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Stereotypes - I have seen a lot of them thrown around like fifty cent bouncy balls in some recent threads.

I am a thirty year old white male, from a small town in about the most backwoods part of Western TN. Immediately to some of you I am ignorant, racist, a warmonger, a radical Christian, married to my cousin, chew tobacco, fat, lazy, love country music, read hunting magazines, don’t like foreigners and watch NASCAR.

Stereotypes are devices for saving a biased person the trouble of learning. I have no clue whose quote that is, but it should smack some of you straight in the forehead.

I’ll start with NASCAR, never watched it, and I’ve no desire to, same goes for soccer. Give me baseball and football; and on occasion women’s pro volley. I do love country music, but it like most anything else these days is pop, have to feed the masses world wide. I’ll take Willie, and Mr. Cash though. I also listen to Coltrane, Miles Davis, Bird York, Tupac (He wrote his raps in Iambic pentameter, just like Shakespeare wrote his sonnets). I ain't mad at cha. I like Norah Jones, Slim Harpo, Neil Young, Skynerd, Dylan, Radiohead and Amy Winehouse. Damn rehab, I say no, no, no. I’d like to say I listen to Mozart, Bach and Beethoven; but I don’t. I like the Isley Brothers, "it's your thang, I'm not trying to run your life, I know you want to do whats right".

I have little formal secondary education, but I have managed to learn a few things myself. Like no matter how hot my cousin looked breast feeding her baby last Christmas it would be wrong to try and do the same as that innocent babe. Now if she was a second cousin, twice removed I might make a go at it. I’ve never subscribed to a hunting magazine, but have read a few while sitting in a dentist office. I try and go for Sports Illustrated or GQ first, but hey you work with what you are given. I’ve read Karl Marx, loved his communist manifesto, and it was a good pre-cursor to Animal Farm. I have read Pascal, Dostoevsky, Camus (I once had a woman call me her Sisyphus and asked me to marry her, she was a stripper and was dead by the time I got the letter). I like Noam Chomsky no matter how crazy he has become, I think Nietzsche was a moron because he didn’t like short women. I called Grisham a literary whore once in Oxford, MS, but have read most of his books and enjoyed them. I read Kahlil Gibran, Emerson, and e. e. cummings. I think Robert Frost is over rated. William Faulkner was a genius, as was Twain, both are from the South, I capitalize South when I use it to refer to the state of mind, but not the geographical location. Curtis Mayfield was the last great American poet.

I was born, raised, and baptized in a tiny Southern Baptist church; where all of my family, from both sides are buried. The dead ones anyway. When I go to church these days it is at a Methodist church. I spent time in a Monastery in Louisiana. I believe in purgatory and free will. I believe in God and Jesus, the King James Bible has some wonderful poetry in Psalms and the Song of Solomon. The Song of Solomon is down right scandalous even. I have read the Koran and broken bread with a man who greeted me every day with al-Salamu alaikum

And I returned his traditional Muslim greeting with alaikum assalam. Peace be unto you, and on you be peace. I also read The Tao of Poo, and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.



"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

~Matthew 7:1-5

Forget where it came from for a moment and just read it.

I like the French, especially their women. Same goes for the Italians, Swedes, English, Canadians, South Americans, and every other country; well not the Germans their women are just down right mean. I almost married a woman from Peru, one from Kentucky, and one from Tennessee. I’m shooting for a 60 year old nun from Vernazza next.

I think it is far past time for us to bring the young men and women home from the places they have been sent. I have a friend who has been married for over two years now, and has hardly seen her husband. I have an old friend whose wife is a widower and his son is Fatherless. I have a Grandfather who spent months in a German POW camp stealing potatoes he had just planted to feed his buddies at night. I detest war, but I will support every single soldier who is risking their life, regardless of the reason, and even if I do not subscribe to the reason. I will not support the ones sitting behind desks as they do so. I think things should be handled on a singular basis. Make it personal.

I have never chewed tobacco, but I smoke enough to keep the GMP in North Carolina stable for the next decade. I used to be fat, but I wasn’t lazy, now I am skinny and I am lazy. The only group of people I hold bias against are stereotypical nay-sayers who speak just to be heard.

I can find Oz on a map.

There is nothing more weak, close minded, unoriginal, and short sighted than a stereotype, except those who promote them.

Funny thing about it all is this; I know a few dozen more than can say the same things. I bet they can name a dozen or more themselves.

Absit invidia

KB

KB

I enjoy your posts - please don't take any posts personal

You don't have to defend anything - whether you married your cousin or not.

Patsy

An excellent point of view.

