Sterotypes and generalisations

Jo · 22-09-2003, 15:52

I believe racism is based largely on ignorance and formed through steroetypng and generalisations. What we don't know scares us, what scares us makes us defensive, defence turns into attack - get my drift?
Anyway, upon personal request from a fellow Accy-webber who knows who she is....( ;D), I thought I'd start a new topic. The topic I've chosen is stereotypes and generalisations.  
OK I'll start with a few I've heard - partly on this forum - would be glad to hear if people agree / disagree etc. and why.

Here goes:

Germans are loadmouthed, ill-mannered and arrogant.   :-X
Southeners are cold and unfriendly   &gt;

Older people are not open to change  

The British are conservative  :

Italians are always with the side that's winning  

People with GCSEs consider themselves better than those with no qualifications  ???

OK guys, get your teeth into those and get some more piling in  

Jo.

Tealeaf · 22-09-2003, 16:01

Jo,
I don't particularly like homo's, euro's, lesbo's, fatso's, vegatarians, vegans, frogs, wops, spivs, commy's, anarchists, pinko's of any shade, so called asylum seekers, Richard Branson, scroungers, pimps, tarts, drug dealers, burglars, animal rights lovers, hunt sabateurrs, soft southern puffters, Man U fans, Scouse scallywags, tykes and riff-raff in general. However, I'm liberal minded and always prepared to make an exception.

lettie · 22-09-2003, 16:09

Met loads of nice southerners, and Germans. Some of the richest people in the world are self made and don't have qualifications. I read somewhere that Richard Branson didn't do GCE's. People do generalise because that's human nature, and we have probably all done it. Before anybody denies this, ask yourselves this question.

Have you ever told or laughed at an Irish, Scouse, Indian, Chinese, Mother - in - law, Blonde etc, joke????

That is stereotyping and generalisation at its best and some of the best jokes in the world and the greatest entertainers would not exist if it were not for the human need to stereotype. ;D  ;D  ;D

malibu · 22-09-2003, 16:11

Very thought provoking that one.

I would say that it depends as to the context that they where said and meant. Any comment meant to attack someone is wrong.

A question though is it that we need to watch what we say or is it that we have to not take personal comments by others?

Or is it a mixture of both we should watch what we say but ignore unfounded comments by others?

Generalised comments tend to be unfounded as nobody is the same we are unique.