Human beings tend to confuse stereotypes with generalizations. I probably touched on this before but I feel like touching on it again. I’m not sure if that’s a generalization stereotype or just a statement of reality.
I would like to accuse the left, the people I disagree with, as being guilty of this without including myself, but I’m not sure that would be honest.
Let me give you an example of how you can say the same thing, but mean totally different truths based on whether you are stereotyping or generalizing. Take the simple statement “War is bad”. Now, if you are generalizing, you are acknowledging that it would be better if there was a superior way to reach the final conclusion. There would be less suffering and killing and destruction if we could negotiate things rather than firing at each other. I think most people would accept that. However, all wars while bad are not all unnecessary.
As a stereotype, you mean that there’s nothing worth fighting over. You mean there’s nothing worth risking your life in order to maintain or to protect. A stereotype statement that war is bad means that you live in a mysterious fantasy land of lollipops and cotton candy, and there are no bad actors in existence.
As a generalization, people on the left tend to be wishful thinkers who have little contact with the reality of facts and data evaluated with common sense and an awareness of cause and effect. Because they are surrounded by the unwashed masses who go about their daily tasks of earning a living, they survive. A stereotype would say that all liberals are selfish airheads. Obviously there are some who are not selfish. Also I would accept that there is some sense in which there are some liberals who could score well on standardized tests.
When dealing with a large group, go with the generalization. If you are dealing with one individual it is hard to tell the difference between the stereotype and what your eyes are seeing.
Make sure that you don’t fit their stereotype of being a philistine neanderthal.
What a world.
homo unius libri
Monday, February 17, 2025
Opus 2025-106: Confusing
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Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.