Labeling, Is stereotyping fair? Options

[Olive]

It's human nature to group things like that...

No its not.
Young Children were not born instictively to "group people". Its the parents/media/idiocy which teaches them to judge, group and see things critically one sided.
It is everyone's own choice whether they choose to stereotype themselves or others. This only proves their narrow minded-ness not "human nautre".
People are not simply labelled, they either copy what they see around them or merely judge others for imitating society and having no sense of self-identity.

You see lack of originality because people fear being judged, hence being seen "socially unfit". Its pretty pathetic if you see people only by appearance..

[iiTsDAYNA]

Its never fair to be called Punk, Geek, Goth, Prep. I mean everyone is labeled something because of how they dress or look. Just because they are Goth doesnt mean they worship the devil. It really hurts some peoples feelings. It should be stopped.

[sadolakced acid]

really what's wrong with labels?

you don't shop for things specifically by name.

you shop in the housewares department, frozen foods, men's clothing.

why should people be any differnet?

[ladyamalthea9]

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.

No. It's not fair. Everyone does it though. If someone can accept that they fall into that category, then it's ok.

[illumineering]

No its not.
Young Children were not born instictively to "group people". Its the parents/media/idiocy which teaches them to judge, group and see things critically one sided.
It is everyone's own choice whether they choose to stereotype themselves or others. This only proves their narrow minded-ness not "human nautre". 
People are not simply labelled, they either copy what they see around them or merely judge others for imitating society and having no sense of self-identity.

You see lack of originality because people fear being judged, hence being seen "socially unfit". Its pretty pathetic if you see people only by appearance..

Grouping does not imply a one-sided or critical perspective. That's a judgement. If I am grouped in the people with brown hair and brown eyes, that's not a stereotype or being narrow minded. It is the recognition of physical characteristics.

Infants do exhibit grouping behaviors by 3 months of age. Here's a link to an abstract that references this behavior.

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/1...7.x?cookieSet=1

[Olive]

Grouping does not imply a one-sided or critical perspective.  That's a judgement.  If I am grouped in the people with brown hair and brown eyes, that's not a stereotype or being narrow minded.  It is the recognition of physical characteristics. 

Infants do exhibit grouping behaviors by 3 months of age.  Here's a link to an abstract that references this behavior.

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/1...7.x?cookieSet=1

heres the first post:

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.

I'm pretty sure this thread is referring to judgmental stereotypes as stated. In my opinion, narrow minded-ness appears often when people can only see one possible outcome based on stereotypes, thereby critising someone's appearnce/race and "labelling".

[Purplefender86]

Um I personally don't think it's wrong if it's true. But that dosen't mean to think they act a certian way. It's not at all wrong to categorize people it's lieke at the mall they have polo shirts, t shirt, jeans and skirts they put them in seperate groups because they are a diff style. It's just a diff style not always way of thinking.

[dancerellie714]

^ so one day just because some one is wearing a polo you'd say "prep" and the next day they're in all black and you'd say "goth"?

[sadolakced acid]

^

well, yea.

if you have a honda civic and it's painted black, it's a black car. if you paint it silver the next day, it's still a honda civic, but it's a silver car.

[Olive]

^ No, thats color grouping. Unless you find one color more favorable or replusive than the other, then I don't see how that example is relevant to the topic.

[*RiC3xBoy*]

^ No, thats color grouping. Unless you find one color more favorable or replusive than the other, then I don't see how that example is relevant to the topic.

I think he was trying to make an exmaple for dancerellie714.

[x3_mr_mak]

whatever u do, u cant help it. ppl label u with what seems to fit ur personality/appearance the most. however, we shouldn't do that, but judging is human's natural instinct. so let's not be so harsh on ppl who stereotype, because, admit it, we all do at some point in our lives

[blubpancake99]

...people think they're up to no good just because of how they look...

well maybe they should stop dressing like fools, get themselves a suit or something and get a real job.

who says that's what they want? I have a friend who loves gothic style and she's obsessed with manson and she is a phenomenal artist. I think she would much prefer to make a living off of some self employed art type business rather than dress in a suit and work in an office. Not everyone classifies successful as "rich, wife and kids, steady job in an office"

a second point... I don't feel like I fall into any one of these categories. "geek, prep, goth, etc..." I like math and I'm taking an honors math class next year. I like computers too and enjoy fooling around with html. I play the Baritone, a low brass instrument similar to the trombone and tuba, which few people have heard of. I absolutely love it. I am going to be in a group next year with 3 hour rehearsals once a week. Does that make me a geek? Maybe a straight edge?

I am one of the few kids at our school who enjoys art despite our awful art teachers simply because I love to draw. I doodle on my clothes, notebooks, sketchbook, and pretty much everywhere a pen writes. Does that make me an art freak? Aquaintances probably classify me as straight edge... I get good grades and have a good amount of common sense, wear glasses, and rather enjoy being at school most of the time. But still, I don't know what category I really fall into.

So many people don't look beyond the surface, don't even know how much I like to draw or how much I enjoy playing the Baritone, the person I am besides the common sense, good grades, glasses, and happy attitude. Even if we don't stop labeling, we should stop assuming that the one label you gave a person, even though it probably applies to them in some way, is the only aspect of them. People do fall into categories, but that's not all there is to them.

