problems and for some of ours too. It's a 'dysfunction family' trait, a positive feedback loop.

Interesting when you think about it. What caused these biases in the first place? Why do we continue to propagate them? Can you really justify them? Can you really override cultural programming? I'm as biased as the rest of you, but I don't know HOW I got like this. No Traveller or Aboriginie has done me any harm.

Yeah, some guy will come along blaming the travellers for the majority of his ills. QED, in that case. Can we discuss this reasonably please?

EHHHH NO

Dostoevsky · 27-02-2012 12:40AM

I blame Irish speakers. It's completely unacceptable that people can master two languages when I can only master one. Bastards. I hate them!

...

squod · 27-02-2012 12:40AM

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

who else is there to blame if we can't blame travellers?

Darth Vader

Coriolanus · 27-02-2012 12:43AM

I think we should be more like Germany. They really found the final solution for exactly this problem a few years ago.

Ricardo G · 27-02-2012 12:43AM

I was waiting 20 mins this morning at the local shop for a breakfast roll, all because a van load of travellers got there before me.....So yes i do blame travellers

the_syco · 27-02-2012 12:45AM

Confab wrote: »

What caused these biases in the first place?

Travellers: they illegally camp in public amenities and leave a pile of rubbish when they leave, and yes I've seen them do this.

Roma: beg. Have never seen a Roma work in an actual job.

themadchef · 27-02-2012 12:46AM

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

who else is there to blame if we can't blame travellers?

The devil, sure he's behind everything, even the couch.

steddyeddy · 27-02-2012 12:50AM

Confab wrote: »

Nearly every society has a social minority used to some extent as a scapegoat. Is it just me who finds this strange? It's usually the *insert indigenous population* or the Gypsies, although a few countries have variations on the theme, for instance Native Americans or Aboriginies. Russians have Gypisies, we have Travellers, the Australians have Aboriginies and the Americans have the Native Americans. There are many more examples. In almost all cases there has been enough hate to cause genocide for no appreciable reason. We're conditioned to blame them for their own problems and for some of ours too. It's a 'dysfunction family' trait, a positive feedback loop.

Interesting when you think about it. What caused these biases in the first place? Why do we continue to propagate them? Can you really justify them? Can you really override cultural programming? I'm as biased as the rest of you, but I don't know HOW I got like this. No Traveller or Aboriginie has done me any harm.

Yeah, some guy will come along blaming the travellers for the majority of his ills. QED, in that case. Can we discuss this reasonably please?

I think people blame groups of people because often they can. Very few people stand up for the minorities.

Nodin · 27-02-2012 12:52AM

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

who else is there to blame if we can't blame travellers?

"Nigerians"(anyone black is assumed to be Nigerian), Asylum seekers and single mothers.

Cianos · 27-02-2012 12:52AM

We assess problems based on living memory - it takes considerably more effort to recognise and consider the root cause of antisocial behaviour than to point the finger.

44leto · 27-02-2012 12:53AM

Nevore wrote: »

I think we should be more like Germany. They really found the final solution for exactly this problem a few years ago.

That was witty, funny and I know it was a joke, but I couldn't thank the post.

Your a bad man.:D

John Doe1 · 27-02-2012 12:54AM

Have you come in contact with many aborigines?:p

Wattle · 27-02-2012 01:02AM

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

who else is there to blame if we can't blame travellers?

Skangers?

bc dub · 27-02-2012 01:03AM

I work in retail 2 years. In that time, on 4 occasions I've been flash-mob-style robbed by "groups" of people. 3 times travellers, once Romanians, in a random housing estate in Dublin. Settled people have never once done this. In fairness, individually, settled people would rob more often then travellers but as far as scammers go, they know every trick you've never even heard in the book.

facemelter · 27-02-2012 01:14AM

squod wrote: »

Darth Vader

sure his house was a fceking space ship ... an intergalatic traveller !!!

Sindri · 27-02-2012 02:26AM

bc dub wrote: »

I work in retail 2 years. In that time, on 4 occasions I've been flash-mob-style robbed by "groups" of people. 3 times travellers, once Romanians, in a random housing estate in Dublin. Settled people have never once done this. In fairness, individually, settled people would rob more often then travellers but as far as scammers go, they know every trick you've never even heard in the book.

And which book would this be?

Is it available on Amazon?

krudler · 27-02-2012 02:45AM

I blame white people

jimthemental · 27-02-2012 03:13AM

John Doe1 wrote: »

Have you come in contact with many aborigines?:p

I've been in Australia since August and I've been threatened numerous times by drunk aborigines on the way to the tram in the morning on the way to work. With the aborigines their traditional societal concepts are not compatible with western culture and so there continues to be problems here. The recent events on Australia day highlighted this.

With the travelling community there are not as many differences how ever I do believe that crime as a way of life is more acceptable to them and so it is still prevalent.

giles lynchwood · 27-02-2012 03:21AM

krudler wrote: »

I blame white people

Racist.:)

Yakult · 27-02-2012 03:32AM

Confab wrote: »

No Traveller or Aboriginie has done me any harm.

This is where opinion changes, I've had a few bad encounters with travelers over my life and the people in my life have too. I try not to tar all, but from personal experience, they have not been pleasant. They have a reputation for a reason but that's not to say I have not encountered some honest, genuine people that gives me a stitch of hope for that community. Too bad theirs more a**holes than saints.

Eric Cartman · 27-02-2012 03:37AM

its not PC anymore to blame the travellers or the nigerians for everything, so now they blame fianna fail for everything thats their own fault and a mixture of fianna fail and the banks for them not working harder to get more money

SeanW · 27-02-2012 04:03AM

Nevore wrote: »

I think we should be more like Germany. They really found the final solution for exactly this problem a few years ago.

Godwin's Law FTW!
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e162/MattGo74/GodwinsLaw.jpg

Coriolanus · 27-02-2012 07:58AM

SeanW wrote: »

Nevore wrote: »

I think we should be more like Germany. They really found the final solution for exactly this problem a few years ago.

Godwin's Law FTW!
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e162/MattGo74/GodwinsLaw.jpg

I like to get it out of the way nice and early

Eggy Baby! · 28-02-2012 01:46AM

Travellers and Bankers (yeah I know they did a lot but the government usually shifts blame unto them) and Foreigners.

Ronin247 · 28-02-2012 01:57AM

We cannot blame them for the unemployment mess.....They never took any job!!

Liam Byrne · 28-02-2012 02:26AM

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

who else is there to blame if we can't blame travellers?

"we all" seems to be flavour of the month.....

Sindri · 28-02-2012 02:36AM

Iv'e been sayin' it for years lads ffs, lets just blame the Jews and get it over with.

Shure we'll all feel better then.

44leto · 28-02-2012 03:01AM

Any room left on this thread for single parents and the PS.

Societal scapegoats?

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