<p>Stereotypes exist because they are usually true. Sorry, but my experience stereotypes though not always true, are true in general. They exist for a reason</p>
<p>I agree with private_joker. If people could get to know other people then it could lessen stereotypes [hopefully]. I'm black, and I'm attracted to boys of a wide racial spectrum. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, my friends think that's near impossible. I'm walking with my friend [she's asian, for the record] and I ask her who she thinks I'll date. She lists every black boy in our school [even the ones who have girlfriends already >.<]. she never listed a boy of a different race. I was irked at that. </p>
<p>My school is predominantly asian. The boys ALWAYS laugh at the mere thought of dating a black girl. That also makes me mad as well. [grrr...]</p>
<p>meh. I guess there willl always be stereotypes but...::sighs::</p>
<p>There's a reason stereotypes exist, because generally there is some truth to it. Stereotypes aren't derived from fallacies. That doesn't mean they are always true though, and because they aren't always true that's why one has to get to know the person before judging them based on stereotypes.</p>
<p>Right like I'm white and fit the can't dance dorky stiff stereotype. I'm from chicago and don't fit the fat stereotype.</p>
<p>Chances are most people fit a few stereotypes, but not others. Obviously not all black people are loud and obnoxious, and there are definitly white people that aren't stiff's like me and who are loud and obnoxious.</p>
<p>But overall in general stereotypes tend to be based on fact. For example I'd say a much higher percentage of blacks tend to be loud and obnoxious than whites just as a higher percentage of whites tend to be serious stiffs. But not everyone, it's just higher percentages that make the stereotypes.</p>
<p>I'm white and while I mostly fit the "Abercrombie Prep" stereotype, I also have this job as a computer technician and I play trombone (which isn't too common among preps/jocks/cheerleaders/those types).</p>
<p>There is a reason stereotypes exist. People hang out with others like them. I tend to avoid the nerds/goths/geeks. Hearing people talk about their death metal concerts, artwork, Halo games, etc just doesn't appeal to me. Perhaps it's because I associate with folks in the same "genre" as myself.</p>
<p>As far as race is concerned, I've got "white boy" plastered all over me. However, I know many blacks and asians who also fit the "white person" stereotype through dress and actions. One of my best friends is black, talks better English than anyone I know, drives a BMW (a classic one) and always wears pink Polo Ralph Lauren polo shirts!</p>
<p>And because somewhere in this post it was about dating and whatnot...I'm one of those people who only goes after people of the same race and social classification as myself.</p>
<p>I have nothing against other stereotypes/races, it's just that either close friendship (with stereotypes) would never work out and dating (with races) just isn't something I'd do.</p>
<p>Even though I'm cool with other races and whatnot, I am strongly against homosexuals. I refuse to associate with them. Why? Because they're WRONG. Man and woman is like a jigsaw puzzle--only one way to put it together. Gays and lesbians are the only people I don't even acknowledge.</p>
<p>Hmm, I think gay guys found a way to stick themselves together. LOL that's sick LOL</p>
<p>People like to say stereotypes are derived from truth. IMHO I think that's BS. I would think that for something to be considered a truth, it would need to be universal all the time(applicable in all situations)... That simply isn't the case with humans in general. Unpredictability is synonymous with being human... People certainly don't have the same experiences in life and I tend to think that people are molded by their experiences. I think people will reflect in life what they have experienced in life. I just don't get how people can apply some ridiculous idea to a groups of people they know nothing about. Get to know the individual. How do people expect to see each person as a mere individual when they hold on to these little ideas about "stereotypes= some truth" in the back of their mind. We all have stereotypes; I agree with that...but we can actively choose not use them in our judgment of people.</p>
<p>Why did gay people come into this??? Let's not turn this into an anti-gay thread now.</p>
<p>Well I think there's a flaw with your reasoning because simply because it's not a universal truth doesn't mean that something can't be true. Not only that but people aren't just molded by their experience but also by other factors such as friends. Reason why I use friends is because growing up they have as much influence on the things you do than anything else. For example, in my school, and I'm from the city, I know many asian kids. Many of them are really smart. (And when I say asian I mean like chinese, japanese, vietnamese, korean, etc.) Now this of course is not true of all asian kids that I've encountered, because I know many that are just barely getting by in class but this is probably a minority of the asian kids I know. Now simply because ALL asians I've encountered, or just ALL asians in general, aren't smart it doesn't mean that there aren't smart asians out there. It doesn't have to be universal for it to be true.</p>
