Journal+5+-+Response

1. Why do people tend to make fun of those who are in some way different? Do you believe this tendency is stronger in adults or children? Why?

2. Imagine which kind of insult would provoke you the most. An insult about... Explain which insult is most offensive to you and why.
 * your appearance or dress
 * your character or actions
 * a friend or family member
 * your beliefs

3. Give examples of prejudice (this can be a list). What are the most common types in your community? Your school? Explain why prejudice is destructive, perhaps citing specific examples you've heard of or witnessed. Have you ever experienced any sort of prejudice?

I think that people tend to make fun of those who are in some way different because they are different. One isn't used to seeing someone do something the way that another person does so it seems odd. And odd things end up being funny. I think that the tendency is stronger in children because they are not used to seeing a lot of people and so they are used to only a few people's ways and think that any other is odd.

I would be provoked most about my character or actions because most of the time the insult comes from a stranger and that stranger knows nothing about me. Maybe the action I did was out of the ordinary for me and just a one time thing. What right do they have to tell me that I act weird because of something I don't usually do. They don't know me at all. With appearance I'm aware that I dress plainly, but I dress to comfort and to blend in. With friends and family, I may feel pity FOR them, but I wouldn't feel offended because it wasn't it. With my beliefs, I don't really have any true beliefs I have at the moment so it doesn't affect me as much.

Racism Weight Intelligent people Dress Religion Beliefs Age

The most common type in my community is probably weight. In school it is probably how someone is dressed. Prejudice is destructive because it may start putting ideas into people's head that some group of people are bad. This doesn't give people a chance to get to know the people since they automatically assume something that may or may not be true. The Scottsboro Boys is a great example of prejudice because the blacks were unfairly treated. I don't think I have seen prejudice straight, but also it may happen too often or too lowly for me to notice or remember.