Topic: Pro and anti ... assumptions
msharmony's photo
Tue 01/23/18 01:34 PM
Many times when people say they are 'pro' something, it is ASSUMED they must be 'anti' the opposite. And it is also assumed there is an opposite.

So when people say they are pro (insert gender here), it can be taken as being anti(different gender here)

or when people say they are pro(insert race here), it can be taken as being anti (different race here)

or if people say they are pro (insert nationality here) it is assumed they are anti(different nationality here)

In reality there are any number of issues, people, causes people can support but we tend to support, address, or speak of these issues one at a time. Just like when we say 'black lives matter' it is not the same as saying other lives don't. or if an event has ribbons to 'support cancer survivors' that doesn't mean those wearing ribbons don't also support HIV survivors or any other medical survivor group.

I believe the recent Women's March is a prime example as well. I think there were certain women who mistakenly took to the 'pro women' movement to reflect their 'anti men' stance, which unfortunately distracts from the 'cause' more than it helps it.

I wonder how many people believe in the idea that being pro something requires being anti something else?

Toodygirl5's photo
Tue 01/23/18 02:15 PM
Many women like to protest and like marching no matter what the cause.

no photo
Tue 01/23/18 02:44 PM
Edited by ciretom on Tue 01/23/18 02:47 PM
I wonder how many people believe in the idea that being pro something requires being anti something else?

Based on how that question is worded, it inherently does. Otherwise there's no reason for identifying as "pro" anything, setting up that label, or separate group.

It just might not be anti what someone or the "anti" group is telling you.

Not to mention some groups may choose to be pro/anti something just for the sake of opposing a specific pro/anti group in order to promote the importance of their own group.

In nature there is competition and cooperation.
Groups/herds are cooperative groups that facilitate competition against something else. Neighbors, predators, mates, limited resources, whatever.



Other than that, a group may not be motivated or understand they are anti something, but how they promote their ideology, demands, or pursue their goals can easily lead to consequences/behavior/beliefs that in effect are anti another group, that might not even be related. e.g. pro choice being anti government control, or control over medicine.

Many women like to protest and like marching no matter what the cause.

that just made me think "was the women's march at the national mall because someone told them there would be a shoe sale?"
Maybe marching and protests are the new dance clubs? Beats having strange drunk guys come up and grind all over you maybe?

mightymoe's photo
Tue 01/23/18 02:51 PM
Great topic, something I always understood...take spike Lee for example.. I always thought he was anti white, but then I found out everything he's done for Harlem or the Bronx, not sure which, but he helped turn it around by being pro black, not anti white... I don't think Trump is racist, like a lot of others do, I can see him being slightly pro white, but mostly he wants to help America moreso than being anything else...

msharmony's photo
Tue 01/23/18 04:42 PM
there is always a reason to 'identify' called clarification.

I am pro dessert, but also pro healthy eating.

that means I support eating dessert, but I ALSO support the choice to eat healthy


I am pro woman, but I also support men, I am ALSO pro men

things are not inherently opposing just because they aren't simultaneously broadcast.

no photo
Tue 01/23/18 05:16 PM
Edited by Integrityis1st on Tue 01/23/18 05:18 PM
I am pro dessert, but also politics healthy eating
And that's about as complicated as I'm gonna get.
laugh

Oh. That's funny :arrow_up:what pro

Workin4it's photo
Tue 01/23/18 05:50 PM

Many times when people say they are 'pro' something, it is ASSUMED they must be 'anti' the opposite. And it is also assumed there is an opposite.

So when people say they are pro (insert gender here), it can be taken as being anti(different gender here)

or when people say they are pro(insert race here), it can be taken as being anti (different race here)

or if people say they are pro (insert nationality here) it is assumed they are anti(different nationality here)

In reality there are any number of issues, people, causes people can support but we tend to support, address, or speak of these issues one at a time. Just like when we say 'black lives matter' it is not the same as saying other lives don't. or if an event has ribbons to 'support cancer survivors' that doesn't mean those wearing ribbons don't also support HIV survivors or any other medical survivor group.

I believe the recent Women's March is a prime example as well. I think there were certain women who mistakenly took to the 'pro women' movement to reflect their 'anti men' stance, which unfortunately distracts from the 'cause' more than it helps it.

I wonder how many people believe in the idea that being pro something requires being anti something else?
two more issues for thought: pro- law( people who think illegal immigrants are breaking the law) is the same as anti- breaking the law. Pro -truth is the same as anti- lies ( the people who believe there is no evidence of Trump and Russia collusion but more evidence pointing to FBI and Obama administration collusion to get Hillary elected. Usually being anti -whatever means your pro-opposite of whatever.

msharmony's photo
Tue 01/23/18 06:52 PM
Yes, being ANTI(against) implies being pro something else.

but being PROF(for) something requires no ANTI

we can support more than one thing at a time and concurrently.

to be against something however, there must be something we'd RATHER or something we are for.