Why is it wrong to stereotype?

[Thurlor]

I recently got into an argument with a family member regarding the moral status of stereotyping. They claim it is always wrong. I disagree.

Is it wrong to stereotype sharks as dangerous? If not, is that because they don't have feelings as we know them? Most people have no problem making claims along the lines of sharks are dangerous, flies are dirty, etc.

My main concern with stereotypes is that they misrepresent statistics and are usually based on anecdotal evidence or personal experience which is not very accurate in the big scheme of things.

 

[Black Rose]

Stereotypes are not something that is necessarily untrue. It becomes untrue when you get personal. You cannot use a stereotype when you're so close to the member of a group that you clearly see what the stereotype gets right and what it gets wrong. Stereotypes don't apply to everyone but list traits. And on a societal level stereotypes are traits a large number of people believe exist in a group. So if everyone believes group X has trait Y that can be true or it can false but is is not applicable until you see one member of group X, then you know if the person has what the society believes is the trait attributed to their group. If they do not have the trait as society believes that member should have because of his group membership X, then ignoring this is the negativity of what stereotyping is. Continuing to associate that trait with them as a person is wrong even if most members of their group has the trait. They do not have the stereotypical trait so it's wrong to behave as if they did have that trait. Stereotyping is also for this reason bad because society mostly has inaccurate knowledge of what traits different groups actually have on average. Accurate Stereotypes are rare in society. So Stereotyping can get many things wrong.

 

[ZombieHitler]

Well there's always exception and even then, it often only capture usually part of the truth.


It kind of depends though, sometimes it's just something that other cultures or groups of people find peculiar or strange about another, and thus make light of it in some, but it' not really harmful or damaging outright. Like, "Western people are loud and boisterous" well, obviously there's a lot that aren't, but it' true are culture is very loud and extroverted focused for some strange reason, it's just an observation or neutral commonly occurring preference or trait amongst Westerner. Who knows though what it is, I certainly have never really been fond of it.


So yeah, human being are really herd minded, so often time it's a mixture of nature and nurture. It's up to the person as to what to make of it all.

 

[QuickTwist]

The question, is to what ends is stereotyping beneficial?

If you are dealing with people as a group, then stereotyping can be fine as long as its not a gross misconception. Stereotypes help us make sense out of others in a macro sense and there isn't anything inherently wrong with that.

When stereotyping becomes detrimental instead of helpful is when you are dealing with individuals of said stereotype. There are no stereotypes where an individual fulfills all criteria of said stereotype, at least in my experience. Also, stereotypes are only vague impressions you get from the media or your friends and family, and not based on real life experience.

The thing about stereotypes is that they don't even have to be 100% accurate to be useful, they only have to be accurate when it comes to what is normal for people in said stereotype. They help us categorize people in the world and without the context of a stereotype, that leaves us with very little info on the people that make up this world. But like I said, stereotypes stop being effective when you are dealing with individuals of said stereotype because each individual is much more varied and nuanced than any stereotype can predict because stereotypes are based on general characteristics and not specifics of individuals.

 

[Ex-User (14663)]

If you go down a dark alley alone at night, who would you rather have coming in the opposite direction: some old lady or a guy with a hoodie?

 

[washti]

Starotypes are useful in basic recognision of situation. Your brain is doing it anyway all the time. After initial encounter, relying on sterotypes can be costly. By underestimating someone, treating with superiority or keeping any superficial judgement can lead to very sour effects. Assumption is mother of all fuck ups, or so they say.

 

[nanook]

If you stereotype more overtly than most people, you may be more stupid or more intelligent than most people. Are your stereotypes most concrete or most abstracted in nature? " Indian people are ugly" is an egocentric and concrete stereotype, commonly announced only by stupid people. Even a mediocre person will think of it as being a mindless thing to say. "Most people are nazis" is a most abstract stereotype that requires sophisticated philosophical maturation. The stupid or mediocre person will however read the abstract statement, specifically the word nazi, in a concrete / literal minded manner and therefore think of it as wrong and stupid. This is an example of a pre-trans fallacy. Anything that is distinct from the mediocre mainstream view is often considered equally wrong and often lumped together as coming from a similar origin, one below mediocrity.

 

[Jason988]

Stereotypes helps to evulate the situation and possible outcomes. Although not always the proper assessment some stereotypes do tend to hold some weight. I am an INTJ though so maybe that is something we use differently. I would have just told that family member that their opinion with their reasoning had no barring on what I thought so no point to continue this conversation. Then I would have walked away without giving it another thought. Or if I felt like being an ass I would have went and got some tissues. Set the box beside them and said your going to need this. Then start rattling off every stereotype I could think of explaining with facts why it held weight . Doubtful they would bring it up again that way. I would have definitely messed with them poking at them when they got all emotional

 

[Mxx]

I have no problem using heuristics until something warrants further attention.