Equality

[ToriAllen]

I thought maybe we could dicuss the concept of equallity. The general rule is that everyone is equal, or at least created equal, and should therefore, be treated equally. But, everyone also knows we are not exactly the same. Some of us are born into different scocioeconomic circumstances, have a better potential for learning, or just have more opportunties for learning, are stronger, better looking, or have some disability that hinders ability. There are both genetic and environmental forces that seem to disrupt the idea that we are all equal. So my question is, are we equal or not, and why?

[timesjoke]

Wow, this is an ambitious topic to be sure.

 

Honestly, what is equal?

 

Can anyone be truly equal to another person?

 

There will always be barriers, exclusions and exceptions for everyone.

 

 

I like the Oprah Winfrey story. (Hate her politics) She was abused in many physical and mental ways, was a black woman when even other blacks gave black women little status, and entered the realm of reporting when few were able to ever make it to the big time.

 

 

Many years later, she is the most wealthy woman involved in the media today.

 

Was she more or less equal than any other black woman?

 

Why did she succeed where others failed?

 

Equality is an illusion, the real differance is who is creating the illusion, you or someone else.

[DaMan]

We make our own equality. I have always beleived that.

[ToriAllen]

I tend to think equality, or inequality, is mainly due to the choices we make in life. Obviously, there are circumstances that we can not avoid. For instance, we can not choose our parents or their backgrounds. However, we can choose our own attitudes and efforts. I agree with you that the idea of equality is an illusion.

 

So, if equality does not truly exist, then why should everyone be treated as equal?

[snafu]

Not everybody is equal but everybody needs to be treated as equal. Treat others as you would have them treat you. Also everybody needs to be afforded the same opportunities. Now this can't be completely possible. You might have to work harder to archive the same thing. But the door should be open to all.

[timesjoke]

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So, if equality does not truly exist, then why should everyone be treated as equal?

 

 

I don't think it is possible to treat everyone as equal. Sure we can "say" we do and even make laws to force people to treat others on an equal playing field but honestly, everyone will treat each other different based on many factors.

 

Look at the recent stories of famous people getting several DUIs and getting light penalties due to being famous and female. Look how over 90% of women get custody of children when many Fathers can be just as good parents.

 

Would either of us be given the same treatment as Donald Trump?

 

IMHO a person must make their own equality, be happy with who they see in the mirror and don't care about the complex social game being played around them.

[ToriAllen]

Not everybody is equal but everybody needs to be treated as equal. Treat others as you would have them treat you. Also everybody needs to be afforded the same opportunities. Now this can't be completely possible. You might have to work harder to archive the same thing. But the door should be open to all.

 

That is the general consensus, but... Why? Why should we treat everyone equal? Is it simply for the reason of 'treat everyone how you would want to be treated'? Does that mean that we only treat others a certain way because we want to be treated that way and not necessarily because they deserve to be treated that way? Isn't that sort of a self serving reason for treating others equal? What if there are obvious differences, should we be forced into equality by government statutes?

Maybe it is important to first decide what is meant by 'everyone is created equal'. Equal how? One person's life is not worth more than another? Does that mean we should react the same when a wife and mother of four is murdered as when a repeat sex offender is murdered?

 

I don't think it is possible to treat everyone as equal. Sure we can "say" we do and even make laws to force people to treat others on an equal playing field but honestly, everyone will treat each other different based on many factors.

 

I think in a lot of cases it is easier said than done. I found it really interesting at orientation when we had lunch that individuals automatically split up into groups based on gender and race. No body forced us to do that, but people will attach themselves to the groups they can associate with and are most comfortable with. I think personal feelings and views play a large part in our perceptions of equality. Does that mean we are created equal, but our experiences and unique perceptions separate us, or is the separation already there and we are just better able to perceive it as our experience increases?

[Guest skategreen]

Perhaps merely an argument in semantics, but I don't believe people should be treated equally, and don't believe we are all equal.

 

People deserve equal basics RIGHTS. But after that, it's a free for all.

 

You get to breathe some air, you're allowed to take up standing space on the planet. You get to try. You may not make it, but you have the right to try. There shouldn't be "open season" on shooting people of your color, height, weight, etc...but at the same time, the world does not owe you a living.

 

We're not born with equal circumstances. Some get gold rattles, some get no rattles. We're not "owed" a golden rattle.

 

I don't treat people equally. They're not. There are good nice people, good hairdressers, nice bank people and a dentist whom I trust....and then there are assholes. I don't grant them the same importances nor attention.

 

Equal basic rights, yep.

 

Equality, period? Too general to hold any water.

[timesjoke]

I think in a lot of cases it is easier said than done. I found it really interesting at orientation when we had lunch that individuals automatically split up into groups based on gender and race. No body forced us to do that, but people will attach themselves to the groups they can associate with and are most comfortable with. I think personal feelings and views play a large part in our perceptions of equality. Does that mean we are created equal, but our experiences and unique perceptions separate us, or is the separation already there and we are just better able to perceive it as our experience increases?

 

Great example, it is completely natural for people to gather in groups they feel more accepted in.

 

If we could treat everyone as equal, where would we set the bar? Who is the example of zero to base the measurement of less than equal or more than equal treatment? We are talking about an impossible standard.

[wez]

I thought maybe we could dicuss the concept of equallity. The general rule is that everyone is equal, or at least created equal, and should therefore, be treated equally. But, everyone also knows we are not exactly the same. Some of us are born into different scocioeconomic circumstances, have a better potential for learning, or just have more opportunties for learning, are stronger, better looking, or have some disability that hinders ability. There are both genetic and environmental forces that seem to disrupt the idea that we are all equal. So my question is, are we equal or not, and why?

 

Great topic..

 

I think in certain fundamental ways, we are all equal. Right to life, right to what humans need to survive, right to be what we want to be. The only things that make us unequal are all man made. There is no equality in man made. Money (power) being the overall driving force.

 

I guess I can see a day when money as we know it ceases to exist. If not, our species will cease to exist long before natural reasons would exterminate us. It shouldn't be the end all be all of life.. it's not good for humans to put all their thoughts and energy into something so fleeting as money. Man was not meant to rule other men, IMO.

 

Plus, death is enevitable. There's got to be a better way to live. Things should be getting better, not worse.

[wez]

 

Equality is an illusion, the real differance is who is creating the illusion, you or someone else.

 

I think it's the exact opposite. Inequality is the illusion..

 

All humans are born, all humans will die. Doesn't get any more equal than that. What happens in between is the illusion.