Stereotypes.

[PrincessBuffy16]

I really hate stereotypes. But we all end up in some of them. People who are not average don't seem to fit in the world of average people. Too fat, too skinny, too tall, too short, musicians, artists, writers, poor, rich, too beautiful, too ugly, gays, geeks..

Some people will never be understood. People will never accept something that is different, because people are scared of it. Or maybe they're are jealous, because those who are different are not ashamed of who they are. People are sheeps, they follow people with power because they're afraid to be alone, even if it means losing yourself somewhere along the way.

A week ago I felt humiliated. I was never the most popular one, or the good looking one, or the funniest one. I can't say I don't fit it, but I'm nothing like my friends.. I can adapt to them, because I know they're not interested in things I am, and I will not preasure them to be. I'm different, and I'm proud. So, somewhere along the way I fell in this group of friends who are super nice, but if you don't know them closely, you might think they're selfish and self orianted. They're not, but for some reason, they like to send that kind of picture out to the world. So, we were talking in our class room before the class started, and this girl who goes to class with us just walked in and said to us "You're all the same. Fu**ing rich kids who only live for sex, drugs and getting wasted." They all looked at her and started to laugh and call her names, but I was actually humiliated, because I don't want people to think those things about me when I'm walking on the street with them. I'm not going to reject my friends for sure, because I love them, and I know them, but I wish they stop thinking they're better then everyone else.

So, I hate stereotypes. We're all the same. It doesn't matter how we look, or what's the color of our skin, or what's our religion. That is something that doesn't define us as people, and that's not the reason for hate. Preppy, cheerleaders, jocks, musicians, artists.. we are all people.

But somehow, we're different. We see the world with different pair of eyes then everyone else. Why? Why us? Sometimes I wish I can be normal and just think about parties and what am I going to wear tomorrow to school.. but I don't. That's last of my concerns. And most people of my age have priorities like that. What made us different then the others? Should we be proud of that? If we're different, are we some kind of stereotype? Are we becoming something we are fighting against? Are you a apart of stereotype?

 

[NY State of Mind]

To put people in a box is stereo typing and is basically impossible to do because we as people are more complex than that...in different eyes I've been seen as a loveable and caring person, a hilarious individual, and a bad and up to no good thug, etc...now who's right? None, cause it's more complex than that...some people have only seen one side while others seen different variations and people change over time...Stereotypes are ridiculous.

 

[BananaBuffy]

It's all a part of the human nature judging system really. And yes, it really does suck. If you hang out with certain people you are automatically going to fall into a stereotype based on them or the group as a whole. It's sad but true. I find that most people are missunderstood because of that. Nobody but the people you hang out with really bother to get to know the things you are interested in and all of that.

See, weird admitting this but I have a visual imparment. I have to wear glasses. And not the normal, clear classes to help you read like Giles' wears. I have to wear dark glasses, sunglasses but with a perscription. Many people are like "Ah, that's cool. You get to wear glasses inside without getting in trouble" or whatever. But in actual fact, I really do get judged for it. It's extremely frusterating.

Me and my best friend Allyse are two people in our class who are completely different from the rest of them. Or they think we are anyway but they don't bother with us. We are obsessive about TV shows and movies and celebrities. We love Gossip Girl, Glee and Harry Potter and we have conversations with Mr. Goddard about Buffy the Vampire Slayer for ages during Social Studies (It also distracts us and him from our work). This makes us seem like nerds. Not to mention we get good grades in most of our subjects and actually stay fairly focussed. We get judged on that. They think weirdly of us and so we stay out of their way. To be competely honest, we don't care. We love who we are and what we're like. Being about to spout Buffy references at any time makes us cool in my opinion but whatever.

Stereotypes do suck, even if you are happy with who you are. People are unfair but think about it, we actually do it to other people without even realizing it. I judge the people around me all the time, I can admitt it. As I said earlier, it's human nature.

 

[caitaintdead]

Best way to survive? Stop caring what arseholes think about you.

Stereotypes definitely suck and I can't see a world anytime soon that doesn't have them unfortunately. Hopefully one day the human race is smart enough and strong enough to not have them though.

