60 Minutes

[madboy]

I didn't see the 60 minutes item, but my opinion is very much along the "victim" line. Taking out ethnicity for a minute - an overly simplistic view of humanity is that people are either victims or not. Those who are not generally deal with life, accept that things are how things are mostly for reasons beyond their control, and so they just get on with life.

Then there are those who feel that they are victims. They were abused as a kid, they got picked on at school, their parent's split up (or they were from solo-parent families to start with), they have a physical/mental disability, they feel their great great great great great great grandfather got screwed in a contract negotiation... bla bla bla. Really, who friggin cares? Just build a bridge and get over it.

I work in disability claims, and those claimants I deal with who have a "victim" mentality are guaranteed to have a longer recovery, more ongoing problems, and generally be on claim a hell of a lot longer than those who just accept that whatever has happened has happened, for whatever reason doesn't matter, and life must go on. This transfers into all aspects of life.

Where a particular section of the population subscribe to the victim mentality then they are ensuring their own failure. Until that section of the population takes responsibility for themselves, instead of blaming my section of the population, then they will continue to fail. You can choose to be a victim, you can also choose not to.

[Hitcher]

Criminal offending isn't a racial issue, it's a socio-economic issue. Same as house fires.

[speedpro]

Criminal offending isn't a racial issue, it's a socio-economic issue. Same as house fires.

The programme refuted that particular theory with examples.

[Hitcher]

The programme refuted that particular theory with examples.

Really? Shame I missed it. So poor people don't offend more than not so poor people?

[idb]

Really? Shame I missed it. So poor people don't offend more than not so poor people?

It said that poor Maori people offend in far greater proportion to poor folk of other ethnicities, suggesting a cause other than poverty.

[Skunk]

So poor people don't offend more than not so poor people?

They just get caught and found guilty more often...

[Skyryder]

Who saw this tonight?
There was a segment on Maori crime. The various popular causative factors were demolished, poverty, racism, etc. by comparison with other demographics. For example, the poverty rate amongst Whites is the same as Maoris, but Maori's make up 3 - 4 times more prisoners. Pacific Islanders suffer lower employment rates and at least as much racism as Maoris, but their level of imprisonment is three times less. Then the two proponents of this particular theory, both Maori, laid the blame at the aggresive, violent aspect of their culture as typified by the Haka.
It was stated that if Maori crime rates were at the same level as whites, we would have one of the lowest rate of imprisonment in the world.
Not just food for though, but a banquet.

I saw bits and pieces of it. Before I would go down the road that was being advocated I would need to see the comparisons between Maori and European for crimes of viloence. I will concede that there may be some merit in the argument.

Skyryder

[Lou Girardin]

The other issue mentioned in addition to the Haka, was the 'staunch' attitude. Otherwise known as looking for trouble. Any reflection on their 'mana' invites a disproportionately violent response.
And I've always thought that their traditional welcome seemed to be less than welcoming, threatening in fact. Especially compared with some other Polynesian cultures.

[flyin]

was the 'staunch' attitude. Otherwise known as looking for trouble. Any reflection on their 'mana' invites a disproportionately violent response.
.

This is another trait of the "poor me", victim persona.
To become defensive instantly comes naturally as they want to defend all they have thinking everyone else is out to take it from them.... be it confidence, happiness, or possesions.