Stereotyping and discrimination

I had already started writing this post a while back when a flurry of writing hit the blockchain from others about stereotypes into which folks here have been pigeonholed. I have long noticed stereotyping and discrimination, and wonder if I might be one of the most hated people on the blockchain because of my gender, age, nationality, belief in allowing people to pursue their dreams, and because I believe in treating people with respect.

WOMAN

There are many people in this world who hate women. Those people can appear anywhere, including on the blockchain. Thank goodness, they appear to be in the minority here, but they are still present. Some men who prefer the company of a woman in sexual situations are dissatisfied with their presence in other areas of their lives. I have seen this dismissive attitude here quite a few times, as I imagine most women have. I have seen many crude and nasty comments made about women, but at least it isn't as bad here as on Facebook and other sites. It is sad that some people are so self-centered that they can't understand that everyone deserves respect.

WOMAN INTO CRYPTO

I have actually been asked why I am here on the blockchain since I am a woman. Some of those who have asked have appeared mystified by the presence of women in crypto, but some actually seem to be bothered and think women don't belong here, somehow. Other times, comments such as, "Good post, bro!" have been made because of the assumption that only men are into crypto. Some men seem to think that interest in alternative financial paradigms is not something with which a woman should be involved. Not so! Women can be just as interested in crypto or any other topic, much to the dismay of some men.

AGE

I am one of the older people on Hive. There are a few older than me, but not many. I have seen quite a number of comments on Hive and on Discord which are disparaging against people because of their age. My generation, especially, has been targeted — called "Baby Boomers" by many, because of the "boom" /increase in birth rates in the fifteen years following World War II. In fact, here are some exact comments copied from Discord, uttered by Hive users:

We should kill all boomers

I hate boomers

boomers are pretty braindead

Boomers will blame anyone but themselves

boomers are idiots

can't stand boomers

sorry ass boomers, they never should have let them reproduce

boomers should die

I was shocked and saddened when these comments were made and then subsequently cheered by a number of others in the chat. 😢 Although many of us in the Baby Boomer generation did not support the politicians and policies that have led to the problems the world has today, some younger people pin the blame on all of us. And some of those have honestly said they want us dead.

When the spread of the Corona Virus was announced in my country and senior citizens were said to be at greater risk, many younger people on Discord commented that such was a good thing because that meant there would be fewer of us old folks around. They feel society will be better when we're gone and they're the only ones running things.

When I was a child, I was taught to respect my elders and value what life experience they could share. Apparently, that lesson is no longer being taught and we older people are viewed as nothing but "excess baggage" on society, at least by many younger folks in their forties, thirties, twenties, and teens. All people age, and those young people will inevitably find themselves in the same situation one day, probably hated by their juniors and held culpable for all the ills of the world.

NATIONALITY

It happened that I was born in a country which much of the world seems to despise for one reason or another. Tourists from my country are often disliked, even though only a minority act boorish and entitled when abroad. Past politicians have sullied the reputation of this country by their rhetoric and actions, making more enemies than friends. Citizens in many parts of the world have been recorded on video, chanting, "Death to..." in reference to the country where I was born.

To make matters worse, my country has established a military presence in many other countries. I don't know how citizens in those other countries feel about such, but I know I would feel a little unsettled if I had to drive past a Saudi air base or a Japanese army base on the way to the neighborhood market in my country.

For those reasons, I seldom speak online of where I live. And when asked, I often try to dodge answering the question or give a vague answer. That's a large part of the reason why the header of my blog page says that "Kittylandia" is where I live, although that is partly for humorous effect, too. It's sad when a few badly-behaving people sully the reputation of a whole nation, such that we can no longer be proud of where we were born and other nations collectively hate us for what has happened.

FREEDOM

I believe in personal liberty. As long as one isn't hurting others, everyone should be able to pursue what makes them happy. This extends to a conviction that no one should be discriminated against regardless of their physical sex, perceived gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual preferences, or anything else. I find it frustrating when I encounter people who do not appreciate personal liberty and work (or vote) against the liberties of others. And those small-minded folk seem to hate me for attempting to defend the rights of those who are being marginalized.

In my view, ONE DOES NOT TRULY BELIEVE IN FREEDOM if that person is...

• against anyone because of their gender
• against anyone because of their age
• against anyone because of the color of their skin
• against anyone because of the country of their birth /ethnicity
• against the equal rights of all religions
• against the equal rights of LGBTQ people
• against the rights of anyone who is not directly harming others while pursuing their dreams

So, yeah, many people hate me because I think women deserve equal pay if they're doing the same job as men, because I am friends with people of different races, ethnicities, and religions, because I believe in the rights of LGBTQ people, because I support legislation for medical marijuana (for those with cancer, PTSD, and other such problematic medical conditions), and because I think we should celebrate the diversity we have around us. I don't believe in voting for laws that disenfranchise or limit other people as long as those people are not hurting others while following their dreams. Quite a number of people here hate me for my beliefs regarding personal liberty. I find it sad, and shocking, that everyone doesn't believe in freedom for all, especially in countries that proclaim themselves the "land of the free." 😞

POLITENESS

Once upon a time, it seemed that people were more polite than many appear to be nowadays. In today's world, many people have replaced the term "politeness" with the more derogatory term "Political Correctness" and throw mud at it, either directly or indirectly. I'd be quite wealthy if I had a nickel for every time I've heard people start a rant with, "I am not a polite Politically Correct person, so..." The shocking thing to me is they seem to be quite proud of admitting that they don't believe in respectful, courteous, and civil discourse. They seem to be upset when some of us choose to say "African-Americans" or "Developmentally Disabled" instead of the 'N' or 'R' words that they would likely use. Many hate me because I prefer speaking politely, as I was taught (and I am thankful my parents raised me to be courteous). It is incredibly sad that civil discourse and basic kindness are slowly becoming a thing of the past and that so many people despise those of us who believe in Political Correctness courtesy.

The list goes on, as there are other factors that have led to my being the target of hatred, stereotyping, and discrimination — such as my religious views, my lifestyle choices, and other things that aren't even on the above list. Although I have been denied jobs because I am a woman (although the potential employer offered another excuse, of course, to keep from being sued, which I later found out was a lie), I haven't been discriminated against for any job that I managed to procure — except I didn't make as much money as a man would have made, and I know that because I did payroll for one company I worked for. And I have never been discriminated against because of my ethnicity.

What can we do in the face of discrimination and stereotyping? Not much, except to be true to ourselves and hope for a change in small-minded attitudes. Perhaps one day, we will live in a world where everyone is respected and loved for who they are in their hearts, not what's between their legs, in their skin, or in their prayer-books.