[edited from original] Our cognitive systems are such that it is
difficult for humans to process the Universe in all of its
uniqueness. From our human perspective, we experience the world
and our brains form patterns that we can compress so that they
can fit inside. For some things, this is not usually an issue.
Two apples aren't really two apples; their inner configurations
are different, they were ripe at different times, they will rot
at different times. All the molecules within are not the same.
They're different. Yet, our brains only have so much room. We
find things in common and put them both in a category. The
category is "apple". Now we can have two of something. Two
apples, even though they are each unique. For our purposes, they
are similar enough. Some marvelous things have come from this
human ability: mathematics itself wouldn't be here without our
need to categorize the universe to fit into our brains. However,
there is a issue. What works well enough for apples, does not
work for human beings. Apple norms and human norms are vastly
different because we are not apples. We are humans. Pattern
formation is part of our cognitive process. But it should not be
applied with human beings. We are all unique. We are
individuals. Social norms have formed over the course of history
and continue to form as society has come together over the
Internet. But new norms can also be straightjackets for
recognition of humans as unique individuals. This cartoon is not
an example of "new norm" vs "old norm". It appears like it might
be, but it's not. It is stereotypes. Stereotypes are weapons,
categorizing people, removing their uniquenesses from them, and
casting individuals into a negative light. "You are similar to
this pattern that I have formed. Therefore you are that pattern.
You are not you. You are this pattern." It goes downhill from
there into a very bad place for humans to be treating other
humans.
