|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Atlas
Joined: 09 Jun 2003
Posts: 662
Location: By-the-Sea PRC
|
 Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2004 4:49 pm Post subject: Stereotypes |
 |
|
French never bathe
Britains have broomsticks up their arses
Japanese are obsequious
Chinese are sycophants
Americans are belligerent
Mexicans are lazy
Germans are robots
Australians are irresponsible
Jews are misers
Canadians are whitebread
Portuguese are cheap
Whites can't dance
Blacks can dance
American Indians are drunks
Latinos are crazy
Have I forgotten anything? (I couldn't think of one for Africans)
If I left you out, I do apologize.
Stereotypes serve a purpose, that's why people rely on them. But they presuppose a judgment, and obfuscate the actual experience. Not a very Zen way to go through life.
Psychology has shown repeated instances where people generally only focus on the negative in others, the threats to security. Isn't that tittilating?
There was some very interesting research done which showed that, in a nutshell, it was the subordinate groups that were more prejudiced than the superordinate groups. It was some kind of need to keep a distinct identity, whereas the bigger group just didn't notice or care.
Whenever a person of one culture says, "people of X culture are..." before they can finish the sentence they have already offended and created a barrier. Those kinds of statements need no answering; they have no real definition or authority.
I say it's time we got over these petty cultural differences and f**king try to pull each other out of the fire before it's too late! Guess what: these cultures aren't going anywhere, they are going to be around as long as they can, so get over it! People are different from you!
Instead of complaining, do something! Lots of people need your help!
Ah, but complaining requires no effort.... no responsibility.... no accountability....! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2004 5:07 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Dear Atlas,
| Quote: |
| Stereotypes serve a purpose, that's why people rely on them. |
And that purpose is to encourage misjudgment, prejudice, misunderstanding, hatred, jingoism, naivete, etc.
For heaven's sake - there's NOTHING good about them, the "bad stereotypes" AND the "good ones".
Regards,
John |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Roger
Joined: 19 Jan 2003
Posts: 9138
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 9:11 am Post subject: |
|
|
| "The abroaders are anti-Americans!!!" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bindair Dundat
Joined: 04 Feb 2003
Posts: 1123
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 9:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
| johnslat wrote: |
For heaven's sake - there's NOTHING good about them, the "bad stereotypes" AND the "good ones".
|
Dear Mr. Slat,
I share your frustration with our overuse of generalizations, to an extent. They don't bother me as much as they seem to bother you, perhaps because I'm more cynical than you are. They do have their value, though, in enabling us to process information efficiently. I think the whole trick is to be careful about when and how you apply them, which is a trick that many people have not, and will never, learn. It takes work, and it takes awareness.
BD |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bindair Dundat
Joined: 04 Feb 2003
Posts: 1123
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 9:41 am Post subject: Re: Stereotypes |
|
|
| Atlas wrote: |
There was some very interesting research done which showed that, in a nutshell, it was the subordinate groups that were more prejudiced than the superordinate groups. It was some kind of need to keep a distinct identity, whereas the bigger group just didn't notice or care. |
Makes sense. The subordinates are working closer to the margins, and they know it. That makes them a little testy.
| Atlas wrote: |
| Instead of complaining, do something! |
What action do you suggest?
BD |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ben Round de Bloc
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1946
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 9:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Bindair Dundat wrote: |
| johnslat wrote: |
For heaven's sake - there's NOTHING good about them, the "bad stereotypes" AND the "good ones".
|
Dear Mr. Slat,
I share your frustration with our overuse of generalizations, to an extent. They don't bother me as much as they seem to bother you . . .
BD |
I'm confused here by the use of the words stereotypes and generalizations. Are you saying they are synonymous? Perhaps these terms need to be defined as to how they are being used in the context of this thread.
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
grahamb
Joined: 30 Apr 2003
Posts: 1945
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 9:52 am Post subject: What??? |
|
|
| Britain (Great or otherwise) is part of Europe. Britons (ancient or modern) are the inhabitants thereof. Britains is (or was) a manufacturer of toy soldiers. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 10:51 am Post subject: |
|
|
Dear Bindair Dundat,
| Quote: |
| They don't bother me as much as they seem to bother you, perhaps because I'm more cynical than you are. |
Bindair - Dundat. Hope you move onto the next stage fairly soon.