 

[Hero]

I don't put anyone into stereotypes until they place themselves there. As I mentioned in another thread, a human being is made up so many parts and characteristics that you can't put someone in just one box. I'm just as much a bad ass as I am a big teddy bear. When I'm at my college I'm a big nerd, but out and about I'm really quite air headed. I hate when you take a test or fill something out and it asks you what race you are and I have to check "WHITE." Excuse me, I am not white. White is the color of printer paper. Do I look like printer paper? No, I'm more...peach than anything. People tend to put themselves into stereotypes.

And original poster, you are normal. Don't let anyone convince you that you're not. Having responsibility and a different set of priorities than others is natural. I felt like I was not "normal," because all my friends...their biggest concerns were what beer they were going to drink that night and how late they were going to sleep in. But me, I was up early, taking 18 credits (they were taking 12), getting A's (they were getting Cs), I was working 20 hours a week (they werent working at all), etc etc etc. Just because you have your head on straight and use your brain doesnt mean you're any less normal than anyone else. And hey, if this was Mean Girls (the movie), I'd let you sit at my lunch table.

 

[NL197]

I really hate stereotypes. But we all end up in some of them. People who are not average don't seem to fit in the world of average people. Too fat, too skinny, too tall, too short, musicians, artists, writers, poor, rich, too beautiful, too ugly, gays, geeks..

As far as this world is concerned, I am below average.

Some people will never be understood. People will never accept something that is different, because people are scared of it. Or maybe they're are jealous, because those who are different are not ashamed of who they are. People are sheeps, they follow people with power because they're afraid to be alone, even if it means losing yourself somewhere along the way.

There's an old, clichéd saying: "Just be yourself", and people will accept you for who you are....

It's a lie. A big, bold lie. I am myself. I've never been able to be a sheep, and I've never been able to play a role. I'd make for a terrible actor. Being myself has never been good enough. I didn't have any friends in school, and I don't have any friends now...except for a few I've been making online. They mean more to me than they will ever know.

A week ago I felt humiliated. I was never the most popular one, or the good looking one, or the funniest one. I can't say I don't fit it, but I'm nothing like my friends.. I can adapt to them, because I know they're not interested in things I am, and I will not preasure them to be. I'm different, and I'm proud. So, somewhere along the way I fell in this group of friends who are super nice, but if you don't know them closely, you might think they're selfish and self orianted. They're not, but for some reason, they like to send that kind of picture out to the world. So, we were talking in our class room before the class started, and this girl who goes to class with us just walked in and said to us "You're all the same. Fu**ing rich kids who only live for sex, drugs and getting wasted." They all looked at her and started to laugh and call her names, but I was actually humiliated, because I don't want people to think those things about me when I'm walking on the street with them. I'm not going to reject my friends for sure, because I love them, and I know them, but I wish they stop thinking they're better then everyone else.

The few times I've had friends I adapted to their interests as well, but never once let go of my own. Like you, I never expected anyone take an interest in mine (what does that say that we don't even expect it, isn't that what friendship is supposed to be - fair exchange of interests and ideas as well? ) so I went down their roads to things they liked and kept mine private.

I was a stereotype in school. I was the stereotype of "quiet, kept to himself". The type who people watch out for because they're always the ones who will "snap", bring a gun to school and try to kill people. No one bothered to get to know me. I had no ill feelings for anyone at all. I was nothing to them otherwise, just some thing to be avoided in the halls. Let's just say no one dared try to bully me. They were all to afraid to.

The flip side to this, is that there are some stereotypes that people might actually aspire to be:

I used to live next to a 20 year-old white guy who took all of the negative stereotypes associated with young black 'gangstas' (guns, gangs, 40 ounces of malt liquor, pants worn too low, gold chains, slang terms, all of it) and did everything he could to BE everything on that list. I've observed far too many white teenage guys out there doing this. Almost a bizarre reverse-racism going on everywhere.

Some people are trying to overcome negative stereotypes, and then certain groups of people come along to try to perpetuate them further, make them worse because it's somehow cool to them to be living as that negative stereotype themselves. Explain that logic, because I sure as hell can't.

