You obviously missed the larger point, it was subtle I grant you, about the logic in her statement. By definition, some drivers must have prejudices she does share. Because the bumper sticker, if it’s correct, depends on everyone having prejudices — not on everyone having prejudices but her. And so it’s certainly not value neutral for her to believe that she shares no prejudice of any driver behind her. That, my peace-loving friend, is hypocrisy. I hardly expect a liberal who ends every post with “peace”, yet struggles as mightily as you do to patronize many posters, to understand hypocrisy.

“As I stated” indeed; the problem is you’re not quite satisfied with what I stated — you yourself bring the following to the bumper sticker: “If you truly take the bumper sticker on its own terms, it is a call to withhold judgement and respect diversity of thought.” It is most certainly not that, although I gather it is if you are the one reading it. The willful contradictions in your comments are quite revealing. You see, the main flaw in your reasoning here is not that it means what it says — it’s that you want people to read it with your assumptions. As I said, democratic initiatives are always “bipartisan”, and so on. Beware the person who believes they are objective, rather than continually strives toward being objective knowing they cannot attain it.

By the way, your interpretation is also quite incongruous with the other sticker: Blue girl, Red state. She is clearly seeking to distinguish herself from others in the immediate 500 miles or so, and she’s using her automobile as a billboard in order to do it.

“Let me know if you need further explanation.” “Too bad you couldn’t just leave it at that.” I think you’ll agree that this manner of diction is beneath someone who believes they are objective and above the fray, as you apparently do. But I mean you no ill in pointing this out. I also hold no such illusions about myself and encourage you to declare that you are in fact part of a team, and not an observer on the sidelines.

If it read: “Do you assume that I share your prejudices?”, different story. Still kind of obnoxious in tone and accusation, but different story. But it doesn’t say that, quite on purpose. And you’ll never admit that, because move-on.org does not pay you to concede points. You are after all merely answering the call.

The imperative “don’t assume” is asking something of you. It’s not a question – it is a request. Asking you to refrain from making an assumption. Maybe if the sticker said “please” you wouldn’t take it so hard? “Please don’t assume I share your prejudices”?

I don’t agree that I have brought assumption one.

Great. Let’s test that.

I think that is obnoxious in that she doesn’t know me, hypocritical in that she assumes all behind her have prejudices that she doesn’t share (surely she cannot believe this is true), and self-righteous in putting it on a bumper sticker so that everyone knows that she is saying it.

I don’t see why she couldn’t believe that everyone behind her has prejudices she doesn’t share. I certainly believe that everyone behind me when I am driving has prejudices I don’t share. Big assumption on your part. It’s also not very clear how you come to the conclusion that a bumper sticker is “obnoxious” simply because it is not personalized for your sake. The message is universal – she doesn’t need to know you. The message is not hypocritical or self-righteous because it is value neutral. It doesn’t say that prejudice is good or bad – just that we all have different prejudices. Pretty simple, and not really controversial except in your fevered mind.

It’s quite clear what you and her want it to mean. But you guys need to go back to the drawing board to get that point across. It’s hard doing it using few words to fit on a bumper sticker. But keep trying and it will start to come naturally.

I don’t want it to mean anything more than it says. As you stated: “in the event I end up behind her car, she is telling me not to assume that she shares my prejudices. That is all I think the sticker means.”

Too bad you couldn’t just leave it at that.

Peace.

DS

On to my assumptions. “You assume that the girl is trying to get a rise out of you, that she is being critical of you but not of herself, and that she thinks she is better than you. All of these are assumptions you have brought to the sticker.” Wrong. I assume nothing other than that which is stated: she is telling me that I shouldn’t assume she shares my prejudices.

In counterpoint to your assertion, I don’t agree that she is being critical of me but not herself in saying that. I don’t agree that she thinks she is better than me. I don’t agree that I have brought assumption one.

Rather, all I know is this: it’s not likely she knows me (although I was in Idaho recently), but in the event I end up behind her car, she is telling me not to assume that she shares my prejudices. That is all I think the sticker means. And, I think that is obnoxious in that she doesn’t know me, hypocritical in that she assumes all behind her have prejudices that she doesn’t share (surely she cannot believe this is true), and self-righteous in putting it on a bumper sticker so that everyone knows that she is saying it.