I'm going to ruminate on this a little and come back to it. Got a question forming in my mind, need to get the words right.

I thought your post summed up alot of feelings and thoughts.I am a 45 year women and act like sometimes a teenager.Four years ago i went to see Eminem with my duaghter who was only 16 at the time,when he came on and started singing i sreamed and sreamed and my daughter looked at me in pure disgust!

The next day i asked her why she was so shocked? and her reply was and i quote

*for you age i thought it was wrong*

Your right KB we are al indviduals and that is the best way to be.Thanks for you posting very good:)

sorry i have not finished yet...........Just a small post i own 2 rottweilers and a staffy the stereotype for owning these dogs are very high.When i serve customers in a supermarket where i work and i am chatting they are to me and if they are bying dog food they ask if i have any dogs and when say yes and tell them what breed i have i always get the same reply..............oh my god are they ones that kill people and devil dogs:-5 :-5

As you said KB lack of education,i spend alot of time taking one of my rotties in town and other places to try and educate people that like all dogs not just rottweilers it is the way humans bring them up..................sorry to go on my soap box :-3

i'm big bald and ugly ......my stereotype would be a nasty piece of work





but i'm a pu55y i'm the softest guy i know :-5 :-5

jimbo;632610 wrote: i'm big bald and ugly ......my stereotype would be a nasty piece of work





but i'm a pu55y i'm the softest guy i know :-5 :-5
i agree with that jimbo:wah:

Is the stereotype of a scot, one who eats haggis, wears a kilt, drinks a lot of whiskey & plays the bagpipes?

I eat haggis, neeps n tatties quite a lot in the cold months, ive never worn a kilt but do have many items of clothing that would be classed as traditionally scottish. I enjoy many of our fine whiskeys. I dont actually play the bagpipes but am always moved by the sound.

I love my country, our traditions & have no problem with anyone fitting me into a stereotype of it.

buttercup;632612 wrote: Is the stereotype of a scot, one who eats haggis, wears a kilt, drinks a lot of whiskey & plays the bagpipes?

I eat haggis, neeps n tatties quite a lot in the cold months, ive never worn a kilt but do have many items of clothing that would be classed as traditionally scottish. I enjoy many of our fine whiskeys. I dont actually play the bagpipes but am always moved by the sound.

I love my country, our traditions & have no problem with anyone fitting me into a stereotype of it.






not much chance of you buying a round of drinks then cannie scotsman or woman ..... canniescots woman that dont sound right :-3 :-3





most of my scots mates wont get a round of drinks in till everyone else has buys their round and if any one goes to leave before buying theirs they will tell them to get their drinks in first :wah:



you got to love them though aint ya :-4

Don't misconstrue a stereotype with just plain ignorance. I think I showed there is room for humor, but also the space alloted to hate is filled.

How bizzarre that so many landlords up here make so much money, must be the English settlers keeping them in business then eh? :sneaky:



In all fairness Jim i think being 'canny' is another stereotype thats true of many, i have no objections to being called 'canny' either

buttercup;632624 wrote: How bizzarre that so many landlords up here make so much money, must be the English settlers keeping them in business then eh? :sneaky:





In all fairness Jim i think being 'canny' is another stereotype thats true of many, i have no objections to being called 'canny' either




hey my jock mates always get their round in they just dont like other people free loading



and boy do these guys like to fight



i dont know why as they are lovelly people but if any one says anything to me they go off their heads .... i ignore the bum but no they go mad ,one says if any one direspects you in my company they disrespect me ..... talk about brave heart :-6 :-6

The disrespect thing sounds more like the godfather to me :wah:

Anyway yes i do believe 'fighting' is another stereotype we have been given but its also seen as the type of fighting for whats right so im ok with that as well. Unfortunately for you the english fighting stereotype is much worse than the one we have. :-6

There was either someone very special in your life, early on, who instilled in you a love of life and the desire to " know more" and to understand. Or, you were simply born with the genes that inspired you to learn, and to grow. Your greater understanding of people, and ideas along with a broad mind was

cultivated by travel, reading, being fearless, and by stepping out into the world, and living. It has been my experience that those who stereotype were either affected by a narrow minded upbringing, or by little exposure to any of the influences I mentioned above. It would be wonderful if all humans could open their hearts, and expand their minds, and become open minded and tolerant. Unfortunately, this will never be the case. And so, those who grow have a moral obligation to share with the less fortunate, and give them an opportunity to consider that there might be alternatives to their way of thinking. When I was young, I was very enthusiastic about speaking up when faced with comments that were bigoted, narrow minded, predjudiced.

