Comments on: The Physical Pains of Discrimination http://thesituationist.wordpress.com/2007/07/15/the-physical-pains-of-discrimination/ Thu, 23 May 2013 19:48:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Michael Metzler http://thesituationist.wordpress.com/2007/07/15/the-physical-pains-of-discrimination/#comment-4234 Sat, 21 Jul 2007 17:57:14 +0000 http://thesituationist.wordpress.com/2007/07/15/the-physical-pains-of-feeling-discriminated/#comment-4234 This excellent post connects some interesting dots. I’m hoping to find more current discussions or research addressing social mechanisms that ‘intentionally’ exploit this sort of physiological domino effect that results from what would appear, on the face of it, as very mild and innocent forms of harassment. I’m thinking of targeted victims such as the unwanted family member, the nuisance of a too-ethical employee, the polis’ latest freethinking threat, and in particular: the member of a typical American religious community who questions the community’s leader. Common forms of ‘shunning’ and Christian ‘excommunication’ might also fit the bill, such as when the Apostle Paul wants to hand over the rebellious member to Satan for a while – possibly ending in physical death. My belief is that successful leaders in more communitarian settings frequently employ subtle forms of discriminatory language and gestures with powerful downhill physiological and emotional effect.

There is a difference, though, between strategically singling out the individual and the injustice done to a larger social group; in the latter case, each individual has the larger group for solace and dealing with the damaging effects. And the discrimination might not be as strategic.

In any case, thanks again for some of the best blogging on the internet.

Michael Metzler
michaelmetzler@cox.net

]]> By: Scott Caplan http://thesituationist.wordpress.com/2007/07/15/the-physical-pains-of-discrimination/#comment-4052 Sun, 15 Jul 2007 21:36:10 +0000 http://thesituationist.wordpress.com/2007/07/15/the-physical-pains-of-feeling-discriminated/#comment-4052 Randomly enough, I was just reading an article last night from the 2006 issue of the Blackletter Law Journal touching on a related issue. According to the article, settlements from unlawful discrimination suits are usually considered taxable income because they are not associated with any physical but rather only with emotional pain or damages. The cite is Stephen Cohen and Laura Sager, Why Civil Rights Lawyers Should Study Tax, 22 Harv. BlackLetter L.J. 1, 2-9 (2006).

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