Stereotypes (and Why I Hate Them).

[TheRealCJ]

Okay, so here's the deal. I hate stereotypes. More accurately, I hate stereotypes that are lived up to by the people being stereotyped.

I get it a lot when I'm at work (I work in a supermarket, so I interact with a lot of people).

It's just that people seem (and I'm not going to name any particular groups in this rant, in order to remain impartial) to live up to the impressions put upon them by society to a distressing degree.

And then I feel bad when I (mentally) lump them in with a particular group, even though they could be leading it within weeks.

Help me feel better.

 

[MalevolentJim]

Well as an irishman i find being associated with alcoholism rude,predujice and depressingly patronisng.
Fuck this thread *returns to Whiskey shots,potatoes and Leem neesons dressed up as leprechauns*

 

[TheRealCJ]

The people you meet are probably all dicks and most likely deserve a lot worse than being stereotyped.

No, the problem is it's not just social stereotypes I'm contending with: It's FUCKING ETHNIC stereotypes. As in, racial. Which make me feel terrible

 

[The_Healer]

I have a solution: Stop caring about others.

Let them do what they like... it's not your fault if they look stupid.

 

[crudus]

What really makes it worse when you try not to lump them together and they end up letting you down and fit perfectly in the stereotype.

 

[Legion]

All stereotypes about people have a grain of truth in them somewhere. They wouldn't have been invented otherwise, they are usually just over the top and too generalised.

As long as you don't treat them differently then I don't see the issue.

 

[Zacharine]

Snip

You do realize that you are currently living up to the stereotype of a person who hates stereotyopes?

 

[TheRealCJ]

Snip

You do realize that you are currently living up to the stereotype of a person who hates stereotyopes?

That's mostly why I feel so guilty.

 

[Eagle Est1986]

You can't think of everyone as an individual, you'd have to have too much compassion to do so, it would probably have a negative impact on the rest of your social interactions.
Everyone starts off as a stereotype, let them prove that they aren't as generic as that.

 

[TheRealCJ]

No, the problem is it's not just social stereotypes I'm contending with: It's FUCKING ETHNIC stereotypes. As in, racial. Which make me feel terrible

Sigh.

Okay, look. Sometimes, stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason.
But if it's really killing you, do this.
Let's say you're stereotyping black people.

Separate black people from "gangstas."
Those cunts who wear their pants around their ankles, wear their hats backwards, and listen to shitty music?
They're not black.
They're cunts.

So instead of stereotyping them because they're black, you're now stereotyping them as cunts, because they are.

...Now if you'll excuse me, I have a date with vodka.
...Another date.

...what I'm saying is, I may not be sober.

You're suprisingly eloquent when you're off your tits.

 

[Zacharine]

Snip

You do realize that you are currently living up to the stereotype of a person who hates stereotyopes?

That's mostly why I feel so guilty.

Well don't feel. Because stereotyping is what humans do.

We are literally built to analyze the world around us and then subcounsiously find patterns.

Example: A tasty, easy to catch animal eats plenty of this kind of plant. There is an animal track nearby. Therefore, If I lay in ambush over there, there is a good chance of cathing a meal. This has worked several times in the past.

We simply apply the same principles to human social behaviour. People that give us certain signals, based on how they talk, look, act and dress, tend to have certain personality characteristic repeating and act in accordancce of a certain pattern.

We identify these signals, see the personality traits and the way these individuals behave. Every time this pattern we have found is repeated, we have more and more reason to accept that pattern as real.

Thus is a stereotype born. This is by no means a bad thing. It allows us to have realistic expectations of how people will act and react.

However, when we become trapped by these expectations, when we are unable to see the individuals behind the pattern, racism begins to be born.

As long as you are aware of this, stereotypes are a good tool to analyze human social behavior and are not anything bad. You can avoid the pitfalls by seeing them and being aware of them. And thus there is no reason to feel down.

Remember this and you might feel better.

 

[The Blue Mongoose]

Well as an irishman i find being associated with alcoholism rude,predujice and depressingly patronisng.
Fuck this thread *returns to Whiskey shots,potatoes and Leem neesons dressed up as leprechauns*

Liam Neeson would not be amused. He is not a "leprechaun". He is a "badass". He could kill half the planet with just his fists and some anger.

Moving on: I try not to stereotype people. However every now and again someone fits a stereotype so well that I must. See the people who dress in lame tracksuits and listen to "dooff-dooff" music from their cars in the parking lot of my work. They're stereotyped as "wanna-be gangster losers" in my book.

 

[Sigel]

No, the problem is it's not just social stereotypes I'm contending with: It's FUCKING ETHNIC stereotypes. As in, racial. Which make me feel terrible

Sigh.