or just plain stupid. I tried to do my part. But as Ive grown older, I pretty much gave up the fight to change the world. The only issues I address reguarly pertain to women. When I am in contact with young females who are in situations where they are being exploited, abused, or stifled by males, I attempt to encourage them to embrace freedom, and to give themselves a chance to go out into the world and learn about themselves, and about life. You are a good example of someone who has a voice and combined with your excellent command of words, will make a difference in the way people think. My parents werent deliberately ignorant, they were products of their upbringing, and they were poor. Constricted by a daily shortage of funds, their focus was on feeding us, and keeping us clothed. They didnt encourage us to read. They really ( other than manners) couldnt teach us to socialize. They didnt have much of a social life themselves. They did sacrifice to have us grow up in a very good neighborhood, with good schools. And so, it was through the people I met, that I discovered music, the arts, the joys of travel and cultural differences. New York city is multi cultural. People of all ethnic backgrounds, all religions, and all colors, live together. Having lived this way, when we venture to live in other places, we are not frightened, or surprised , or intimidated by anyone. Rather, we are excited at the prospect of meeting anyone different, and prepared to learn something new. The real roots of steryotyping is fear. It is easy to throw people into groups, eliminate most groups from comfort zones, and simply fly with a familiar flock.

Beautiful post as always Weeder :-6

Hi Buttercup. Nice to " see" you. Love to you, Weeder

thse are japanese stereotypes and note there is not a camara in sight

stereotyping indicates a closed mind, KB mentioned ignorance I guess it's the same thing. i do agree there is room for humor if it's done in a lvoing way but to often it's just mean....i always try and look at an individuals behavior and form my opinions based on that rather than prejudging them from spoon fed anecdotal evidence dished out by the media or whatever. there's always some good in the bad and some bad in the good, no one is perfect, until you are you should be careful about your judgements..

KB.;632582 wrote: Stereotypes - I have seen a lot of them thrown around like fifty cent bouncy balls in some recent threads.

I am a thirty year old white male, from a small town in about the most backwoods part of Western TN. Immediately to some of you I am ignorant, racist, a warmonger, a radical Christian, married to my cousin, chew tobacco, fat, lazy, love country music, read hunting magazines, don’t like foreigners and watch NASCAR.

Stereotypes are devices for saving a biased person the trouble of learning. I have no clue whose quote that is, but it should smack some of you straight in the forehead.

I’ll start with NASCAR, never watched it, and I’ve no desire to, same goes for soccer. Give me baseball and football; and on occasion women’s pro volley. I do love country music, but it like most anything else these days is pop, have to feed the masses world wide. I’ll take Willie, and Mr. Cash though. I also listen to Coltrane, Miles Davis, Bird York, Tupac (He wrote his raps in Iambic pentameter, just like Shakespeare wrote his sonnets). I ain't mad at cha. I like Norah Jones, Slim Harpo, Neil Young, Skynerd, Dylan, Radiohead and Amy Winehouse. Damn rehab, I say no, no, no. I’d like to say I listen to Mozart, Bach and Beethoven; but I don’t. I like the Isley Brothers, "it's your thang, I'm not trying to run your life, I know you want to do whats right".

I have little formal secondary education, but I have managed to learn a few things myself. Like no matter how hot my cousin looked breast feeding her baby last Christmas it would be wrong to try and do the same as that innocent babe. Now if she was a second cousin, twice removed I might make a go at it. I’ve never subscribed to a hunting magazine, but have read a few while sitting in a dentist office. I try and go for Sports Illustrated or GQ first, but hey you work with what you are given. I’ve read Karl Marx, loved his communist manifesto, and it was a good pre-cursor to Animal Farm. I have read Pascal, Dostoevsky, Camus (I once had a woman call me her Sisyphus and asked me to marry her, she was a stripper and was dead by the time I got the letter). I like Noam Chomsky no matter how crazy he has become, I think Nietzsche was a moron because he didn’t like short women. I called Grisham a literary whore once in Oxford, MS, but have read most of his books and enjoyed them. I read Kahlil Gibran, Emerson, and e. e. cummings. I think Robert Frost is over rated. William Faulkner was a genius, as was Twain, both are from the South, I capitalize South when I use it to refer to the state of mind, but not the geographical location. Curtis Mayfield was the last great American poet.

