Yeah, I'm writing this blog on Sunday, so what? Wanna fight?
So, I was inspired by something that isn't even a big deal. I was on my way home from the Gym, and on my way home from the gym, I happened to pass a cop car. I was doing the speed limit, I was the only one in the car, and my N sticker was on the back. As I pass the cop I look in my rear view mirror. The cop does a U-turn soon after passing me, and speeds up until he is caught up to me and follows me very closely for about 2 km. He doesn't turn his lights on, he just silently follows me, then, when I turn onto Barnette he continues on his way. Now, this could have just been me, but I think that my $400 car that is all rusty and marked up made him suspicious. Just the fact that I was driving a cheap, beat up car made him suspicious that I was a drug dealer / criminal. (Or this could all just be speculation).
Anyways, back to what my blog is about, stereotypes. Now, there was another thing that inspired me to write a blog on this topic. I know Rigo and Clayton agree with me on this one. But before I say it, I want everyone to know that I am not Anti-Semitic, or racist in any way shape or form. But as soon as I heard the names of Jonathan GOLDSTEIN. and Howard CHACKOWITZ, the first thing that came to my mind was...Jews...Now, I know that may sound bad, but it is a perfectly natural thing to think, I think. Now, this was all complete speculation until, on Saturday night, I heard Howards interview with his old Rabbi; and also the Rabbi speaking of the Torah. "I knew it!" I said to myself. Now you can say "Wow, how can you be so racist and judgemental", and I respond with: come on, I know you were thinking it too.
This is one example that shows that stereotypes can be true in a lot of situations. During my life I have experienced many stereotypes that I have found to be true, such as: Girls with bleached blond hair usually aren't the smartest, people who are Irish or have Irish backgrounds usually tend to drink a lot, and black people are usually good at sports - namely basketball. Now, you can call me a racist if you want, but I'm just sayin'... There are other stereotypes like: All women can make delicious sammiches, Step parents are always mean, and Gay people are always flamboyant. It's hard not to categorize someone as something at face-value. Everyone does it, and if you say you haven't, pshh, yeah right...It is just human nature to put someone into one category or another.
There are millions of stereotypes, and new ones being made all the time. My personal favorite is that Gingers always have Orange hair, pale white skin, and freckles; and also have no souls. Psychologists think that there are a number of reasons that people stereotype. Whether it is to raise their own self-esteem, because my stereotyping other groups they can feel that their group is the norm. Stereotypes can be absorbed at a young age and continue with you throughout your life. Or that it is just too complex to think of everyone as individual, so putting someone into a certain category makes life easier. Whatever the case, we all have stereotypes, and it is very hard NOT too stereotype someone without first getting to know them.
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