Author Topic: Stereotypes (Read 3030 times)

clare · « **Reply #15 on:** July 29, 2011, 07:29:42 AM »

Quote from: PartyIsOver221

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

So, have I stumbled upon a false stereotype?

wallflower · « **Reply #16 on:** July 29, 2011, 09:04:11 AM »

Quote from: clare

Quote from: PartyIsOver221
Whats funny is the main joke part, not the Irish part because I just don't understand Irish being more stupid than other nationalities.

So, have I stumbled upon a false stereotype?

I think so, but I don't know how prevalent that stereotype is. I've never heard it. Are you sure they didn't pull the pin out of stupidity? Maybe it's because they were drinking. Now that joke I would understand!

I think there's something to stereotypes but it's tough to apply in everyday life because they are sooo broad that many people don't fall into them. While I believe stereotypes have something to them, I'd be offended if someone applied a stereotype to me without knowing me. So I try to extend the same courtesy of refraining from applying them to others unless they act or admit to falling into it.

Proof to me that they exist and hold truth is that marketers use them to make money. And they're pretty successful at it. But then again they are targeting masses of people and it's nothing one-on-one. In our daily living situations it's pretty tough to apply them without being personal and offensive.

At the same time, you have to wonder how much of it is self-fulfilling prophesy. How many Irish drink because they are Irish and that's what's expected of them? With Irish in-laws I hear that excuse all the time. Or how many Italians are attached to their wine and pasta precisely because that's what's supposedly Italian and they have to show loyalty to their country? You wonder how much of it is about indoctrinated culture. If an Italian by blood were raised in England and didn't know they were Italian, would they still have a taste for the Mediterranean or would they be all about the shepherd's pie and proper formalities?

gladius_veritatis · « **Reply #17 on:** July 29, 2011, 09:24:47 AM »

Quote from: clare

Are most Irish people really that stupid??

Are ANY?

No, unless they were sent to an English boarding school to be educated --

Seriously, the English of the last few centuries do not tend to have a great deal of respect for the historically-Catholic Irish, nor the intellectual capacity of a people given to "Popery."

The Poles tend to get a bad rap, too, but they are generally VERY intelligent -- but also historically Catholic and looked down upon by those who "broke free" from the "chains" of Popery and priestcraft.

Lybus · « **Reply #18 on:** July 29, 2011, 09:31:58 AM »

I always thought the Irish were thought to be intelligent since they have produced a lot of great scientists, philosophers, mathematicians, etc.

(I swear I"m not pointing this out because my family's from Ireland)

clare · « **Reply #19 on:** July 29, 2011, 10:40:52 AM »

gladius_veritatis · « **Reply #20 on:** July 29, 2011, 10:50:38 AM »

Best at what? Letting the Rothschilds set up their HQ, whence they ply their trade and annihilate Christendom and all that is good in this poor world? LOL!

Matthew · « **Reply #21 on:** July 29, 2011, 11:08:06 AM »

Clare --

I think the answer to your questions is: It's not a stereotype; more like a nation-biased joke. You're in England; England has been the enemy of Ireland for centuries.

In fact, I've heard the same joke, only it was applied to Polish people.

Strange; the only Polish people I've met have been plenty smart. The priest where I grew up was Polish and knew several languages.

The FACTS are that Irish folk are above-average intelligent (assuming they don't vitiate their advantage with too much alcohol). A disproportionate number of priests and missionaries were Irish (in the Fifties, for example). And back then, you had to learn more languages than just Latin to graduate from the Seminary. I'm sure we can all agree that becoming a priest takes some serious mental ability.

So A) it's not a stereotype, strictly speaking, but more like wishful thinking :)
and B) it's not widespread or pervasive, being held ONLY among the population of a country's main rival.

