[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Maru

We are human beings and our brains are programmed to seek contrasts, i.e. things not like us, and this is how we weigh threats and potential "obstacles". Our brain is highly focused on these contrasts... so it's a survival instinct to some degree that can't be completely unwired I think. It may not necessarily have any malicious intent...

Chinese culture is fairly different to ours, and despite that contrast they're not well known for vehicular murder.

[Maru]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

Chinese culture is fairly different to ours, and despite that contrast they're not well known for vehicular murder.

Oh, well maybe what I meant when I say 'contrasts' is when thinking in terms of "new and unusual", experience-based, less different entities... though it would need to also be different in order to be "extraordinary" enough to stick out.. I'm talking about like if we go into a restaurant and see a food that is an unusual texture or color... something we would never associate with a food, our brain would focus on that... we may know the staff is good and that the place itself is fine, and that may be the only way we would try it... but I think if thrown in a situation where we had to determine ourselves with no other information, we wouldn't trust it. (and with good reason I think)

With Chinese or known cultures, I think we've integrated enough of the culture into our own understanding of what it is and how it functions, that we have some understanding there it's not a true contrast in that sense, since we've found a common ground between each society...

(Edit) Anyway my point is, we need some prejudice in order to function and to establish risk...

[user104658]

Back on thread topic; of course everyone has prejudice and makes snap judgements, it is indeed "human nature" and as Maru alluded to earlier, its even an essential part of human psychology (as in order to work effeciently , our brains HAVE to categorise, or else we'd constantly be raking through every experience we've ever had, every time we have a thought, and our heads would explode).

Anyone who claims that they have zero prejudice or never have thoughts that amount to stereotyping is straight up lying... BUT, we're (supposedly) not just basic human animals these days, we're supposed to be socialised and civilised, and part of that is STOPPING for a minute when one has those thoughts to say "well hold on... Is that rational? Is it logical? What else might be going on? Should I wait for more information before making a decision on what I think is going on here?"

When no further information is forthcoming, again its understandable to start to "ponder" and draw conclusions. An example there would be the McCann case, or several other "high profile mysteries". But in this case, the further information was available really VERY soon after the event. There's not much excuse for people feeling the need to share "suspicions and assumptions", that turned out to be totally off base, so quickly.

[MB.]

RIP to the two killed

[AnnieK]

Absolutely MB -

Thoughts to the families of those lost in this tragic event and speedy recovery to the injured.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

It's a pretty safe bet, given recent events. Once it was largely ruled out in this case, you were the main one to keep bringing muslims back into it.

2/1 is far from a safe bet