I say I used to live next to him. He was the sole reason I moved.

So, I hate stereotypes. We're all the same. It doesn't matter how we look, or what's the color of our skin, or what's our religion. That is something that doesn't define us as people, and that's not the reason for hate. Preppy, cheerleaders, jocks, musicians, artists.. we are all people.

But somehow, we're different. We see the world with different pair of eyes then everyone else. Why? Why us? Sometimes I wish I can be normal and just think about parties and what am I going to wear tomorrow to school.. but I don't. That's last of my concerns. And most people of my age have priorities like that. What made us different then the others? Should we be proud of that? If we're different, are we some kind of stereotype? Are we becoming something we are fighting against? Are you a apart of stereotype?

I never got to think about parties. Not then, not now. I'm not sitting here in front of this screen because I'm taking a break from something else. Perhaps I'm a stereotypical net nerd, since I seem to fit that description:

"Nerd is a term that refers to a person who avidly pursues intellectual activities, technical or scientific endeavors, esoteric knowledge, or other obscure interests, rather than engaging in more social or conventional activities. It often carries a derogatory connotation or stereotype. The nerd may be awkward, shy and unattractive. Therefore, a nerd is often excluded from physical activity and considered a loner by peers, or will tend to associate with like-minded people"

I was never into science, but everything else fits like a tight glove. I am indeed a part of a stereotype.

 

[Willow My Love]

In high school, I was someone everyone knew. I didn't know any of them, but they all knew me. I have a twin brother who was popular. I started out that way. But I got annoyed with my so-called "friends". They were around me just to be seen. So I dropped all of them and fell in with a different crowd. We were probably the nicest people you'd ever meet, but we all wore black and listened to loud music. I had my own, personal demons that I was fighting internally. Mainly, we dressed that way to keep people away from us. It worked for a minute, then my former friends made really horrible rumors about me.

I passed out from a blood condition, but it got around that I had tried to kill myself and was to be watched at all times. Totally not why I was there. It didn't bother me much. My friends knew what really happened. That's all that mattered. Then everyone decided I was a lesbian. I'm not, not completely. Again, people didn't care. That's pretty much what it was. People don't care about anyone else, just making themselves look better. Image is all that matters. That's why I made mine unwelcoming. Kept people away.

People are judged every minute for everything they are and aren't. I can hold hands with my twin brother, and that's okay. But holding my best friend's hand, or my significant other's hand in public, and I get stared at. It's annoying, but it's human nature to judge. We all judge people. I assume that people that look different than me won't get along with me. It's just how humans are. Stereotypes will never go away. It's not conceivable. Just like world peace. It's something I would love, but we don't have peace within personal relationships, it can't happen. Every one fights, and everyone judges.

Try this. Get a friend and one of you dress up as preppy as possible. Fashionable, good makeup, all that. The other, dress up in all black. Black makeup, maybe even a wig. Both of you go in to Hollister or another comprable store. See who gets the attention. It's all biased. But image is what the world bases it's worth on. Especially my country. The superstars have to look perfect, or they're shunned in hollywood, or smeared in the tabloids. Any ordinary Jill can go out without makeup, but god forbid Kim Kardashian's hair is parted wrong. And this is what sells best. It's a sad world, but it's not going to change just as long as there are people that care more about what they see on the outside than the inside.

The friends I had in high school I still have. We're probably the most mis-matched group from the outside, but we mesh well together. Pretty much, it's all about our sense of humor. We're all sarcastic and pretty witty. But we have very little in common.

 

[PrincessBuffy16]

Me and my best friend Allyse are two people in our class who are completely different from the rest of them. Or they think we are anyway but they don't bother with us. We are obsessive about TV shows and movies and celebrities. We love Gossip Girl, Glee and Harry Potter and we have conversations with Mr. Goddard about Buffy the Vampire Slayer for ages during Social Studies (It also distracts us and him from our work). This makes us seem like nerds. Not to mention we get good grades in most of our subjects and actually stay fairly focussed. We get judged on that. They think weirdly of us and so we stay out of their way. To be competely honest, we don't care. We love who we are and what we're like. Being about to spout Buffy references at any time makes us cool in my opinion but whatever.