Okay, look. Sometimes, stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason.
But if it's really killing you, do this.
Let's say you're stereotyping black people.

Separate black people from "gangstas."
Those cunts who wear their pants around their ankles, wear their hats backwards, and listen to shitty music?
They're not black.
They're cunts.

So instead of stereotyping them because they're black, you're now stereotyping them as cunts, because they are.

...Now if you'll excuse me, I have a date with vodka.
...Another date.

...what I'm saying is, I may not be sober.

You're suprisingly eloquent when you're off your tits.

I was just thinking that, but still nicely said Max. You should post more when you are intoxicated.

 

[Jinx_Dragon]

I feel for you...

I too have a problem with stereotyping but even more so when I am faced with people who live up to said stereotypes. Oh, sure, understandable living up to one if it is a positive stereotype but we are not talking about that type right now. No we are talking about the negative and stupid stereotyping that people seem to believe that just HAVE to follow as if it was a legal requirement....

I can't fathom why you would want to!

Why the hell do you want?

Please... please tell me.... Just... why?
Why do that?!

 

[BladeOfAkriloth]

Isn't it just wonderful how hating stereotypes has became a stereotype in it's own power?....

 

[traceur_]

Laugh.

I just usually think "Fucking derros" then move along. It's their fault not yours, don't burden yourself unnecessarily.

 

[Beartrucci]

Well at school the only thing I get stereotyped for is having a Greek backround. My friends say the stuff to me, but only as a joke, and I join in with it because there are kids at my school who do the whole fullysick routine and generally act top shit and my friends usually say that I'm not one of them so I can't get offended when we have the occassional joke about it.

 

[Awesometown]

c'mon sterotypes are funny watch any comedy tv show
sterotypes
I live up to my sterotype sometimes that why its funny like hah ha we so do that it's negative sterotypes that are bad a sterotype that portrays a certain type of person in a bad way

 

[AvsJoe]

Well don't feel. Because stereotyping is what humans do.

We are literally built to analyze the world around us and then subcounsiously find patterns.

Example: A tasty, easy to catch animal eats plenty of this kind of plant. There is an animal track nearby. Therefore, If I lay in ambush over there, there is a good chance of cathing a meal. This has worked several times in the past.

We simply apply the same principles to human social behaviour. People that give us certain signals, based on how they talk, look, act and dress, tend to have certain personality characteristic repeating and act in accordancce of a certain pattern.

We identify these signals, see the personality traits and the way these individuals behave. Every time this pattern we have found is repeated, we have more and more reason to accept that pattern as real.

Thus is a stereotype born. This is by no means a bad thing. It allows us to have realistic expectations of how people will act and react.

However, when we become trapped by these expectations, when we are unable to see the individuals behind the pattern, racism begins to be born.

As long as you are aware of this, stereotypes are a good tool to analyze human social behavior and are not anything bad. You can avoid the pitfalls by seeing them and being aware of them. And thus there is no reason to feel down.

Remember this and you might feel better.

And that, my friend, is one of the greatest posts I have ever read. There should be some type of award for 'great post'.

Anyway, stereotypes are everywhere. Businesses use demographics to lump a bunch of people into one group and then try to sell that group stuff based on what they are stereotyped to like. Axe has those stupid commercials where every woman in the vicinity suddenly becomes physically attracted to a guy who wears Axe. Those commercials are targeted at young males because young males are stereotypically horny and will do most anything for sex. There is no worse industry for this than the insurance companies, though. For instance: young people stereotypically suck at driving, thus they pay more for car insurance. Ditto women and Asians, they're insurance rates are higher as well. You could be a 21-year old Japanese girl and be perfect on the road, but you're always going to pay more than the 36-year old white guy. That's racist, but that's how the industry thrives.

 

[Toasty]

Snip

You do realize that you are currently living up to the stereotype of a person who hates stereotyopes?

yup. I agree.
Though this brings me on to why I dislike stereotyping.....because it is a way of making something/action/person tame, and not to be seen as credible......take for example the stereotype of a Feminist, a 'butch unattractive lesbian' they focus in on their appearance and not what they believe. Females are discouraged from doing or saying anything that would get them labeled as a feminist, becuase if they do the stereotype of unattractive butch' will be imposed on them...........and everyone is told since birth it is TERRIBLE to be unattractive.
So fewer feminist opinions are voiced and those that do, have the steorotype forced on them so no one really takes what they say seriously. So the Patriarchal society continues under no 'serious' threat.

Sorry about the rant and the longwinded example, hope it made sense.