topic Re: Cloistered Society in Community Chat

Cloistered Society

Marp — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 18:09:48 GMT

Do you think people that grew up in or live socially cloistered lives tend to be more inflexible in their thinking, tolerance and acceptance of differences than those from more diverse communities?

For the purpose of this discussion "socially cloistered" means an environment where nearly everyone has the same background and exposures that would limit how they see society beyond their individual experiences (i.e., I've never seen/heard that, who would think that way, that can't be true).

Re: Cloistered Society

Preds — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 18:17:32 GMT

Yes. Lack of exposure. Fear of the unknown.

Re: Cloistered Society

CrazyDaisy — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 18:18:38 GMT

While that may be an interesting study,anyone posting here would only be doing so on conjecture or limited to their personal experiences.

Re: Cloistered Society

itiswhatitis — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 18:18:52 GMT

@Marp wrote:

Do you think people that grew up in or live socially cloistered lives tend to be more inflexible in their thinking, tolerance and acceptance of differences than those from more diverse communities?

For the purpose of this discussion "socially cloistered" means an environment where nearly everyone has the same background and exposures that would limit how they see society beyond their individual experiences (i.e., I've never seen/heard that, who would think that way, that can't be true).

Yes. Yep. Yepper! It's a scientific fact. It's part of the human condition. What you describe is not intentional necessarily, but yeah those who lead fairly homogenous lives will only know and understand their own lives.

One good thing though is that the world is open to people via internet and media. Oft times what is viewed by others as it relates to other cultures, is misguided because there is not true world contact. Cultural norms, their place in society and so on is compared to others' and often not grounded in reality.

Re: Cloistered Society

itiswhatitis — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 18:19:30 GMT

@CrazyDaisy wrote:
While that may be an interesting study,anyone posting here would only be doing so on conjecture or limited to their personal experiences.

Why do you say this @CrazyDaisy.

Re: Cloistered Society

Moonchilde — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 18:19:38 GMT

I have known and continue to know people who firmly believe that if they haven't personally experienced something, don't have a close friend or family member who has experienced something, or "have never heard" of something - it simply doesn't exist, isn't true, cannot be and anyone who insists otherwise exaggerates, is a liar, stupid, etc., etc.

I have never seen a common denominator among them as to worldliness or lack thereof, insulation in a "community" or anything like that. In fact I'd say more the opposite in my personal experience - IMO it's often people who should "know better" as they *have* been exposed to a variety of peoples, situations and viewpoints.

Re: Cloistered Society

CrazyDaisy — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 18:19:41 GMT

@Preds wrote:
Yes. Lack of exposure. Fear of the unknown.

I would disagree, lack of exposure could also foster curiosity.

Re: Cloistered Society

chickenbutt — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 18:20:14 GMT

Absolutely, no doubt about it!

Re: Cloistered Society

itiswhatitis — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 18:22:56 GMT

@CrazyDaisy wrote:
@Preds wrote:
Yes. Lack of exposure. Fear of the unknown.
I would disagree, lack of exposure could also foster curiosity.

Yes, but it might have to stop there for some societies. It would be good if they had the means to travel and/or study other cultures. However, it's still best to immerse one's self in another culture to understand it. I believe this because there are so many sub cultures within cultures and it would be hard for them not to generalize.

Re: Cloistered Society

Kitlynn — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 18:23:33 GMT

I grew up in a small rural area where the main livihood was farming and ranching. We didn't have any African Americans living in our town. And only a couple of Mexican families. It was really a pretty much all Caucasion community. I was a Sophomore in high school before I actually saw an African American and that was at a nearby college. Now my parents raised us to not judge any one by the color of their skin, religious beliefs, political affliations or their sexual preferences. They told us that everyone is created by God and that all we should judge anyone on is how they treat us. Now I have to say to this day I think that was great advice and it has served me well. When I grew up and moved to a city I never gave a thought to any of these things. I just saw and still do see all of us as human beings and I feel like there is good and bad in every race. So I think it has less to do with where you are raised and live and more to do with how you were raised.

Re: Cloistered Society

itiswhatitis — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 18:24:29 GMT

@Moonchilde wrote:
I have known and continue to know people who firmly believe that if they haven't personally experienced something, don't have a close friend or family member who has experienced something, or "have never heard" of something - it simply doesn't exist, isn't true, cannot be and anyone who insists otherwise exaggerates, is a liar, stupid, etc., etc.

