The Student Room Group

To people who often post "stop generalising"

If people are more likely to do something and evidence backs this up, do you still think it's bad to "generalise" even if evidence suggests the majority are like this, or a group is far more likely to contain these characteristics?

If you were on your own and approached by someone stereotypically a criminal, would you not take any precautions because that would be generalising?
Isn't it just human nature to generalise, coming from our tribal instincts?

Wouldn't society be a lot worse if everyone stopped generalising?

How do you suggest welfare payments are made? Car insurance quotes given? Treatment given (surely efficacy is a generalisation?) university places given? Surely society would be far worse without it?

What do you think you achieve by posting this?

Do you not think it is a terrible argument against something as it can be used in almost any argument and a 1 year old could learn that "argument"
(edited 12 years ago)

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I agree; society is based on generalisations-university admissions, welfare checks, investments, most things really.
Reply 2
Oh hey, my signature's relevant to this topic.
Reply 3
I take precautions regarding criminals. Where I'm from, men from certain countries are overrepresented in certain crimes, and obviously all girls pay attention to this. Everybody knows not all of them are like that, but I don't walk home alone with one just to prove that I am tolerant. It isn't worth it.
Obviously stereotyping shouldn't affect your entire life. I don't look at a girl from a certain background and make conclusions - with friends I am quite open and have friends of every culture.
I know, not only children listen to Duck Songs :colonhash:
Reply 5
Don;t generalise those who say "don't generalise" hypocrite
Reply 6
Original post by *Lollo*
I take precautions regarding criminals. Where I'm from, men from certain countries are overrepresented in certain crimes, and obviously all girls pay attention to this. Everybody knows not all of them are like that, but I don't walk home alone with one just to prove that I am tolerant. It isn't worth it.
Obviously stereotyping shouldn't affect your entire life. I don't look at a girl from a certain background and make conclusions - with friends I am quite open and have friends of every culture.


where are you from?
Original post by Frongle
Don;t generalise those who say "don't generalise" hypocrite


dumbass
Reply 8
It's better to judge the individual on their own merits rather than whatever the majority does.
Reply 9
Original post by Peteo
If people are more likely to do something and evidence backs this up, do you still think it's bad to "generalise" even if evidence suggests the majority are like this, or a group is far more likely to contain these characteristics?

If you were on your own and approached by someone stereotypically a criminal, would you not take any precautions because that would be generalising?
Isn't it just human nature to generalise, coming from our tribal instincts?

Wouldn't society be a lot worse if everyone stopped generalising?

What do you think you achieve by posting this?

Do you not think it is a terrible argument against something as it can be used in almost any argument and a 1 year old could learn that "argument"



I see what your saying but if someone said something along the lines of " I don't date black guys because they are all violent and in gangs" I would be very inclined to tell them to stop generalizing and stfu
Original post by JonathanDuhamel
I know, not only children listen to Duck Songs :colonhash:


Hey...

Got any grapes? :h:
Reply 11
Original post by noobynoo
where are you from?


Norway
Most of the generalisations that I've read on TSR are just plain stupid, e.g. 'British girls are too promiscuous'. On a more serious note, I don't really see the upside of generalisations? Using generalisations can be dangerous with regards to forming prejudices.
Reply 13
Original post by *Lollo*
Norway


Ha I was thinking Sweden! You hear about the immigrants raping all the Swedish girls. Don't know if it's true or just far right propaganda.
Reply 14
How do you suggest welfare payments are made? Car insurance quotes given? Treatment given (surely efficacy is a generalisation?) university places given? Surely society would be far worse without it?
Reply 15
Original post by noobynoo
Ha I was thinking Sweden! You hear about the immigrants raping all the Swedish girls. Don't know if it's true or just far right propaganda.


No it is true. And it's the same in Norway. There is no such thing as "far right propaganda" in Norway, the country is politically as left-wing and socialist as can be.
The police is meant to be neutral at all times, but they have to speak the truth. We had a massive amount of rapes in Oslo last summer (june, july, august), the chief of police answered questions in a press conference. She then said that they had managed to catch most of the men (due to more videocameras in the city), and 100% of them were non-Norwegian, either from Africa or Middle East. So yes, that does something to people. I mean honestly, not 9 out of 10, 100%.
People over use this word because most generalisations made here are moronic. Don't blame them blame the thread starters.
Reply 17
If there is actual evidence to support the claims then they can generalize all they want. But most people come in with an attitude similar to: "My girlfriend cheated on me... Why is it that no women want to have a genuine relationship? Now she's with a jerk so girls obviously are liars when they say they like nice guys."

There is no evidence to support any of those claims. If someone says that, he's basing an entire gender on his one bad experience.
Reply 18
Original post by Frongle
Don;t generalise those who say "don't generalise" hypocrite


How's it hypocritical?
Reply 19
Stereotypes and generalisations are a very useful way for us to make sense of the world.

what people usually object to imo is...

unfair and/or offensive generalisations (e.g. all black people are criminals)
There's no reason to say something like that unless you're trying to offend someone or you're just plain ignorant.

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