See, I'm a lot like you.. we love the same shows and movies, and I'm also obsessed with them. The only difference is that I have nobody to talk about them, except you guys. So, I've learned how to act with my friends and how to act when I'm alone - when I'm ME, when I'm with my family. I guess you can say I'm too scared to become an outcast so I act differently around my friends. I don't talk about all the "geeky" stuff. Maybe it would be different if I had met someone who shares my interestes, but I see people, who are all alone because they love different things.. I don't think I'm ready for that step.

 

[Ms.Trick]

It is sad but yeah, we are all put in some boxes, sometimes even by our own friends.

There are two kind of boxes-putting.

1. Those who just assume you are in this box or that one. People who don't (really) know you, who judge on what they see and who you hang out with.
I know that many people put me in the boxes: "stupid", "so kind you can ask her anything she'll just do it", "weird", "nerd", "outcast", "annoying".
They just assume I'm stupid because I tend to be, say in my world, I just don't have the same perspective on things, don't pay attention to the same details... They assume they can ask me anything they want I'll just yes. They are surprised when I say no, like it was scandalous. They assume that I'm weird, an outcast and a no-life nerd and probably annoying because I don't go a lot to parties, I never get drunk (I even hardly drink. I don't hold alcohol).
I don't really care about what they think. Because I have the huge luck to have met people in my life who were just like me, a bit crazy, different, nerd...It doesn't mean we don't socialize. We just don't socialize with everyone. Some people just don't look at you like you were a Smurf, no matter if they are "preppy" or "jocks" or anything.

2. The second kind would be the kind of your friends. Last year, two friends told me "You've changed so much, I hardly recognize you". Just because I started wearing dresses all the time, I started changing my hair, I even started considering drinking sometimes, or at least taste alcohols before stating "I don't drink". I even joked with one of the two who said just for fun "Let's make heroin-brownies just like in Skins" and I was like "Yayyyy!".
I think that this is much more painful than when people you don't care about put you in boxes. They told me I had changed like it was something bad. Yes, I changed. I don't let people use me anymore. I taste different kind of alcohol, just to see if there are some I like. I dress more girly. And because I was a bit outside of the box they put me in, they were shocked. It annoyed me much more than the first kind of people. Those who can't accept your changes. I've got a friend who changed too, she started thinking it was super fun to get drunk and kissing boys at parties without remembering who it was, or doing drinking games...She changed, but she didn't change her attitude with me, she didn't become all bitchy or whatever and it is what truly matters.


I agree with NL197. It is a lie to say that if you are just yourself, people will just like you. It isn't true. Some people don't stand the difference. Some will like you just the way you are. Some will relate to you. But you will always have people putting you in boxes.
I think in the end, what matters is to know who you are, to be truth to yourself, and if you find people who like you like you are, just know you are very lucky. This is why I love my real close friends so much. We are alike and yet different. We know each other and accept each other, without judging. It's not interesting to spend your life being a sheep not to be alone. I know I'm not a sheep. I don't go with the flow if I don't like where the flow goes.


And I must admit, I myself tend to put people in boxes, but I always try to remember that in every one, there is more than meet the eyes, that no one is in only one boxe.

 

[Washburne]

It never get confusing when more than one use the same av. I'm easily confused ok? And on that matter this post might be very confusing. Hope it makes some sense.

Do I fit into a stereotype? You bet. I'm sure of people have me put into a stereotype. Even on these boards. But that's only parts of me. The whole me will never be 100% one stereotype. Unless they make one based on me alone.

It's sad when people don't like you but I much rather be disliked for something I am and not something I pretend to be me just to get anyone to like me. If people judge me based on one thing or another I don't care. What do I care if people I don't know put me in a box. How they act on it might though. And if you have a lot of contact with them their thoughts can be annoying. Luckily for me I tend to spend a lot of time around people that are giving people the chance to show many sides to them.

A confession: I enjoy being liked.

