Comments on: Tradition http://benabuya.com/2007/01/09/tradition/ looking for alternative explanations Mon, 30 Aug 2010 04:14:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Billie Jean http://benabuya.com/2007/01/09/tradition/#comment-424 Billie Jean Fri, 19 Jan 2007 02:52:13 +0000 http://deba.wordpress.com/2007/01/09/tradition/#comment-424 I also don't know if the IATs are accurate or not. But the concept is definitely interesting. I don't think the questionnaires and actual tests are connected. You can do the test without filling in the questionnaire. As for homophobia, while I've never discussed this issue with you, I'd be surprised if anyone in Western society (including members of the gay community) wasn't homophobic to some degree. We're just not far enough away from it being classified as a mental illness to be completely free of the prejudices. As for getting yourself into trouble, I think a post like this could make a certain type of feminist angry. I also don’t know if the IATs are accurate or not. But the concept is definitely interesting. I don’t think the questionnaires and actual tests are connected. You can do the test without filling in the questionnaire. As for homophobia, while I’ve never discussed this issue with you, I’d be surprised if anyone in Western society (including members of the gay community) wasn’t homophobic to some degree. We’re just not far enough away from it being classified as a mental illness to be completely free of the prejudices.

As for getting yourself into trouble, I think a post like this could make a certain type of feminist angry.

]]> By: Simon Holloway http://benabuya.com/2007/01/09/tradition/#comment-364 Simon Holloway Mon, 15 Jan 2007 04:02:11 +0000 http://deba.wordpress.com/2007/01/09/tradition/#comment-364 I just did a couple of those sample IAT tests, but I found the results slightly dodgy. They decided that I have a moderate preference for Judaism over other religions, which is remarkable - but less so when you consider that was my direct response to one of the questions before the test even began. Wonder how they worked that out! Hum... Also, I am apparantly homophobic which is blatantly absurd. I'm sure that a test of this nature might work under certain conditions, but I am equally certain that it didn't work properly for me under these ones. In any case, why do you suggest that being honest might get me into trouble? So far I've been labelled brave! (Thanks, Conrad). I don't know if 'bravery' of any sort really enters into it. People who know me will probably not be surprised to read my opinions, and those who don't (most of the time, I'm sure) would agree. Now, if my opinion had been the exact <i>opposite</i>: <b>that</b> would be brave! I just did a couple of those sample IAT tests, but I found the results slightly dodgy. They decided that I have a moderate preference for Judaism over other religions, which is remarkable – but less so when you consider that was my direct response to one of the questions before the test even began. Wonder how they worked that out! Hum…

Also, I am apparantly homophobic which is blatantly absurd. I’m sure that a test of this nature might work under certain conditions, but I am equally certain that it didn’t work properly for me under these ones. In any case, why do you suggest that being honest might get me into trouble? So far I’ve been labelled brave! (Thanks, Conrad).

I don’t know if ‘bravery’ of any sort really enters into it. People who know me will probably not be surprised to read my opinions, and those who don’t (most of the time, I’m sure) would agree. Now, if my opinion had been the exact opposite: that would be brave!

]]> By: Billie Jean http://benabuya.com/2007/01/09/tradition/#comment-347 Billie Jean Sat, 13 Jan 2007 11:01:29 +0000 http://deba.wordpress.com/2007/01/09/tradition/#comment-347 Good post, Simon. I think feminism for men is really hard. You can't win, in a way, because to be feminist requires you to go against so much, from biological wiring to social conditioning -- but being honest about this will get you into trouble. Your post makes me think about the IAT (implicit attitudes test). https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/demo/ The IAT is a really interesting psychological experiment which has shown that not only do people tend not to speak their minds honestly about tricky issues such as racism and sexism, but they sometimes don't even know them. To my surprise, according to the IAT, I am moderately biased against homosexuals, moderately prefer blacks to whites, and strongly associate women with science. I can't explain the black/white one at all! Anyway, what it really means is that sometimes we don't quite agree with ourselves. So it's not just you! Good post, Simon.

I think feminism for men is really hard. You can’t win, in a way, because to be feminist requires you to go against so much, from biological wiring to social conditioning — but being honest about this will get you into trouble.

Your post makes me think about the IAT (implicit attitudes test).
https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/demo/

The IAT is a really interesting psychological experiment which has shown that not only do people tend not to speak their minds honestly about tricky issues such as racism and sexism, but they sometimes don’t even know them. To my surprise, according to the IAT, I am moderately biased against homosexuals, moderately prefer blacks to whites, and strongly associate women with science. I can’t explain the black/white one at all! Anyway, what it really means is that sometimes we don’t quite agree with ourselves. So it’s not just you!

]]> By: Conrad H. Roth http://benabuya.com/2007/01/09/tradition/#comment-301 Conrad H. Roth Tue, 09 Jan 2007 19:56:01 +0000 http://deba.wordpress.com/2007/01/09/tradition/#comment-301 I don't like to use this word, but this is a brave piece of writing. I don’t like to use this word, but this is a brave piece of writing.

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