A last point. Sure, it's great to be in a group where you can be included with everyone, but what if there are certain things you really love that the group is just not interested in? Wouldn't you rather be able to love and enjoy those things without being part of a bigger group that frowns upon or doesn't have any interest for them? This might not be something everyone here has experianced, but at my school there just doesn't seem to be a group for me. This is more about cliques, I guess. But then again, don't the labels apply to cliques as well? Isn't there a goth clique, a prep clique, a geek clique, etc? If you don't know what label you consider yourself, how do you know what clique to consider yourself? Aren't there any "label outcasts" who don't know what clique to go to because they can't find a label that's right for them? Maybe there will become a clique of "label outcasts" who suddenly become labeled. I don't know. But, maybe being a not putting yourself under a label and into a clique isn't such a bad thing. Maybe that means you can accept yourself without trying to mold yourself to a certain group of people's interests, etc. That doesn't mean that there aren't people who already fit pretty well into the group without molding themselves into it, but there will still be people who don't fit.

Sorry for the ranting, this has just been bugging me. >___________<

[ApocalypseAelis]

There's nothing to debate in here.

We all know it isn't fair to judge people or stereotype them, but everyone does it. It's human nature, just because it's not fair doesn't mean we'll stop doing it. Humans stereotype; it isn't fair; it still happens. The end!

As for all you people who say "ugh I hate it when people say I'm a goth/punk/prep/whatever," they're not going to judge you for absolutely no reason. If people think you're a goth on a first glance, it's probably because you dress like one and you can't blame it entirely on the person judging you. So don't complain.

[EddieV]

^^

everyone labels, even if its subconcious... isnt it somthing like withing 30 seconds of meeting someone, we make 150 snap judgements about them?
or something similar

of course its not fair tho...

Well even though you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, first impression is really important, sometimes when you see someone dressed a certain way, you might have some sort of fear of how they might be, if you labeled them correctly...

[sadolakced acid]

^ on the contrary, a book can only be judged by it's cover, short of reading it.

looking at the cover tells you:

1. if the publishing company cared enough to pay extra for a snazzier book cover, with better cover art.

2. the idea of the book by it's title, which is on the cover. a romance might be like... adventures of the heart, and a vampire thrillier, bloodlust.

3. the jacket summar, although not really on the outside, is usually used in book selection and give a general idea of the book.

4. see how worn it is, if it's an old book but still in good condition you know it's not popular, etc.

if everyone didn't judge books by thie cover they'd have to read a book before choosing to read it. which is a bit impractical.

likewise, with people, can not you look at someone and decide whether they can be trusted with 1 grand cash? or do you have to give it to them and try it to see if they can?

[Ington]

I'm sorry to disagree with everyone, but I think its perfectly fair.

The assumptions may not be right, but its fair to make the assumptions.

First of all, you should all know, that you don't assume stuff about just everyone. There needs to be a special feature of the person that makes you think about a stereotype. They have to be an extreme fit of a stereotype.

For example, if you see an asian girl with a Hello Kitty outfit and is taking a picture in a fobby pose, you would think: "Hey, that chicks a fob." And you know what? You're probably right.

Lets say you're walking down the street and you see a bunch of giant black guys with doo rags, sagging pants, and jewelry and chains everywhere. Do you think:"I wonder if they like opera."? No. You would automatically jump to "They're gangsta and like rap".

However, it would be wrong to automatically treat someone different due to your assumptions. Its completely fair if it only happens in your mind.

[elaboratedream]

^^ I agree completely

it is human nature to categorize. I never said it's right, I never said it's good, but people do it. The media may influence the way people categorize and the groups we mentally put people into, but people will categorize no matter what.

Can anyone honestly say that they don't see someone and at least somewhat group them with other people? You might not want to, you might not think it's right, but you at least subconciously group people.

Grouping people is only bad when you refuse to alter your opinions of people or if you treat the person differently based on the initial impression.

I know I see someone walking down the halls wearing all black with plenty of make up and chains and I think of them as a 'goth, alternative, punk' or whatever. I see another guy with a jersey on, pants sagging, plenty of bling and stuff like that and I think 'ghetto or gangsta'. I see a girl walking around in a pink polo shirt with a bunch of make up and blonde highlights and I think 'prep'... but this doesn't mean that I'd treat any of those people differently based on that... and if I get to know one of those people, I might alter that initial impression, but usually those kinds of impressions are for the most part accurate.

[emazing]

I don't think stereotyping is really considered racism, but it is still a bit mean.
On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being on racist terms, I'd rate stereotyping a 5.
In-betweenish.
Labeling is, as both above have already elaborated, something that humans do.
It's just the way of life.

[heyyeh]

you know everyone saids that labeling isnt fair, but in reality everyone does it subconsciously. its just instinctive.

im not saying its right im just saying a one point or another everyone has done it

[*xcaitlinx*]

I'm sorry to disagree with everyone, but I think its perfectly fair.

The assumptions may not be right, but its fair to make the assumptions.

First of all, you should all know, that you don't assume stuff about just everyone. There needs to be a special feature of the person that makes you think about a stereotype. They have to be an extreme fit of a stereotype.

For example, if you see an asian girl with a Hello Kitty outfit and is taking a picture in a fobby pose, you would think: "Hey, that chicks a fob." And you know what? You're probably right.

Lets say you're walking down the street and you see a bunch of giant black guys with doo rags, sagging pants, and jewelry and chains everywhere. Do you think:"I wonder if they like opera."? No. You would automatically jump to "They're gangsta and like rap".

However, it would be wrong to automatically treat someone different due to your assumptions. Its completely fair if it only happens in your mind.

i feel the same way.