Labeling, Is stereotyping fair? Options

[Paradox of Life]

Calling someone a goth or punk or prep or goody-two-shoes, etc. Is it really fair to judge people? Or is it just an organized classification of people that could fall in those catagories? Is it fair to say that all are the same? Is it being racist in any way? Please post your opinions.

[ryfitaDF]

i can't say i'm a fan of it, but i can understand where it comes from and i know that i'm guilty of it somtimes. you have to concider, though, we've been tought that "all A's make the same sound" and "no dogs can talk" and etc., so it's easy to think it's right that "all goths cut" and "all black people listen to rap". i'm not saying that does any justice to biased people, i'm just giving some insight to it's origin. borders shouldn't apply to people. you're not christian, you're not a prep, you're not even american. you're a human. that's the way i see it.

[Nashvixen]

we've been tought that "all A's make the same sound" and "no dogs can talk" and etc., so it's easy to think it's right that "all goths cut" and "all black people listen to rap".

Well, first of all, not all A's make the same sound. There are variations to the emphasis on all vowels. Second, all goths don't cut, nor do all black people listen to rap.
No, stereotyping is NOT "racist". It's discrimination. Stereotyping and racism fall into the same category.

i think labeling is ok in this case: some people that bitch about labeling (im not saying you are) that DO dress in all black, have blue hair and multiple facial pericings deserve it. HELLO!! If you wear things like that and look like an idiot, you deserve to be labeled an idiot.

Perhaps it's not idiotic to dress in black (since many of the people you know probably wear black on occasions). In my opinion, it's idiotic of 0riskybusiness0 to state this. Follow my reasoning here... If there was a perfectly wonderful individual who's favorite color was black, and they looked acceptable to your taste, nonetheless, you'd be okay. But just because so many people discriminate against "goths" and you may feel threatened in some way by them, you choose to call them unfair names. Maybe if people like you discontinued the labeling, you would find that your so-called "goth" only wants to be accepted, but is actually rebelling against the fact that they aren't accepted.
Now don't get me wrong, I have met a few goths who judge others automatically, thinking they're judging them. So, no offense.
probably because you're the reason people complain about labeling.
there's many jobs for people who look a certain way.

that's the problem, people think of people differently just because of the way they look..if they do have piercings and wear black and such, that does NOT mean they're bad people. they could be the cleanest, most straight edge virgins in the world but people think they're up to no good just because of how they look and that's the problem. and of course, if you look at my signature, (that is, if you can see it, the server is down..only..for..me..) you can see perfectly that i don't really choose to look "that" way, so it's not only these kinds of people that think this way.

I'd have to agree here. Completely. My dad is alot like this guy this person. Hate it.

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And please dont tell me 'well maybe they want to live that way, and they are happy without having money' well, the truth is they arent, they arent happy struggling to live, wondering if they'll have enough food stamps left. No one is happy like that.
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What's wrong with minium wage? Most people can live off like that. And you know what? I'm gonna tell you something even though you said you didn't want anyone to tell you this. MAYBE THEY ARE HAPPY LIVING THAT WAY. Just because you don't have much money, doesn't mean you aren't happy. Wouldn't you actually admire people who aren't so focused on money? Wouldn't you rather live happy then being so focused on how rich you are? Wouldn't you rather have a loving family then having a lot of money and having no one to share it with?

I'd have to agree with this as well. Some people are not materialistic or uncomfortable without superficial things. Minimum wage (if you enjoy the finer, free things about daily life) will be supportive.

I would like to stop 'fighting', its not really debating anymore

Hun... this is still debating. It feels like fighting because you're losing. I've been there. Don't get aggressive, you just didn't do all your home work here.

Yes, but if they are struggling, dont you think they would like to get out of struggling? the thing is in this country, majority rules. And if everyone else takes thoese things for granted, its not worth it doing so.
I am sorry you had to live in a barn, maybe they should've gotten a job, theres so many options, go back to school, go to college, etc.

People who live in barns probably don't have transportation to work, school, or much, much less, college. School buses, yes, but how could anyone go farther than that? Kids are being pushed by peer pressure to buy all kinds of things today to "fit in" and poor people can't. They learn to live with this and opinions like these.
Plus, "goths" probably don't live in barns.