Is there anything wrong with stereotypes? People use it as a self defense mechanism, which helps them avoid “harm”, and would you give a tiger benefit of a doubt because otherwise it would be a stereotype. Stereotype reduces your thinking activity to an “acceptable” amount and makes the point. 
Re: Embrace the stereotypical world?
On the surface of course stereotyping is wrong and imoral. But it happens.
Re: Embrace the stereotypical world?
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Re: Embrace the stereotypical world?
The points are that stereotypes helps save time, money and energy. You can easily pin point people and their attributes. We live in a world filled with fear, envy, anger and distress. Stereotyping helps, a person deals with certain moments without panic and it may help solve “potential” situations.
Question is should it be allowed? Is it right in its theory or just an exaggerated hype that has lost its importance? Should we go for stereotyping in difficult situations or just give information so that people can make up their own minds? This is not only in situations dealing with national, international but also in personal connections; human-to-human that is.
Re: Embrace the stereotypical world?
I'll probably get all beat up for saying this but generally there is a reason for stereotypes. They develop when a certain category of people TEND toward a certain thing. That doesnt mean ALL people fit into that category but a good amount do. There isnt harm in that until people use a stereotype to classify ALL in the category.
Some examples...Irish like to drink and tell stories. (I've met many Irish and most of them fit). African Americans like to eat fried chicken and watermelon. (Go to any "black" neighborhood and you'll see this for yourself). Puerto Rican people like to wear flashy clothes and jewelry. (most I've met fit this one too).
I guess my point is that any cultural or regional group of people have certain tendencies....is this a "stereotype"? And why is it considered a bad thing to actually notice it? I dont understand that at all, except in cases where its used to ascribe the stereotype to ALL people in the category without regard.
Re: Embrace the stereotypical world?
...and before ya'll start beating me up too badly, I want to point out that I've seen stereotypes used here on this forum too! When you talk about "Aunties", you dont need to elaborate because its a stereotype about Aunties and people here know what type of person you're talking about yeah? Also when you say ABCDs, "Desis" etc. Arent these all stereotypes? And useful, at times, to describe a situation or person?
Re: Embrace the stereotypical world?
I think everyone has stereotypes, both good and bad, and despite their negative connotations, they are not considered 'evil'as such. Our brain tends to process things in groups and associations, so in one sense they are neccesary part of our thinking/behaviour. The only problem is when you willingly refuse to change the stereotype even though you recieve new information. That view then becomes 'prejudice' which in turn can cause (psychological or physical) hositlity, and hence becomes pretty dangerous to have. But that is prejudice and not stereotypes. They are two different things.
Re: Embrace the stereotypical world?
Stereotypes are often based on truth; however they are dangerously misapplied and exaggerated, and that's the problem.
Re: Embrace the stereotypical world?
I always thought stereotypes are more like a street thing where people when they get together might exchange their views on other communities, how they look and act. Mostly in the sense of jest, jokes or may be information but these days it is very common in media and mainstream.
How does this help us?