Why do we always think we are right?

beckster

beckster

beckster

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Joined
28 Jan 2006
Posts
367
Something has been really been bothering me recently so thought I would get it off my chest. A lot of threads have been cropping up about other countries beliefs or cultures. Most of the responses are very judgemental, thinking they are wrong, unfair, disgusting etc. Why do we always assume our culture and values are the best ones and why do we try impose them on others? Do people not realise that other cultures probably view ours in exactly the same way? It's all a product of the society in which we were raised and is next to impossible to try change someone's core beliefs.

In past civilizations a lot of the things we deem unacceptable were the norm. Views on paedophilia, beastiality, homosexuality, gender rights, slavery, racism etc., were completely different to now and if we travelled back to that time I am sure we would look like a loony saying these things were wrong/right. Who's to say things are better now then they were? I am sure you could argue our lives nowadays are less enjoyable and worthwhile, being a means to an end in a rat race decided by the few in power.

The majority of people don't think outside of their little place in society, happy with their existance of working monday - friday, watching TV and playing games to keep their minds on anything other then what the hell they have been doing all week. I am not sure what I am suggesting, maybe for people to consider why and how people believe what they do before jumping on the bandwagon of what everyone else in your society thinks is right. The more we judge other people the more we will alienate them, making a bigger and bigger divide. What is so wrong with accepting the way other cultures are rather then attempting to bring them into our line of thinking?

Rant over! Comments please!
 
because people are ignorant and think that their way is the only way, that some things in other cultures are wrong.

who says that we are right, that we are not completely wrong? other cultures ahve reasons for what they do. let them get on with it, they accept it (mostly)
 
If you grow up in a society with a set of rules, those rules will be ingrained and you will think they are right. Rules which differ from these will seem wrong, its just nature.

It's the same for other cultures, I'm sure our society seems backward in places.

Is it wrong to "interfere" with another culture, another set of rules, because they are different and therefore seem wrong? Perhaps.

How about societies in which women have their bodies mutilated so that they can feel no sexual pleasure? Is that wrong? In my opinion it is very wrong, and I can't help feeling that if these women were given the choice, with full knowledge of both choices, they would choose not to be treated so.

Does that make me wrong for feeling that way? Should I keep these feelings to myself rather than expressing my anger at these actions I see as barbaric?

I know that the population of those societies would disagree with me, and I know that by putting my feelings out on digital paper I will have exactly NO effect on anything whatsoever. But who can say I am not allowed my opinion?

In short: Yes I think my views are right, or I wouldn't be human. And certain foreign policies I would stop in a heartbeat if I had that kind of power.
 
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We always think we are right because have evaluated our opinion based on what we have seen and heard, on how we were brought up, and our own nature. Something may occur in the future to change that, but our opinion then will reflect experience up till then. I know I've changed my opinion on a couple of things since becoming a member here, due to some people putting forward reasoned arguments that I couldn't rebut.

"When an honestly mistaken man hears the truth, he will either stop being mistaken or stop being honest."
 
Because people quite like living in their own culture and don't want to see it replaced with a foreign culture.
 
scorza said:
Because people quite like living in their own culture and don't want to see it replaced with a foreign culture.
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I don't think he is talking about "foreign culture" taking over, but more about respecting other culutres.
 
The fear of the unknown/man hating what it dosent understands/the need to rule over other/in-grained machonism......
 
This is actually one of the biggests and hardest to answer questions you can ask. Philosophers have been trying to answer similar questions for many years now, and it all boils down to this:

There is NO SUCH THING as Right or Wrong.

Literally both are just points of view based on human perception and preconceived ideas. Neither is absolute.

What you may call "right" can actually be proven to be "wrong" - from someone elses point of view, and vice versa.

What you should try to do is not judge things as right or wrong. Rather judge things/actions/circumstances based on what you want to be/how you see yourself.

For example if you see yourself as a good, kind and loving person then hitting someone would not fit in with your view of yourself.

If however you see yourself as a rough, tough hardman in control of his destiny and unwilling to be faced down by anyone else then hitting someone would probably fit in with that view of yourself.

Either way, that person would probably view your action as wrong - unless of course they were hysterical and you were doing it to bring them back to their senses!

You see it's not a straight forward issue at all!

;-)

J.
 
@if ®afiq said:
I don't think he is talking about "foreign culture" taking over, but more about respecting other culutres.
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I think most people here are respectful of other cultures, when that other culture isn't in this country. For example, when I went to Dubai with my family, the female members of my family were quite happy to wear what would be considered "respectful" clothing by the locals. They'd be a lot less happy if someone told them they couldn't wear what they wanted in downtown Bradford say.
 
A lot of people are ignorant by default, just being with people my own age and listening to what they say and their feelings on anything other than their way of life makes me disgusted, but I try to hold back from saying things as I know my efforts will go to waste. Ignorance is bliss, people like bliss.
 
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