I was born, raised, and baptized in a tiny Southern Baptist church; where all of my family, from both sides are buried. The dead ones anyway. When I go to church these days it is at a Methodist church. I spent time in a Monastery in Louisiana. I believe in purgatory and free will. I believe in God and Jesus, the King James Bible has some wonderful poetry in Psalms and the Song of Solomon. The Song of Solomon is down right scandalous even. I have read the Koran and broken bread with a man who greeted me every day with al-Salamu alaikum

And I returned his traditional Muslim greeting with alaikum assalam. Peace be unto you, and on you be peace. I also read The Tao of Poo, and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.



"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

~Matthew 7:1-5

Forget where it came from for a moment and just read it.

I like the French, especially their women. Same goes for the Italians, Swedes, English, Canadians, South Americans, and every other country; well not the Germans their women are just down right mean. I almost married a woman from Peru, one from Kentucky, and one from Tennessee. I’m shooting for a 60 year old nun from Vernazza next.

I think it is far past time for us to bring the young men and women home from the places they have been sent. I have a friend who has been married for over two years now, and has hardly seen her husband. I have an old friend whose wife is a widower and his son is Fatherless. I have a Grandfather who spent months in a German POW camp stealing potatoes he had just planted to feed his buddies at night. I detest war, but I will support every single soldier who is risking their life, regardless of the reason, and even if I do not subscribe to the reason. I will not support the ones sitting behind desks as they do so. I think things should be handled on a singular basis. Make it personal.

I have never chewed tobacco, but I smoke enough to keep the GMP in North Carolina stable for the next decade. I used to be fat, but I wasn’t lazy, now I am skinny and I am lazy. The only group of people I hold bias against are stereotypical nay-sayers who speak just to be heard.

I can find Oz on a map.

There is nothing more weak, close minded, unoriginal, and short sighted than a stereotype, except those who promote them.

Funny thing about it all is this; I know a few dozen more than can say the same things. I bet they can name a dozen or more themselves.

Absit invidia

KB


You write and express yourself better than the average college graduate.

I can't stand sterotypes and double standards

KB it's just a little humor for ya Smile and be proud of who you are and remember we will never cure stereotyping.



I am Canadian

Hey, I'm not a lumberjack, or a fur trader....

I don't live in an igloo or eat blubber, or own a dogsled....

and I don't know Jimmy, Sally or Suzy from Canada,

although I'm certain they're really really nice.

I have a Prime Minister, not a president.

I speak English and French, not American.

And I pronounce it 'about', not 'a boot'.

I can proudly sew my country's flag on my backpack.

I believe in peace keeping, not policing,

diversity, not assimilation,

and that the beaver is a truly proud and noble animal.

A toque is a hat, a chesterfield is a couch,

and it is pronounced 'zed' not 'zee', 'zed' !!!!

Canada is the second largest landmass!

The first nation of hockey!

and the best part of North America

My name is Joe!!

And I am Canadian!!!

[QUOTE=minks;633023]KB it's just a little humor for ya Smile and be proud of who you are and remember we will never cure stereotyping.



True minksie, but do we need to bring the rest of the world's bad habits here? Especially if offends some of our members? Not to say that if it's done cleverly and with humor there can't be a place for it..

I haven't been offended. I just like to "hollar" and yell sometimes. I like it when people are allowed to say what they want, it means I can do the same as long as rules are followed.

zinkyusa;633033 wrote: [QUOTE=minks;633023]KB it's just a little humor for ya Smile and be proud of who you are and remember we will never cure stereotyping.



True minksie, but do we need to bring the rest of the world's bad habits here? Especially if offends some of our members? Not to say that if it's done cleverly and with humor there can't be a place for it..


Good point Zee, I guess we can't control everybody's actions. We have 2 choices let it get to us or rise above it.

To be offended by another is our own doing, it's up to each of us as individuals to determine the degree of offense we wish to take.... know what I mean?

I don't want to come off as uncaring in this.... And I am likely explaining this badly aren't I

Some people will get offended if you tell them the sky is blue and the sun is shining. I say the more people that become aware of a person's ignorance the better.

minks;633023 wrote: KB it's just a little humor for ya Smile and be proud of who you are and remember we will never cure stereotyping.





I am Canadian



Hey, I'm not a lumberjack, or a fur trader....

I don't live in an igloo or eat blubber, or own a dogsled....

and I don't know Jimmy, Sally or Suzy from Canada,

although I'm certain they're really really nice.



I have a Prime Minister, not a president.

I speak English and French, not American.

And I pronounce it 'about', not 'a boot'.



I can proudly sew my country's flag on my backpack.

I believe in peace keeping, not policing,

diversity, not assimilation,

and that the beaver is a truly proud and noble animal.

A toque is a hat, a chesterfield is a couch,

and it is pronounced 'zed' not 'zee', 'zed' !!!!



