Philosophy Now Forum

thedoc wrote: You've just confirmed what has always been suspected,

Harbal wrote:

thedoc wrote: You've just confirmed what has always been suspected,

You're wrong about that, doc. Up until now, I had no idea.

Greta wrote:Yes, stereotypes are true in general but wrong in particular. You cannot validly judge an individual by their stereotype, though. How many here would like to be thought of as a generic honky? Would you feel misrepresented? Would you feel that much that makes you you is being ignored?

I have light brown skin, I've played drums for decades and have a fair sense of rhythm, much better than many untrained darker brown people. To see me in the street, you'd not pick me as a person with rhythm.

Meanwhile Obama was a medium-to-dark brown skinned member of the group notorious for lack of impulse control and intelligence. Yet he showed almost superhuman self control in office, and has always been amongst the most intelligent and eloquent of modern politicians. On the other hand, Trump - who is a very pale shade of red-brown - has childlike impulse control, and is clearly much less eloquent with complex subject matter and is less academically intelligent than Obama.

So stereotypes are worth noting, but most times they can be taken with a grain of salt.

thedoc wrote:

Greta wrote: Yes, stereotypes are true in general but wrong in particular. You cannot validly judge an individual by their stereotype, though. How many here would like to be thought of as a generic honky? Would you feel misrepresented? Would you feel that much that makes you you is being ignored?
So stereotypes are worth noting, but most times they can be taken with a grain of salt.

Jeff Foxworthy has made a very successful career making a stereotype out of rednecks, even though his definition is completely wrong compared to the original. "A Glorious Lack of Sophistication" is not usually associated with classical music, yet I prefer classical music. 2 of his other characteristics fit me perfectly, if the directions to your house include the phrase "turn off the paved road" and "do more of the vehicles on your property do not run than do run". In this case the individual stereotype doesn't fit very well.

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:

thedoc wrote:

Greta wrote: Yes, stereotypes are true in general but wrong in particular. You cannot validly judge an individual by their stereotype, though. How many here would like to be thought of as a generic honky? Would you feel misrepresented? Would you feel that much that makes you you is being ignored?
So stereotypes are worth noting, but most times they can be taken with a grain of salt.

Jeff Foxworthy has made a very successful career making a stereotype out of rednecks, even though his definition is completely wrong compared to the original. "A Glorious Lack of Sophistication" is not usually associated with classical music, yet I prefer classical music. 2 of his other characteristics fit me perfectly, if the directions to your house include the phrase "turn off the paved road" and "do more of the vehicles on your property do not run than do run". In this case the individual stereotype doesn't fit very well.

What an idiot. So you are saying you are a red-neck, except that you aren't a red-neck.

thedoc wrote:

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:

thedoc wrote:
Jeff Foxworthy has made a very successful career making a stereotype out of rednecks, even though his definition is completely wrong compared to the original. "A Glorious Lack of Sophistication" is not usually associated with classical music, yet I prefer classical music. 2 of his other characteristics fit me perfectly, if the directions to your house include the phrase "turn off the paved road" and "do more of the vehicles on your property do not run than do run". In this case the individual stereotype doesn't fit very well.

What an idiot. So you are saying you are a red-neck, except that you aren't a red-neck.

I'm saying that his definition is wrong.

vegetariantaxidermy wrote: Stereotypes occur after it has been noticed that a large number of individuals follow a particular pattern. I don't know which part of this people have so much trouble understanding. The definition of 'stereotype' doesn't mean, and never has meant, every single individual. This is why the American red-neck is a racist, country and western-loving, kkkristian idiot, because so many individuals in that neck of the woods are exactly that!

thedoc wrote:

vegetariantaxidermy wrote: Stereotypes occur after it has been noticed that a large number of individuals follow a particular pattern. I don't know which part of this people have so much trouble understanding. The definition of 'stereotype' doesn't mean, and never has meant, every single individual. This is why the American red-neck is a racist, country and western-loving, kkkristian idiot, because so many individuals in that neck of the woods are exactly that!

No a stereotype happens when one person notices that one or two people of a certain category act in a certain way, and then start talking to others who believe as they do, usually incorrectly.