Stereotypes. What is a stereotype? What do we use them for? Why do we have them? Are they any good?

Stereotypes.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/stereotype

Racism, prejudice, excusing racism/prejudice.

Because people will insist on generalizing entire groups based just on personal experience. Humanity is pretty stupid.

No.

Ok, I get it. I'll close it..? >_<

stereotype is like this. "Kanye west is a gay fish because he likes fish sticks." Mostly its saying a negative opinoin about someone

He's not a gay fish

another stereotype is that mexicans have alot of children or americans eat lots of burgers but still win every war

Can anyone close it? It doesn't seem like there's a lot to discuss after Payne's comments.

Stereotypes are also used to (many times justifiably) classify a similar group of people based on actions most of them seem to take. It's not always about racism and prejudice, despite what mainstream media tells you.


That's not stupid, it's an easier way of attempting to understand and act in the presence of a situation. It's a basic form of adapting to your surroundings and situations that may occur.


Sometimes. I may go as far to say more times than not.

The american one is true

We might have something to discuss anyways. Thank you for your great comments.


Now that's an active stereotype. People asume that every american eats a lot of burgers. That's actually not true. Many of them are fit, and go running every day, just like in other country's. That imprents Ragnavox' comment.
"Stereotypes are also used to (many times justifiably) classify a similar group of people based on actions most of them seem to take."

Actually it is an evolutionary tool, and a very good one at that!

When you see a pack of crocodiles approaching you, what will you do? Go try give them a hug? Or run the fuck away? You realise that crocodiles have a nasty habit of wanting to gnaw on human skulls, and you probably prefer that not be your skull.

Similarly, when you see a group of black guys dressed like gangsters walking down an dark alley towards you, you turn around and walk away.
Maybe they are perfectly nice guys on their way to buy some organic fruit. However, you 'play the odds' as such and assume that you should not get in their way.


Back to the animal kingdom again, you know that apples are pretty tasty stuff. When you need some food, you grab an apple because they rock your world.

When you need the time, but you don't have it, you probably ask someone around your age, or a respectable looking fella. You realise that by hitting up someone like that you are most likely to get the time. Most people would give you the time if you asked, but you instinctively ask certain people.


You physically do NOT have the time to get to know every single person you see, you need a way to make snap judgments and play the odds. Stereotypes group people together and allow you to judge someone quickly and effectively without needing to get to know them.
Practically no one conforms 100% to stereotypes. But practically everyone conforms to some degree.