3 ms·

I scrolled into the comments on that article and I really wish I hadn't. Some incredibly bigoted people disagreeing with the article. ("Gay people can just find

I scrolled into the comments on that article and I really wish I hadn't. Some incredibly bigoted people disagreeing with the article. ("Gay people can just find another bakery, it's not a big deal.") Are there many who think like this? What causes us to segregate and discriminate against our fellow humans?

deleted 12y ago
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msandford 12y ago
So I'm not as strongly opposed to this law as many other. Here's my reasoning: 1. I don't feel any great desire to patronize bigots 2. Universal service laws mean that bigots can't out themselves 3. That means I have a very hard time telling who is who 4. If enough people stop patronizing a business owned by a bigot it will do damage where it really counts; bank account 5. This might actually be a VERY STRANGE way to dissuade people from their backwards views Of course, it might not go that way at all. But seeing as how people are talking about not hosting events and not doing business in Indiana, I am pretty optimistic about the possibility. It's fairly natural to try and defy laws you disagree with (http://niemann.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/11/the-legend-of-the-potato-king/ http://niemann.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/11/the-legend-of-th...). But it's also fairly natural to change your mind when you have a good reason: declining sales or bankruptcy.
- Zakharov 12y ago
  I think that in areas where bigotry is a serious problem, not being bigoted might be more likely to drive off customers than being bigoted.
  - msandford 12y ago
    Yeah, that's an interesting point.
ssully 12y ago
Because it is easier for people to segregate and discriminate those who are different from them then it is to find a common ground or to simply accept the differences. Tim's closing line kind of hits this, "This isn’t a political issue. It isn’t a religious issue. This is about how we treat each other as human beings. Opposing discrimination takes courage". I came into this article ready to roll my eyes, but I think Tim did a great job. Really well done piece.
tim333 12y ago
> What causes us to segregate and discriminate against our fellow humans? Evolved psychology to a large extent. Discriminating against some group and wiping them out or taking their resources has been a big part of history. Doesn't make it right of course. "Nature, Mr. Allnut, is what we are put in this world to rise above"

deleted 12y ago

[deleted]

msandford 12y ago

So I'm not as strongly opposed to this law as many other. Here's my reasoning: 1. I don't feel any great desire to patronize bigots 2. Universal service laws mean that bigots can't out themselves 3. That means I have a very hard time telling who is who 4. If enough people stop patronizing a business owned by a bigot it will do damage where it really counts; bank account 5. This might actually be a VERY STRANGE way to dissuade people from their backwards views Of course, it might not go that way at all. But seeing as how people are talking about not hosting events and not doing business in Indiana, I am pretty optimistic about the possibility. It's fairly natural to try and defy laws you disagree with (http://niemann.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/11/the-legend-of-the-potato-king/ http://niemann.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/11/the-legend-of-th...). But it's also fairly natural to change your mind when you have a good reason: declining sales or bankruptcy.

Zakharov 12y ago
I think that in areas where bigotry is a serious problem, not being bigoted might be more likely to drive off customers than being bigoted.
- msandford 12y ago
  Yeah, that's an interesting point.

ssully 12y ago

Because it is easier for people to segregate and discriminate those who are different from them then it is to find a common ground or to simply accept the differences. Tim's closing line kind of hits this, "This isn’t a political issue. It isn’t a religious issue. This is about how we treat each other as human beings. Opposing discrimination takes courage". I came into this article ready to roll my eyes, but I think Tim did a great job. Really well done piece.

tim333 12y ago

> What causes us to segregate and discriminate against our fellow humans? Evolved psychology to a large extent. Discriminating against some group and wiping them out or taking their resources has been a big part of history. Doesn't make it right of course. "Nature, Mr. Allnut, is what we are put in this world to rise above"