But don't get me wrong; I don't HATE stereotypes. Why, some of my best friends . . . .
Regards,
John |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Alitas
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 187
Location: Maine
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 11:23 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Well, help me then. As a Spanish teacher I teach about the cultures of countries where Spanish is a main language. I'm afraid I generalize every day, when we talk about bartering, or eating the main meal, or style, or any of a million things. Show me a better way. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bindair Dundat
Joined: 04 Feb 2003
Posts: 1123
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 11:25 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Ben Round de Bloc wrote: |
I'm confused here by the use of the words stereotypes and generalizations. Are you saying they are synonymous? |
I think a stereotype is a representative mental image or impression that reflects only the most salient generalizations about the presumed characteristics of the members of a group. To use shorthand, I say a stereotype is a type of generalization, although it is really more complex than that.
Example: To say that Pennsylvanians are all pedophiles is a gross overgeneralization, based on attributing information about a small number of people to a larger population. If I believe that generalization, though, and if I know little else about Pennsylvanians, then "pedophile" would be an important component of my Pennsylvania stereotype. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bindair Dundat
Joined: 04 Feb 2003
Posts: 1123
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 11:35 am Post subject: |
|
|
| johnslat wrote: |
Bindair - Dundat. Hope you move onto the next stage fairly soon.
|
Buying the T-shirt, you mean? I stopped wearing t-shirts with messages on them just about the time I stopped eating at the Golden Arches.
BD,
Older and more of a wise guy |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 11:35 am Post subject: Qualify |
|
|
Dear Alitas,
| Quote: |
Show me a better way.
|
Well, qualifiers wouldn't hurt. Instead of saying, for example:
Americans don't know . . . .
you could say
Some/Many/A few/A lot of Americans that I've met don't know . . .
And, you could show it's your opinion, not a fact.
In my opinion; I'd say; I think; etc.
Regards,
John |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 11:41 am Post subject: T for two |
|
|
Dear Bindair Dundat,
| Quote: |
I stopped wearing t-shirts with messages on them just about the time I stopped eating at the Golden Arches.
|
Ah, grasshopper - and I was going to send you this one:
I ATTAINED ENLIGHTENMENT - AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS LOUSY T-SHIRT.
Regards,
Magister John |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bindair Dundat
Joined: 04 Feb 2003
Posts: 1123
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 11:52 am Post subject: por lo general, muchas veces, frecuentamente, la mayoria |
|
|
| Alitas wrote: |
| Well, help me then. As a Spanish teacher I teach about the cultures of countries where Spanish is a main language. I'm afraid I generalize every day, when we talk about bartering, or eating the main meal, or style, or any of a million things. Show me a better way. |
You're really off to a pretty good start. Note your second sentence, where you refer to "the cultures of countries where Spanish is a main language". That's quite specific and accurate. I think that muchas personas would have said something like "Spanish-speaking countries" or "Spanish culture".
I think generalization is fine as long as it's not taken to extremes, and as long as it is understood that one is "only generalizing".
I find that seeing through the generalization is often a problem for both the over-generalizing speaker and the overtaxed listener; many people might have interpreted your sentence as "Spain and Mexico," even though that's not what you said and there are worlds of difference between Spain and Mexico.
BD |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Truman
Joined: 24 Oct 2003
Posts: 50
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 2:51 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Alitas wrote: |
| Well, help me then. As a Spanish teacher I teach about the cultures of countries where Spanish is a main language. I'm afraid I generalize every day, when we talk about bartering, or eating the main meal, or style, or any of a million things. Show me a better way. |
What you describe are cultural norms, not steriotypes. There is a difference.
The first is about specific behaviors and cultural tradtions (when and what to eat, drink or smoke ... or what side of the road one should drive on)
The second is about making character judgments about a large group. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
