What do you think of stereotypes? Are they mostly true, mostly false, or you just don't give a crap?

My biggest problem is when people think they are exempt from social standards regarding the use of stereotypes, often in a biggotry or racist since. How many times have you heard someone say something and justify it by saying the following:

"It's okay, my best friend is black."

"It's okay, I hang out with gay people all the time."

People tend to think that because they have an attenuated connection that they are exempt from apply social standards and, frankly, common sense when it comes to sensibility toward others. This bothers me greatly when I see it.

In my opinion a stereotype comes from an act/feature/idiom many people hold as factual. Some of these generalisations can be favourable and not all are awful snippets of bigotry. Though I guess one could argue that very generalisation, favourable or not is bigotry. For me stereotypes all hold some nugget of truth. Do I feel 100% about all of them no, however I feel if one were particularity ballsy and did the maths behind stereotypes, I mean actual statistics - most would be true, save for those based off ideas of 19th century anthropologists.

The thing is, since I was little to about a year ago I was under the impression that stereotypes were biased unfounded opinions by people who were just judging a whole based on one or two. I truly didn't believe any of it.

Over the last year I have unfortunately found myself living in a secluded spot drowning in stereotypes. I mean all of them. From redneck hics to thieving hood-rats to a bunch of black guys playing basket ball or all the white nerdy types forming a classic D&D rp group.

I feel that in part, the major reason stereotypes are true, is just because of the human need to 'fit in'. If we are told that the group we get along with are all acting this way- well we choose to be that way. Not necessarily on purpose mind you, sometimes others teach us these things by example.

Well...

Not all stereotypes are true. Not many are true. At least in my experience. The ones that usually are true are the most ironic or funny ones, the ones that aren't that negative. The ones that are negative tend not to be true and tend to be the result of bigotry or a lack of understanding of a different culture, race, or nation.

Most people find it easier to just lump people all into categories and throw labels on them. They have preconceived thoughts about how some people are because of TV or because of what others may say. They often won't try to learn the fact nor will they often admit that what they think is wrong or a racist generalization in some cases.

Saying things such as, "I have a gay friend." or "I have a black friend." doesn't cut it for me. Until you know the facts about the people you make generalizations about that will never be an viable excuse for stereotyping in a negative way.

To be completely honest Falacy, I believe that stereotypes are there because certain people exhibit the qualities of say a certain gender or race that people are either afraid of or find different. So in terms of are stereotypes correct, pertaining to all people of a particular race religion or creed no they are not.

They're based on certain observed truths, but I wouldn't advise utilizing them in terms of actual knowledge. They're sometimes true but not usually.

They're mostly false I find. However, there are obviously some that they are true for otherwise, they wouldn't exist. You cannot base somebody after a stereotype that they seem to mirror because often times the person is a lot more dynamic than that specific stereotype.

Also, you can't stereotype people and live by them because it puts you in a box, and you put others in boxes that are often times extremely unfair.

Stereotypes must have some hint of truth in them otherwise they wouldn't have been created...

As a girl who's lived in England for her whole life (London mostly) I can honestly say I have met only one person with that accent you think all men have and I only met him a few months ago. Yes we have an accent, everyone does, but it's not how you think it is. Also we're not all obsessed with tea and scones, or whatever other stereotypes were created about us.

Basically, what i'm trying to say is that stereotypes aren't always true, there are many exceptions -- I believe they were just created long ago by the majority and have seemed to stick with this generation now.

Sterotypes, typically are used in the heat of the moment.
They are usually used to turn the attention of others.
Those that use them, generally do so because they are jealous, angry, or see something in that person that they don't like (usually because they are very similar in that regard).
Years ago when illteracy was much higher, intellgent afro-americans were easy targets for just those reasons.
People are people, and if we can't learn from the past we are doomed to repeat it.

All stereotypes have some grain of truth to them. And why wouldn't they? People tend to gravitate towards similar people, whether in lifestyle, race, shopping preferences, age group, etc. People feel comfortable and safe among their own groups, so naturally there are some behaviors and traits that bleed over to the entire group.

I also believe in genetic memory, the concept that some behaviors, "instincts" are carried in the DNA of all creatures. Thus, pure individuals of specific races may have a stronger "memory" and therefore have more stereotypical behaviors.

Im not saying everyone fits into some kind of stereotype, but ALL of us exhibit some stereotypical behaviors, whether we are aware of them or not.

I don't condone actual racism at all.

That being said a witty racial joke or two between a member of said oked about race and I is fine.

For example, my best friend is black. When we plan meals for scout camp-outs, we always say fried chicken and kool-aid. When the lights go out I tell him to get his hand out of my pocket. We occasionally call him captain black sparrow. When he comes over we have KFC. Am I racist? No! Becuase we both acknowledge that it is a joke.

However, if you do just happen to test positive for a negative stereotype I refuse to associate with you. It doesn't matter what race you are. If you're white and you wear your pants around your ankles and do drugs I ignore you. If you're black and behave like a normal human being I don't give a damn, I'll still be nice to you.

If a stereotype is true it is true and there's nothing God, the Pope or the President can do about it. On the other hand, if their convenient truth convinces us to see people not as individuals but as functions of their race or background, then something of great value has been lost in the way we see one another.

Stereotypes have to come from somewhere, so in a way, they are true. However, they're far from accurate portrayals of what people really are (not all Americans are obese, not all Germans are Nazis, etc). I think they may mostly come from some bad expirences people have had concerning certain groups of people.

They are all true all of the time.*

*complete and utter sarcasm. Does the OP really expect any form of answer other then a neutral viewpoint?