Canada is the second largest landmass!

The first nation of hockey!

and the best part of North America



My name is Joe!!

And I am Canadian!!!


In the last 20 or so years no male born Canadians have been named Joe. They are all named Wayne after the great one.





Now about those little Chinese people. Aint they sorta cute in their straw hats?

KB.;633044 wrote: Some people will get offended if you tell them the sky is blue and the sun is shining. I say the more people that become aware of a person's ignorance the better.



You're goonna have fun here KB.

minks;633041 wrote: [QUOTE=zinkyusa;633033]

Good point Zee, I guess we can't control everybody's actions. We have 2 choices let it get to us or rise above it.

To be offended by another is our own doing, it's up to each of us as individuals to determine the degree of offense we wish to take.... know what I mean?

I don't want to come off as uncaring in this.... And I am likely explaining this badly aren't I


Ok lets include in the discussion the recent posts of a somewhat sexual or titilating (down jimbo) nature. Some images have been removed and someone was given an infraction for some smilies that some people found offensive (I thought they were funny). Now if one member finds that offensive and these things are policied then I think mean stereotyping should be policied as well. I'm sure there is something that can be posted that will offend you minks; does that make it your problem then? Is everyone free to post exaclty as they please here? Apparently not. There is a line drawn, so I think mean natured sterotyping should on the other side.

zinkyusa;633049 wrote: [QUOTE=minks;633041]



Ok lets include in the discussion the recent posts of a somewhat sexual or titilating (down jimbo) nature. Some images have been removed and someone was given an infraction for some smilies that some people found offensive (I thought they were funny). Now if one member finds that offensive and these things are policied then I think mean stereotyping should be policied as well. I'm sure there is something that can be posted that will offend you minks; does that make it your problem then? Is everyone free to post exaclty as they please here? Apparently not. There is a line drawn, so I think mean natured sterotyping should on the other side.


Oh i forgot to mention i love ya minks..

Pictures of a bat penis and political discussion can't follow the same rules.

KB.;633052 wrote: Pictures of a bat penis and political discussion can't follow the same rules.


I don't consider posts proclaiming "Americans are xxx" to be political discussion.

I consider it trolling which is against the site rules.



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Where I'm from, they have a stereotype of being dumb Dutchmen. They talk with a very thick Pennsylvania Dutch accent. I have no accent, although quite a few of my relatives do. Also, the main city in the county I come from is riddled with drug & shooting problems. So, if you mention you're from that county, some automatically assume you're from the city & that you're no better than the common criminals! I had that happen a few times. You mention you're from there, & people tend to cringe. I HATE THAT!

zinkyusa;633049 wrote: [QUOTE=minks;633041]



Ok lets include in the discussion the recent posts of a somewhat sexual or titilating (down jimbo) nature. Some images have been removed and someone was given an infraction for some smilies that some people found offensive (I thought they were funny). Now if one member finds that offensive and these things are policied then I think mean stereotyping should be policied as well. I'm sure there is something that can be posted that will offend you minks; does that make it your problem then? Is everyone free to post exaclty as they please here? Apparently not. There is a line drawn, so I think mean natured sterotyping should on the other side.


Certainly Zee if anything is posted in a mean, malicious, or vicious form it should be removed if that is the way FG is going to be run indeed. And I agree let it be consistant across the board. But if it isn't going to happen then it is up to us as individuals to determine if we stay or go, if we ignore somebody who has a habit of being offensive in our eyes, and pick and choose what we will read.

What my point is if something is out of your's or my control then you or I have to decide how badly we are going to let it affect us or are we going to walk away from it or are we going to toss it up into somebody's face etc.

zinkyusa;633051 wrote: [QUOTE=zinkyusa;633049]

Oh i forgot to mention i love ya minks..


Hehehe luves ya too Zee

minks;633058 wrote: [QUOTE=zinkyusa;633049]

Certainly Zee if anything is posted in a mean, malicious, or vicious form it should be removed if that is the way FG is going to be run indeed. And I agree let it be consistant across the board. But if it isn't going to happen then it is up to us as individuals to determine if we stay or go, if we ignore somebody who has a habit of being offensive in our eyes, and pick and choose what we will read.

What my point is if something is out of your's or my control then you or I have to decide how badly we are going to let it affect us or are we going to walk away from it or are we going to toss it up into somebody's face etc.


that's easy for you to say becuase you're sweet..:p

zinkyusa;633061 wrote: [QUOTE=minks;633058]

that's easy for you to say becuase you're sweet..:p


oh you are stereotyping me are you :wah: (I am cursed being a canuck aren't I) :-4