It has ever been an instinct to abhor the different and hate the alien, and like many of those human drives stemming directly from ‘selfish genes’ it is one easily controlled or even banished. Human history is littered with hideous crimes, decades of strife and near genocides because of such drives. It should be different now. Planetary national borders are non-existent, most people are of evidently mixed race, and they can change their racial appearance and sex at will, or even simply cease to be human. One would suppose this has rendered reasons for hate impotent.
Not so. Catadapts will detest roadapts, who in turn are hostile to ophidapts, for no more reason than reflecting a pale imitation of Terran predator-prey cycles. Many humans consider AIs an abomination, and many loathe them – as the supervisor, or rulers, have always been loathed. Pure-bred humans can find haimans repugnant, and haimans can consider pure humans primitive animals. To dispense with these hatreds, we need not to want them. Unfortunately, people cherish their bigotry, misanthropy and animosities, and they don them like well-worn and well-loved clothes.
- ME - No Not Really!
- From How It Is by Gordon