I have my suspicions

[claymore]

why are we always suspicious of anyone that looks,sounds,dresses,or acts differently than ourselves, is it the way we are brought up, is it racial or religious intolerance, have we been indoctrinated? I for one must admit to being just as suspicious and intolerant as the best of them.

[B00]

I take it this is a post about muslims and how they dress?

Just to put a different slant on it it's not always Muslims who are treated differently because of how they dress. I live in the same town that Sophie Lancaster got beaten to death by chav scum because she and her boyfriend were Goths.

[Octavius]

Difference is the contrary of equality, in particular of objects.

Differences can only be stated on the basis of a comparison or categorisation. Since a complete comparison of objects or things is seldom possible in practice, only relevant or defining attributes are used for stating equality or difference. Similar objects are only different with respect to attributes of minor discriminative value.

In order for something to be different, you must have something to compare it to, usually this is your own standards or ideals. So whilst you may consider something to be different to you and therefore suspicious of it, it may only be because of your systemic belief that what you are is not indifferent, merely different itself to anyone who bears no similarity to you.

The same could be said of opinions, where there is always a difference. If you were indifferent, then you probably wouldn't care.

[B00]

Bloody hell Octavius- you could have just said "no" there!

[Octavius]

B00, I bet you say that to all the boys.

[JockSporran]

It's social conditioning, the way we are brought up. On Byres Road, in the posh, arty West End of Glasgow, you can wear what you like. I have seen a guy walk around in a dress and attract no attention or startled looks (except from me). But in the working class East End of the same city I have been laughed at just for wearing a beret.

[Octavius]

I am not surprised if you were just wearing a beret. I am more surprised you weren't arrested for indecent exposure.

Could one assume it was not a cold day?

[R1Geezer]

I Thought dresses where the standard garb of your sweaty anyway. Now someone standing around in troosers.....

[JockSporran]

LOL Octavius :-D