I think if any belief/stereotype is only held by a country's rival, we can rule out any truth :)

clare · « **Reply #22 on:** July 29, 2011, 12:09:05 PM »

Quote from: gladius_veritatis

Best at what? Letting the Rothschilds set up their HQ, whence they ply their trade and annihilate Christendom and all that is good in this poor world? LOL!

Did you click on the link? It's a song full of stereotypes!

clare · « **Reply #23 on:** July 29, 2011, 12:11:06 PM »

Yes, you could be right, Matthew.

wallflower · « **Reply #24 on:** July 29, 2011, 12:43:00 PM »

Quote from: Matthew

Clare --

I think the answer to your questions is: It's not a stereotype; more like a nation-biased joke. You're in England; England has been the enemy of Ireland for centuries.

Ah, the joke does make more sense with that in mind.

Americans pick on Poles and Canadians pick on "Newfies". I don't have experience with who(m?) other countries pick on.

Catholic Samurai · « **Reply #25 on:** July 29, 2011, 12:55:46 PM »

Quote from: clare

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??

That's really the first time I've heard it suggested that the Irish were dumb.

I think the common stereotype concerning Irish (as well as Scots) is that they are crazy. Since they are both Choleric in their temperament it's no wonder.

TheHarlequinKing · « **Reply #26 on:** July 29, 2011, 01:16:32 PM »

I'm not really against stereotypes. They are fun.... except when they're not, haha. (I am thinking of one about Asian men and private parts here.)

Some stereotypes, however, are very outdated. Example: "most people who play video games are teenage boys". On the contrary, today the average gamer is 35, and thanks to the Wii and casual Internet games, there are technically more female gamers than males. The stereotype has been around since the 1980's, but that means that now, an entire generation has grown up with video games. It's only a matter of time before games become as mainstream as the film medium. It's already an increasingly common practice for major actors like Patrick Stewart and Martin Sheen to do voice acting for some games.

Another strange, outdated stereotype is the idea that men with hair past the shoulder are hippies. I have a ponytail now, and I don't think I've ever even met a real hippie in my entire life. They probably don't like Texas very much.

gladius_veritatis · « **Reply #27 on:** July 29, 2011, 01:18:09 PM »

Quote from: clare

Did you click on the link? It's a song full of stereotypes!

No, but I will...

I may even have to compose and sing me own version...or perhaps we can do some kind of unofficial "cathinfo medley" musical video that has snippets from many different posters...

gladius_veritatis · « **Reply #28 on:** July 29, 2011, 01:36:29 PM »

Quote from: clare

Thanks, clare...that was delightful!

Matthew · « **Reply #29 on:** July 29, 2011, 02:06:20 PM »

Quote from: TheHarlequinKing

I'm not really against stereotypes. They are fun.... except when they're not, haha. (I am thinking of one about Asian men and private parts here.)

Some stereotypes, however, are very outdated. Example: "most people who play video games are teenage boys". On the contrary, today the average gamer is 35, and thanks to the Wii and casual Internet games, there are technically more female gamers than males. The stereotype has been around since the 1980's, but that means that now, an entire generation has grown up with video games. It's only a matter of time before games become as mainstream as the film medium. It's already an increasingly common practice for major actors like Patrick Stewart and Martin Sheen to do voice acting for some games.

Another strange, outdated stereotype is the idea that men with hair past the shoulder are hippies. I have a ponytail now, and I don't think I've ever even met a real hippie in my entire life. They probably don't like Texas very much.

That's a good point.

Some stereotypes, while containing truth at one point, have become invalid over time because the stereotype takes on a "life of its own" (or inertia), and people are slow to update their thinking.

Then again, the evidence you gave just suggests that this stereotype could possibly die one day.

When you look at how they market games, they must be still primarily male. I've purchased many video cards in the past couple months (for Bitcoin mining) and they *all* have a strange warrior woman on the box -- usually toting guns and armor.

I read an interesting "humor" article on this topic (how male gamers are still immature, etc.) but I can't link to it because the article has some really bad pics in it. If you really want it you could probably find it.