<p>So what are the guidelines for it being true then? Well, I should probably ask what are your guidelines...I am just guessing we have different opinions on what makes something true...</p>
<p>Example: I don't see how a stereotype such as black girls are loud has some actual truth behind it...In my mind being loud would only fit with that specific group (black girls) for it to be true. Why would someone point out a specific group if they did not imply that characteristic was exclusive to that particular group? I have met all types of people who were LOUD...Hispanics, Asians, whites...you name it. I have met black girls in my school who were so quiet and would never say anything in class. This proved the stereotype false in my mind. In my experience, just when you think you have some idea about a group or individual, someone comes along and proves you wrong. </p>
<p>All in all, I just want to try to be open minded about people and try not to judge too quickly. I wouldn't want someone automatically thinking they know everything about me and what to expect from me.</p>
<p>Also people you meet would fall under experiences that you would encounter within your life...I feel experiences encompass your interactions within your life.</p>
<p>IM BROWN, my parents are from southeast asia....why is it that when i walk to Abercrombie and Fitch............EVERYONE STARES AT ME WITH A LOOK THAT MEANS WHAT IS HE DOING HERE?....now thats a stereotype about abercrombie is only for whites................ oh well i still wear abercrombie and fitch, polo, american eagle, aeropostale.....dont care what people say or think of you...who cares.........ill go out with any female from a different race.....
so for all you stereotypes:
IM BROWN AND ASIAN, ITS LIKE A MAD COW DISEASE
BUT I BET I SCORED THREE TIMES THAN YOU ON THE SATS</p>
<p>hehehe, i'm black (albeit really light-skinned) and I work at Abercrombie and Fitch...</p>
<p>"IM BROWN AND ASIAN, ITS LIKE A MAD COW DISEASE
BUT I BET I SCORED THREE TIMES THAN YOU ON THE SATS"</p>
<p>LOL is this a joke? ok you got stared at in amb ercrombie and have 3 times the Sat's, thats the stereotype, you troll</p>
<p>For interracial dating... I think it's a lot easier for white men to date women of other races (and a lot of them have a thing for Asian women) than it is for white women to date black men. That one, for some reason, gets people (i.e. white men) on a gut level. </p>
<p>College is one of the few times that you can date interracially without having too many problems. Parents aren't around, so they don't care (and believe me, they do care - at the very least, they are worried about what people are going to think of you); everyone around you is completely accepting; and you aren't thinking about the thorny issues about children and where to live, which is what can really drive interracial couples apart.</p>
<p>My $.02.</p>
<p>PRIVATE_JOKER WROTE
[QUOTE]
PS.: Gemstar, isn't it weird how all black girls are put in one category? I'm aware that blacks don't have a positive societal image, and we do merit that to some extent. But, I only wish that people had enough experience with a diverse spectrum of blacks that they could differentiate us from myth and reality.
[/QUOTE]
</p>
<p>it is weird, and annoying. i feel that as soon as i walk into a room of people i've never met before, and i'm wearing baby phat jeans and timberland boots, people already assume that i'm going to act in a certain way, when i am the total opposite of that (little do they know that i'm most likely scoping out the hot emo or preppy kid in the corner...). especially people who have never been around a varied environment until they got into college; they probably believe the stereotypes because they have never had the opportunity to see them disproved. </p>
<p>and to whoever said stereotypes were based in some truth--what are you smoking? i didnt come into this world expecting to be judged before i even open my mouth, and i don't want to be. me, and millions of other people, are living proof that this is NOT true.</p>
<p>
[quote]
...i walk into a room of people i've never met before, and i'm wearing baby phat jeans and timberland boots, people already assume that i'm going to act in a certain way, when i am the total opposite of that...
[/quote]
the truth is, you ARE what you wear !!!</p>
<p>You mean cute and expensive, right? :P</p>
<p>But seriously though, if you are what you wear, then what am I when on one day i wear babyphat jeans and timberlands, then the next day wear a polo shirt and dooney and bourke purse, followed by wearing a studded belt and band t-shirt? What is to be assumed about me then?</p>
<p>"the truth is, you ARE what you wear !!!"</p>
<p>I do't think that's true</p>
<p>I think many people try to be what they wear but don't pull it off :P</p>
<p>About black people being good dancers I think they're not.</p>
<p>what's a emo?</p>
<p>emos=homos
here that's stereotype</p>