It’s quite clear what you and her want it to mean. But you guys need to go back to the drawing board to get that point across. It’s hard doing it using few words to fit on a bumper sticker. But keep trying and it will start to come naturally.

You focus on the “don’t assume,” but ignore the “your prejudices” portion of the bumper sticker. You are correct when you say, “It asks you not to make an assumption about the girl’s prejudices OR LACK THEREOF.” (my emphasis). We are asked not assume about HER prejudices, yet she assumes the collective Idahoan conservative “you” IS prejudiced. That’s what’s so irritating about the bumper sticker: it mentions YOUR prejudices (i.e. assumes they really DO exist) while omits any mention of HER prejudices (implying they may or may NOT exist). Hence a moral difference is created, and the implication of judgement.

If I told you, “Excuse me, but I don’t share YOUR sinful life,” what would you think? I’m not saying I do or do not HAVE a sinful life (that is purposefully left ambiguous) but I am assuming that you do. Same goes for Blue Girl’s bumper sticker.

Both conservatives and liberals have their dark prejudices -unfortunately it’s human nature. Yet calling attention to “your” prejudices while keeping silent about “my” prejudices is moralistic and self-righteous. It’s purposefully accusatory, drawing attention to the “other side’s” faults while keeping her own faults hidden.

As I said above, she may well have smugly stated, “I will help you take that speck out of your eye,” while making no admission of the speck/board/log in her own eye.

The auto had two bumper stickers.

Okay. I appreciate context as much as the next guy.

“Blue Girl, Red State” clearly says “I’m not one of you. Your beliefs are not mine.”

What it says is that the girl is a Democrat, in a state that is predominantly Republican. It says little about her beliefs – just her party affiliation.

In this light, it not far fetched at all to conclude that “Don’t Assume That I Share Your Prejudices” also means “Your prejudices are not mine.”

There is still nothing in this statement that is self-righteous. To say “your prejudices aren’t mine” makes no judgement other than to recognize difference.

It is the default position of liberals that they are the more enlightened ones, the more tolerant ones, the more knowledgeable ones, the less prejudiced ones. This has been going on for over a half century.

Now you have strayed into the more interesting arena – disclosing your own prejudices. This is exactly what the girl is getting at. I’m sure many conservatives are confident they are more enlightened, more tolerant, more knowledgeable and less prejudiced. I see them taking this “default position” all the time. Your characterization is essentially just recognizing the fact that everybody thinks their position is the best. I’d wager it’s been going on a lot more than a half century. There is nothing in the bumper sticker that makes a claim to superiority.

Were you to poll the left, most would consider themselves much less prejudiced than those on the right. I have NEVER come in contact with a liberal who considers himself or herself more prejudiced than a conservative. It is reasonable that the woman with the bumper stickers is of the opinion that she is much less prejudiced than those on the right. It would not surprise me to find out she did not consider herself prejudiced.

You bring more assumptions on board here. There is nothing in the sticker that indicates the girl believes herself to be less prejudiced, or not to have prejudices – just that hers are different from the prejudices of others. She doesn’t have to deny her own prejudices to make a point about the different prejudices we all have. I think it is safe to say that we all have prejudices.

Liberals may perceive conservatives as being stupid, bigoted, prejudiced knuckle-draggers – and similar perceptions are no doubt mirrored by conservatives. I know that self-described conservatives on this site have perceived me as being a stupid, bigoted, prejudiced knuckle-dragger, but again – these are assumptions that go well beyond the content of the bumper sticker.

I’m glad that this bumper sticker provoked an opportunity to consider prejudice, and the role it plays in our divisions and discourse. I think anybody taking it as an attack would do better to look in the mirror for the source of their angst.

Peace.

DS

I do need further explanation. Please elaborate. How exactly, in terms a 3 year old could understand, does “don’t assume I share your prejudices” equal “a call to withhold judgement [sic]“?

“Don’t assume” is a call to withhold judgement. It asks you not to make an assumption about the girl’s prejudices or lack thereof. When you decide to interpret this as an obnoxious, hypocritical, self-righteous thing to say, you are displaying your own prejudice. You assume that the girl is trying to get a rise out of you, that she is being critical of you but not of herself, and that she thinks she is better than you. All of these are assumptions you have brought to the sticker.

If you truly take the bumper sticker on its own terms, it is a call to withhold judgement and respect diversity of thought.

Peace.

DS