I was discussing stereotypes on another forum:

So in your mind, because one potentially false stereotype fails, most stereotypes can't be false?  Outside the US there are plenty of stereotypes about Americans - are all those true?

If they hold any water, yes.

Too many people today are brainwashed by "political correctness".

Think about it RATIONALLY -- why do stereotypes refuse to die? The one about women liking to shop? The one about software engineers being male? The one about "boy bands" having vapid lyrics? The one about sports fans not being deep-thinking philosophers? The one about Americans being smug, not learning other languages, and being materialistic and taking on too much debt? I could list dozens of them.
If they had no basis in reality, they would die quickly. But they have quite a basis in reality.

They're a shortcut to complete analysis, yes. But a shortcut that works MOST of the time, with few exceptions.

We make all kinds of assumptions all day, every day. You don't always have the time for a fair, objective, in-depth analysis of everything.

I'm sorry, but if were a hiring manager, and there were three people applying for a software engineering job, named Amanda Jones, Deshawn White, and Wolfgang Wattenburg, and I didn't have access to any information than their names, I'd probably do the "un-PC" thing and choose the German-sounding guy. True, he might be the one exception to the stereotype, and the female might be particularly good at programming -- but it's usually smart to go with the odds.

And remember -- the exception proves the rule. Just because you can show me a single female computer programmer will not cause me to throw my hands in the air and say, "You're right, there's no pattern. Programmers are male and female." No, you merely showed me an exception, which is remarkable because it's an exception to the rule.

I'm just saying

"Show me a persistent stereotype, and I'll show you a statement that is true more often than not."

I'm sure the Media could consistently propagate error via things like TV and movies, but even then they'd be swimming upstream -- only the powerful engine the media possesses would be able to counter the downstream motion of the water.

Does anyone have a commonly believed (by many different people, in many different places/times) stereotype that's complete hogwash?

I don't think such a thing exists.

I'm saying that stereotypes are a hat-rack or practical tool that people use to make real life judgments/actions more convenient.

If judgments/actions based on stereotypes blew up in their face more often than not, people wouldn't use them.

Matthew

Archtypical example of a stereotype-- MJ smokers are lazy hippies who end up heroin junkies listening to Bob Marley.  :roll-laugh1:

And I'm sure many MJ smokers were just that -- or the stereotype wouldn't have been created (and sustained).

it is in man's nature to stereotype, at least from what I see. I think it's really a survival thing; you can make quick decisions about what is safe and what is not. I myself have been under the influence of a lot of really good old people, so I naturally feel safe around older people. I like them more than I even like my own peer group. I stereotype older people as being nice and warm-hearted.

However, I sure hope that stereotype about catholic priests isn't so on the mark...............

Card Sharks and Game Theorists learn to stereotype everyone as a matter of making money, if they were wrong they'd lose money. When I'm at a Poker game I stereotype everyone until proven wrong wherefore I re-stereotype them with the new information and play them accordingly.

If stereotypes were not true then jokes would not be funny.

I was referring to the subject of your remark only-- MJ users. It is of course  true that MJ( like any other substance) can be abused.

As far as jokes being funny-- this is a matter of opinion.

What do you do if an Irish man throws a grenade at you?
Take the pin out and throw it back!

Are most Irish people really that stupid??

BWAHAHA!

Whats funny is the main joke part, not the Irish part because I just don't understand Irish being more stupid than other nationalities.

I have to use this one now.