Sometimes I try extra hard just to get someone certain to like me. You're totally allowed to think anything you you want about that. What I try very hard not to do though is to pretend to be someone that I'm not. I've seen members on this board that I really don't like but still I've tried to get to know them none the less. Some of them has turned out to be even worse than I thought (only based on what they allowed me to see so it's not a fact) but most of them changed my view on them in a positive way.

I want to be liked but I don't want to be normal. What does normal mean anyway? If we're gonna get the whole world to see it as the same thing. Mission: Impossible. I guess it can be seen as "not stand out", which will differ depending on where and in what situation you are. So you can be normal sometimes and other times be anything but.

Stereotypes do suck, even if you are happy with who you are. People are unfair but think about it, we actually do it to other people without even realizing it. I judge the people around me all the time, I can admitt it. As I said earlier, it's human nature.

I definitely do that. I hate that I do and I try to fight it. It could work better but even if I still think certain things about people I often end up giving them a chance to prove me wrong. At some point or another I've talked with friends or people I have around me about what our initial thoughts were about each other and most often we've been way wrong or have been able to add way more important things to what we think.

There's an old, clichéd saying: "Just be yourself", and people will accept you for who you are....

It's a lie. A big, bold lie.

Along with, there's someone for everyone. Just be patient. Sometimes it might be better not to tell the truth though.

A long time ago I decided to be myself as much as I could. Not as easy as it might sound. I acted very different depending who I was with. I wasn't sure if all those behaviors were all a part of the real me or just a sign that I adepted to different situations. But I at least came as far as not knowingly put up a mask for someone else. It made me "boring" but I didn't care. It made me lose contact with some friends but if they didn't like the real me who cares? I'll tell you who. People that can't stand being alone, and they're very common. I often like to have some/ a lot of me-time, but sure sometimes I feel that I'm too much of a loner.

The Chosen agrees: I love the irony of this post next to your signature. 😛

Noticed that too. But since she's making us out to be very talented and the biggest star I don't mind.



Lets ignore the less good things about Rachel. Don't judge her and make her into a stereotype. You just don't know her enough. 😉

 

[Willow My Love]

I can be a loner. I lost a lot of my friends simply because I grew up. I grew out of the high school drama mentality. Most of my friends didn't, and, as far as I know, still haven't. That and, one of my friends got my brother drunk and tried to sleep with him which is a big NO in my book, but I digress.

Everyone is different on the inside than the outside. The girl with the perfect fashion sense has a cripplingly low amount of self esteem. The girl who doesn't care about her looks is incredibly artistic. But you'd never know from looking at these people. But you can't take the time to get to know everyone, so we try to find people we think may be like us, that fit into our group, and try to get to know them. On the outside looking in, I seem pretty shy. But I'm not. I have a witty sense of humor, I'm very outgoing, and I love to be around people. But not everyone can take the time needed to get to know me, so they group me with others they think are like me.

Everyone does it.

 

[NL197]

A confession: I enjoy being liked.

Sometimes I try extra hard just to get someone certain to like me. You're totally allowed to think anything you you want about that. What I try very hard not to do though is to pretend to be someone that I'm not. I've seen members on this board that I really don't like but still I've tried to get to know them none the less. Some of them has turned out to be even worse than I thought (only based on what they allowed me to see so it's not a fact) but most of them changed my view on them in a positive way.

I am clearly your opposite.

I live with an absolute certainty that no one will like me no matter what I do, and I live with that because it ends up being completely true. People, even here who meet me say I'm too negative, well if honesty is negative, so be it. I can reveal anything about myself - ask me literally anything you want to and I will answer the question. Online, offline, that's irrelevant. Stand in front of me face to face and I will still answer, just as I would typing it out on a computer keyboard or microphone. Why? Simple. It's not like anyone is going to care no matter what I say, so I can just tell the truth. None of it can be used against me or anything either. Nothing to hide.

Along with, there's someone for everyone. Just be patient. Sometimes it might be better not to tell the truth though.

I've lived with another certainty, one I accepted long ago:

There is NO one for me. No one at all. I've heard that cliché literally hundreds of times over the years, and it is complete garbage, at least to me. It simply doesn't apply to me at all. If I can't so much as make and keep a friendship, obviously no one will care enough to go further or see me in any deeper way.