I have never seen a common denominator among them as to worldliness or lack thereof, insulation in a "community" or anything like that. In fact I'd say more the opposite in my personal experience - IMO it's often people who should "know better" as they *have* been exposed to a variety of peoples, situations and viewpoints.

What you describe is choice. No hindrances to knowledge of other cultures.

Re: Cloistered Society

Kachina624 — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 18:25:05 GMT

Very thought provoking subject @Marp. I absolutely do think that people who've grown up seeing only one viewpoint are likely to be among the most intolerant among us. One advantage of a good education is learning about other races, countries, customs and religions and their pros and cons. We may not agree with what other are taught or practice but we learn tolerance and appreciation.

One thing members of a cloistered society often do is refuse to listen to or have any contact with outsiders. They are narrow minded and think their viewpoint is the only legitimate viewpoint. This is when they become dangerous to the world society.

Re: Cloistered Society

CrazyDaisy — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 18:25:06 GMT

@itiswhatitis wrote:
@CrazyDaisy wrote:
While that may be an interesting study,anyone posting here would only be doing so on conjecture or limited to their personal experiences.
Why do you say this @CrazyDaisy.

Because everyone will answer this question based upon thier own experience and belief system. As an example, if you have never met, spoken or gotten to know a person from the Amish community you will have a very different percieption than someone who has.

Re: Cloistered Society

LTT1 — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 18:25:25 GMT

@chickenbutt
ITA-- from MY life experiences.

Re: Cloistered Society

Moonchilde — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 18:26:29 GMT

@CrazyDaisy wrote:
@Preds wrote:
Yes. Lack of exposure. Fear of the unknown.
I would disagree, lack of exposure could also foster curiosity.

This. It *might* be a reason and sometimes surely is, but it's not the only or even a major reason. Either one thinks for themselves or they don't. Certain societal groups may discourage it, but that doesn't mean *everyone* in that group toes the line and never thinks or explores outside their comfort zone. You are either inclined to think for yourself or not.

Re: Cloistered Society

Noel7 — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 18:27:27 GMT

Some nuns live in a cloistered setting, but I wouldn't include them, they grew up in the real world. Of course after decades they may not be in touch with the modern world, which is the point of being cloistered.

Re: Cloistered Society

itiswhatitis — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 18:27:42 GMT

@Kitlynn wrote:
I grew up in a small rural area where the main livihood was farming and ranching. We didn't have any African Americans living in our town. And only a couple of Mexican families. It was really a pretty much all Caucasion community. I was a Sophomore in high school before I actually saw an African American and that was at a nearby college. Now my parents raised us to not judge any one by the color of their skin, religious beliefs, political affliations or their sexual preferences. They told us that everyone is created by God and that all we should judge anyone on is how they treat us. Now I have to say to this day I think that was great advice and it has served me well. When I grew up and moved to a city I never gave a thought to any of these things. I just saw and still do see all of us as human beings and I feel like there is good and bad in every race. So I think it has less to do with where you are raised and live and more to do with how you were raised.

Good point. Remember you lived in America. This might not be true for totally homogenous societies like, say Japan and other countries where very little diversity exists. There are some countries like this.

Re: Cloistered Society

CrazyDaisy — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 18:28:40 GMT

@itiswhatitis wrote:
@CrazyDaisy wrote:
@Preds wrote:
Yes. Lack of exposure. Fear of the unknown.
I would disagree, lack of exposure could also foster curiosity.
Yes, but it might have to stop there for some societies. It would be good if they had the means to travel and/or study other cultures. However, it's still best to immerse one's self in another culture to understand it. I believe this because there are so many sub cultures within cultures and it would be hard for them not to generalize.

You do not have to travel and study other cultures to be tolerant and acceptance of differences as the question asked.

Re: Cloistered Society

JustJazzmom — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 18:28:45 GMT

Reminds me of one of the songs from West Side Story -- A Boy Like That

"Stick to your own kind, one of your own kind' warns Anita to Maria.

Re: Cloistered Society

Noel7 — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 18:29:32 GMT

How many truly cloistered settings are out there in America, I wonder.

TV alone lets in the worldly scene.