Monday Mood: Recognizing Our Bias

Some fragile snowflake prison guard in Colorado is suing saying he was injured by mandatory diversity training, that made him feeling bad about being white. The training made him aware that humans are inherently bias.  When we see another person, our brains start to  attach expectations or beliefs to that person based on their appearance.  If those expectations or beliefs are negative, we see those as being prejudicial of the person.  

We all do this.  We see person's gender, and attach to them expectations, values, and behaviours based on the gender appearance.  

Much of our bias, is helpful, streamlining social interaction. But negative associations based on appearance, hinder social interaction and lead to us treating good and helpful people, as though they are the enemy. 

Becoming aware of bias, allows us to counter our thoughts when interacting with others.  Awareness is an essential stage in learning and developing new habits. Change is sometimes painful.  Learning that we can be wrong, that others can be different than we expected, maybe even recognizing that we have treated others unfairly before we even knew them. 

As to the snowflakes lawsuit.  There is a rule in US federal courts, Rule 11, allowing the Judge to assess costs, including the cost of opposing counsel when the case is baseless or frivolous.  If I were the judge I would ask for detailed briefs on Rule 11 sanctions.  

Post Script:

Reading through this, I thought I should offer an example of positive bias.  If I see a neighbor walking with a walker or walking frame, my brain assumes that it would be helpful to hold the door open for the person, that the person might move a little slower. I have at times been that person, and yes it is helpful.