A long time ago I decided to be myself as much as I could. Not as easy as it might sound. I acted very different depending who I was with. I wasn't sure if all those behaviors were all a part of the real me or just a sign that I adepted to different situations. But I at least came as far as not knowingly put up a mask for someone else. It made me "boring" but I didn't care. It made me lose contact with some friends but if they didn't like the real me who cares? I'll tell you who. People that can't stand being alone, and they're very common. I often like to have some/ a lot of me-time, but sure sometimes I feel that I'm too much of a loner.

As I said, I'd make a terrible actor. Unless two dogs and a mother who is barely conscious more than half the time count, I am for the most part completely alone and have been for years. In 2007 I had a few friends that summer, but then summer ended, and not long after that I didn't exist to them anymore. They were the only friends I'd had since...yeah, that's pretty pathetic. This is who I am. It's just not good enough for anyone. Not for 'real' anyway.

 

[Washburne]

Following comments are just about me. Just sharing some of my experiences.

I am clearly your opposite.

Maybe I'm stupid but how is that clear? You don't like to be liked? I didn't get that from your answer. Liking to be liked isn't the same as actually being liked. When you see yourself as more or less useless (my experience, not saying that you feel that way.) being liked can help understanding that people see some good in you, something you haven't seen yourself. It's not the ultimate way to gain confidence but as long as it's built on honesty and not just being in a group/gang of some kind and having people around you it's one way at least.

People, even here who meet me say I'm too negative, well if honesty is negative, so be it.

Well if what you wrote in that post is anything to go by I can understand why. My honesty is often very negative when it comes to myself. I look down on myself, complain about the smallest things and have much higher expectations on myself than on anyone else. When it comes to others though I'm mostly the opposite and supporting. Why? Because I don't want anyone to be like me. In the depressing/negative way that is. I do think a lot of people should be more like me in other ways. 😉 Something I've learned with time. For a long time I just saw myself as utterly useless and thought the world and family would be better off without me. I so don't feel like that anymore but I wonder if I'll ever get away from seeing myself in a negative way. Generally. What I'm really good at is "knowing" what other people think. Not sure getting confirmed that sometimes I'm right mean that I am all the time.

My feelings about myself is honest but does it make them the truth? Do I really know myself best in every way or am I just seeing things that aren't there?

I live with an absolute certainty that no one will like me no matter what I do, and I live with that because it ends up being completely true..

I can't remember the english expression but you must know it. If you see things a certain way it'll happen. If you have experiences that confirm those views you'll get even more certain that they are true. Thing is, most of the time you're making them true. A positive view instead of a negative one won't make everything go positive but the negative view sure doesn't help. Now changing that view sure isn't easy. I'm still nowhere near it. When it comes to myself.

Why? Simple. It's not like anyone is going to care no matter what I say, so I can just tell the truth. None of it can be used against me or anything either. Nothing to hide.

Does that go for online too? Because if you do and don't see care as either total or not existing I'm confident that some care. Maybe not that much yet, but if we get to know you better it might increase. That you're seen as negative isn't the same thing as them not caring. Not that what happened to me is certain to happen to you but I can assure you that I've met so many more people here that care about me more than I could ever imagine. Since I imagined the total of members giving a d**n about me would be 0.

There is NO one for me. No one at all. I've heard that cliché literally hundreds of times over the years, and it is complete garbage, at least to me. It simply doesn't apply to me at all. If I can't so much as make and keep a friendship, obviously no one will care enough to go further or see me in any deeper way.

Since I've been there myself I feel stupid to ask but I feel I have to. Why is a certainty? Because it hasn't happened yet? It might be unlikely but nothing's for certain. I'm still shocked about the fact that I found someone that really loved me even if I didn't love myself. I was even in the lowest point in my life and can't imagine where I had ended up without this person. Was it "real" love or not? Who can judge? I was there and I wouldn't have it undone for anything. What helped me was internet. If we'd met in real life we would never had gotten to know each other as well as we did.

This is who I am. It's just not good enough for anyone. Not for 'real' anyway.

