A few days ago my Chinese teacher was telling our class about what life in China is like. Her descriptions of walking outside at night, where the streets are brightly lit with signs and streetlights reminded me of Korea. She also went on to say that the Chinese are among the most friendly and warm hearted people she has ever known. I said to the class that it reminded me of Korea, except that in Korea the people are nastier.
People got pissed and not one was Korean.
So here's the thing... are stereotypes wrong?
Bullshit: Stereotypes are wrong.
The Truth: Sometimes they are remarkably accurate.
I recall this one time years ago when me and some Asian guys were in a room reading a list of "Asian stereotypes" that were apparently funny. Everyone had a good laugh and I'd say about seventy percent of the time, a stereotype was accurate, that is, when one was read, it applied to almost everyone in the room... Granted, six people is not a huge sample size, but if a pattern emerges, it's hard to ignore. And the word came out, "Man, these things are pretty accurate." Everyone had a laugh and nodded.
But.
Suddenly if the stereotype is not so "funny" it's wrong?
Where is the logic in that?
The stereotype was perfectly valid and reasonably accurate when it was funny, but when replaced with one that is somewhat offensive (if you're sensitive) suddenly it's all wrong and inaccurate and incorrect? What kind of logical brain fart of a bullshit is that?
Utter bullshit, that's what.
Yes, Asian people from China, Korea and Japan kind of look like this (above). Am I allowed to say that or do I have to say that there is no way to tell because there is the absolute miniscule and utterly improbable (but I suppose not impossible) chance that one may pop out looking like this?
Right. You can see how this is bullshit already. Clear as fucking day.
Oh, but how they kind of look isn't a stereotype you say? Well what about when someone makes a mention about the shape of the eyes of most Chinese people? Now it's a stereotype and it's not acceptable anymore. Now here's my question, what's wrong with the shape of the eyes of a typical Chinese person? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. You'd be a fucking asshole to make fun of it, but you'd be a fucking moron to deny it as well.
Which is why it is important that we question the things we are NOT ALLOWED to question. Because when we are NOT ALLOWED to question something, that something is probably caked in bullshit and wouldn't last five minutes in a real debate.
It is wrong to judge an individual by the stereotype of their group right off the bat, but to dismiss a stereotype as being totally inaccurate when it does in fact have truth to it is wrong. If we are to go down that path, we might as well not even go to school. We might as well forfeit the right to think.
"Asian people from China, Korea and Japan kind of look like this (above)." HAHAHA So true.
ReplyDeleteStereotypes and generalizations exist because a proportionately large part of the population defined by certain geographical and demographic confines tends to share common characteristics. It's human nature to make inferences based on knowledge, even if it stems from purely visual information. If someone looks Asian, it can be inferred that... well, maybe there is a high probability that they *are* Asian. Duh. It would be complete idiocy to disregard the concept as a whole.
Well it's where things are headed. Unfortunately. You can't even call an apple an apple because that would be a generalization. Well not quite but you know what I mean.
ReplyDeleteYup. Being politically correct to the point that it infringes on basic common sense is definitely one of the bullshit aspects of modern society. Ironic how, in seeking to be more diverse and educated, people end up dumbing themselves in other ways. heh ;p
ReplyDeleteOne of my best teachers of all time had the perfect description of this. Educated Idiots.
ReplyDeleteStereotypes are all good so long as we're talking generally. But some people* have an inability to separate "speaking generally" and talking about individuals, and try to apply stereotypes to every.single.person. Then it becomes a problem.
ReplyDeleteIt can also become a problem when it seems like somebody has an agenda, and they're using stereotypes to further their agenda. For example, animal rights douchebags incessantly use stereotypes to make people seem stupid or irrational.
* there's always that 10%