Double Standards. When you have a particular view about a subject, but stand virtually on the polar opposite on a similar subject. Ok, that was my personal definition, so then I looked it up on Dictionary.com and picked up these as well.
— n
a set of principles that allows greater freedom to one person or group than to another
Now, I find that last definition interesting, because the discussion at work was specifically about how it seems to be more tolerable for many to allow for lesbian couples, but not gay men as couples.any code or set of principles containing different provisions for one group of people than for another, especially an unwritten code of sexual behavior permitting men more freedom than women.
One of the people in the discussion was a gay man who has personally experienced this on many occasions.
I noticed it with one of my close friends when she was in high school. When she came out as lesbian, many of the other students were fine with it, maybe incredulous at first, but accepting, or even felt it was 'cool'. However, if a young man came out as gay, he was ostracized, teased mercilessly, and in one instance, even beat up after school.
To the definition as listed, I find it true as well. Even as far back as my own Jr. High days, I remember wondering with some friends why if a teenage boy was sexually promiscuous he was 'a stud', a good thing, but if a girl was, she was 'a slut', a very bad thing.
Outside of the realm of sexuality, I find double standards elsewhere too.
A young friend recently learned that in many oriental countries, cat and dog are on the menu. In the US this is extremely unacceptable.
So, I wonder, why is it ok for us to grow and butcher cows, pigs, chickens and sheep, and even buffalo, emu, ostriches, elk and other 'exotic' meats, but it is completely unacceptable to eat horses, dogs and cats?
I, myself, have wondered recently why it is acceptable to grow rats and mice as feeders for other carnivorous pets, but many people would be appalled at using hamsters or gerbils the same way. Why is mostly acceptable to feed, say a large snake, or a captive raptor, rabbits and guinea pigs, but not kittens or puppies? Why is it ok to feed quail, chicks and pigeons, but not finches, cockatiels and parakeets?
Then I wonder if this is particularly a view in the US? or are these views held elsewhere?
I know horse is frequently eaten in Mexico, and that in the US, if a horse is going to be butchered, even for dog food, it has to be shipped to Canada and it will never be done in the US.
Even here on Magistream, I have seen a couple of double standards. One that seems to be big news right now is an undercurrent of "I want to be able to have every last gold I can scrounge together, but others should not be allowed to hoard it." And similar to that, "I want to be able to sell donation pets for as much gold as I can get, but if I'm buying, I want to get it way cheap."
That last one was even a major reason why the first attempt at shops pooling together to lower doni prices failed.
So, after all my rambling...
What are some double standards YOU hold?
What are some you are aware of?
Any thoughts on why double standards exist?