As seen above. Been there, done that and been proven wrong. Or maybe it wasn't real, or real enough. Might depend what you put into the word.

---------- Post added at 09:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:41 PM ----------

Anyway.... I see myself as boring (so don't be surprised if you'll end up thinking just that. 😉) and not good at conversation but if you, or anyone, else want to talk or just vent I've been told that I'm a pretty good listener. Just a pm away.

---------- Post added at 09:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:44 PM ----------

Sorry Tajana for going off topic. Go tell a mod.

 

[PrincessBuffy16]

I think all people like being liked. Not with the like button, like on facebook, but like in the real life, with like people have for one another. I just like the world like, so much.

 

[Willow My Love]

My twin brother always says, "You don't have to like everyone, you just have to love them." He has so much love for general humanity, and I'm such a cynic. I've been screwed over in so many more ways than him though. That accounts for my cynicism and the general feeling of distrust I feel for most of humanity.

 

[InsaneMystic]

"You don't have to like everyone, you just have to love them."

He sounds like a dude I'd get along with fine, that sentence could've (and more than once, has) come out of my mouth. Most people just give me a "huh???" expression at that, though. ^^

As for the stereotype I fall into... well, lots just sort me into "weirdo/nutcase" the moment they see me, which is ok by me (and not too far off, anyway 😀). If I actually cared about not getting sorted there, I'd have to change a lot or take up pretending to be someone I'm not - and I really can't see the use in bothering with that. It's hard enough work living up to me liking myself, a prerequisite for which is, to me, being authentic about who I am; seems to me like a huge waste of time worrying about if others like me when I'm authentic. As long as they leave me alone, they can think what they want. 😛

And besides, strangely enough, there's a good number of peeps who do like me, over the net at least. 😀

 

[Black Eye Guy]

I may be alone on this one, but I like stereotyping, I think it's a tool that can be used, similar to intuition, I pretty much stereotype and work out what people are like after meeting them straight away, I've found im pretty accurate at it.

Like I've said to friends when we meet new people, you wont like that person or you will and have found im always right, they do go on to like or eventually dislike that person (Im not saying that in that annoying I'm always right way, just I have been so far, but I know I wouldn't always be, so Im not saying I can't be wrong)

But I'm definitely a judgmental person.

As for the stereotype I fit in, I don't actually know, thats for others to judge, lol

 

[Tsquared]

Yeah stereotypes suck, but I'm guilty.

I "stereotype" when I first see someone, but I always correct myself and tell myself I do not even know the person to be judging them. I've been wrong so many times and it's something I consider a bad habit of mine, but as someone mentioned earlier it also ties in with basic (instinctual) human nature. I guess.

I'm also stereotyped too. I'm an athlete and I've always played sports, and when I mention that I really like playing video games (mainly), Buffy, Angel, and other vampire/supernatural themed things I always get the reaction "wow, didn't think you'd be into that". I'm also pretty smart, and a lot of people don't know I'm in the top of my class right now. Oh yeah, and I've had people think I didn't speak English because I'm Venezuelan. But this only happened more when I was younger.

WHERE IS MY POPCORN SMILEY?! Oh..... There it is! 😀

: popcorn:

 

[KristenVictoria]

I’m actually exploring this in one of my classes: all about who determines who/what is “abnormal” and “normal.” Where is that line drawn? In our society, ‘difference’ is considered "abnormal" or "inadequate." We get acceptance and gain success if we are considered “normal.” Society rewards people who fit in, and excludes those who don’t. Just look at Hollywood. This makes normalization the choice that people want to make; we naturally want acceptance. Regarding stereotyping, our minds do it almost automatically; we categorize and classify people in order to understand them. This can be a beneficial or harmful process, depending on the person, the context, the environment, etc. However, if we stay open-minded, we can get to know someone fairly.

I’ve always been a kind of walking contradiction when it comes to stereotypes. I think people have a hard time categorizing me, which can be both beneficial and harmful. I’ve had trouble understanding other people my age, especially girls. I don’t drink. I don’t smoke. I don’t do drugs. Not interested in trying any of these things. I don’t understand house parties. When people ask me about these things, they’re surprised to hear my response, especially adults. Obviously, I love to have fun though: dancing, singing, just being silly. I’ve had people ask me how I have fun without alcohol, and I just give them one of these :jawdrop: and tell them that they’re missing out. 😀 Even the clothes I wear don’t really “belong” to certain stereotypical styles (you know those titles? “Hipster,” “Preppy,” “Goth,” etc). I just wear whatever I feel good and comfortable in.

I don’t “get out” a lot in the sense that I don’t party on a regular basis. Sometimes I ask myself: Am I missing out? Isn’t this the “normal” thing I should be interested in? I know I’m not missing out on much, but I still ask myself this sometimes. I’ve been to a couple of house parties, and have actually left because these parties aren’t about catching up and hanging out with people. You can't really have a conversation with a person when he/she is falling all over the place.

I’ve been told I could model, and I’m a confident person, but I’m really humble, kind and friendly, and I think people are surprised by that sometimes. This past summer, I was on the bus, and a guy asked if he could give me his number, and he was so surprised that I was nice to him. However, from a young age, I’ve never been concerned with having a boyfriend. My friend told me he didn’t understand why I’ve never had luck with guys, but I think it’s because they’re kind of afraid, since they can’t really categorize me. I’m also pretty reserved, quiet and I like staying at home. I value school, but am a fan of self-directed learning; I'm all about health/nutrition, but if I'm craving those cookies, I'm going to eat them; I have a whole bunch of passions/interests, but am afraid to pursue them.

The end (I think I’ve just written a novel).

Again, I think people make all these assumptions about you based on your image and stereotypes. Good, and bad ones. Sorry for the long post; I'm pretty passionate about this topic.

 

[zobothehobo]

So I've been struggling with my sister for the past few days and her stereotyping. She was talking to me yesterday about how annoyed she was that the school made her go talk to a "student guidance counselor" (like a student teacher except with guidance counseling). This student guidance counselor said to my sister "I know it may not seem like it, but I got picked on a lot in high school." My sister said to me "I was thinking 'uh... sure you did. Look at you dressed the preppiest I've ever seen.' That sent me off. Who was my sister to say what this girl had been through in her life because of the way she dressed? She does it all the time. She has these nice neat groups for people and DESPISES one group in particular: the preps. When I used the term "preppy kid," I'm referring to what the person is wearing and nothing else. My sister uses it to mean "scum of the earth." I just don't get it.

Myself, I'd probably fit in the stereotype of band geek/theater nerd. I am the epitome of both. I'm also the epitome of a loner in some aspects. I have difficulty understanding a lot of the social rules of conduct in our society. I get the social rules between friends, and the professional rules... but casual rules and how we make friends... I just don't understand. I am a very social person though and I need interaction with people to be happy. That's a large reason why I come on these message boards and forums... to have interactions with people. My friends have all moved away so I'm pretty much alone. Because of this, I don't go out very often. I don't hang with my friends unless I spend a bunch of money to go visit them or they come home.

That all being said, I hate putting myself into a stereotype because I know myself and I'm a lot more complex than every stereotype I know. For that same reason, I hate putting others in stereotypes... but I'm not going to pretend I don't. It's human nature to judge. There are even evolutionary reasons for it. I wrote a paper on the evolutionary reasons for judging people before you know them last year... it basically said back when humans lived in tribes, when you saw someone from a different tribe, it generally meant trouble. Either they were trying to take your food, your resources, or someone from your tribe had done something to them. Or even that you were following the same food and you had to fight for it... whatever the reason, it was not generally good. Way back then, we weren't supposed to like people who looked different from us in any way. If they wore different clothes, body art, had different customs, whatever... we were supposed to stay away. As time went on, this stuff remained true... except instead of fighting for the food they were following, people were fighting for land, money, and other resources... as the population increased and people started to mix, these judgments became problematic instead of helpful. As we stand now, they are very problematic... but there and they will be there. The best thing we can do is accept that we do make snap judgments about people and stop lying about it and pretending we don't. Also, we can educate ourselves on the people we're making these judgments on so that the snap judgments become less ignorant and therefore less problematic.