Stereotypes are the shortcuts your mind takes to categorize someone new, though they aren't necessarily positive ones.
We create or hear these generalizations, these preconceived notions we lock away in our minds, because they act as a kind of shorthand. You don't actually have to get to know someone of a different race or nationality or gender or whatever from you, because, hey, you already know what all of "these" kinds of people are like.
And unless you open up your mind, you could end up making that person mad, like the stories below.
Reddit user, u/brusselaar123, wanted to hear what grinds your gears when they asked:
What is the stereotype about you that you hear the most and how much do you love/hate it?
First Impressions Aren't Always Right
You meet someone, take one look at them, and think, "I got it. I know everything there is to know about this person." When, if you waited a few more minutes, you'd find you were totally off.
I'm Considering My Words
That I'm quiet because I'm stuck up.
I'm quiet because I have nothing interesting to say.
I Just Like Long Hair
Everyone thinks I'm some stoner hippie who can score them drugs. I teach middle school. You'd be surprised at the amount of teachers that have approached me. I just have long hair.
I Just Don't Have Any Hair
That I'm a racist skinhead.
I'm just bald, dude. It's not a choice.
Names Mean Less Than Nothing
I've had a lot of people think I fake my last name, it's Salazar and I'm white as f-ck
Overcompensating For My Own Benefit
Assertiveness and being cocky. I'm definitely confident in myself, but it's my way of coping with how dark my mind gets. I feel much more matured than people my age simply because of these mental health issues, and leadership is the most natural way of dealing with it.
I'm Crying On The Inside
Since I'm loud and laugh easily, everyone thinks I'm an optimist that always sees the bright side of life. In fact I'm a pessimist that has been battling depression for years now. I'm just very good in keeping up appearances.
My Outward Appearance Doesn't Match What I Am
Then there's the people who put on a display a certain characteristic, or impairment, which you have in your mind categorized as being a certain way. However, a further discussion leads you to realize the error you just made.
We're An Entire Country
"Russians are cold and grumpy. And they wear adidas all the time".
It was funny at first. Now, not really. It's annoying, but not enough to hate it haha.
You Don't Know Me On The Inside
That I am always happy. I always hear how nothing ever bothers me. People just assume it is my disposition. Actually, I am depressed quite often and there is plenty I get pissed off about I only have so much energy and I work at not letting sh-t pull me down. I have become indifferent to it.
Caspers_ShadowKeep Your Parenting Opinions To Yourself
Because my kid sometimes behaves rudely and sometimes makes weird noises, I am a sh-t parent who should just spank my child into good behaviour.
My kid has autism. If I thought physical violence would solve my problems, I would be punching those idiots who say this sh-t all the time.
It's Not Everyone. Just You.
My dad thinks I dislike everyone because I dislike his friends. Almost all of his friends are awful human beings, except 1. He's a legit good guy.
I hate it. I hate being thought of as someone that doesn't like anyone. That's not the case and I'm polite and cordial to people even if I dislike them. I just don't become friends with anyone and everyone just to say I have an insane number of friends.
Not Pulling As Much As You Think
I work as a Club DJ in quite a few gay clubs and the general consensus is that DJ's are titanic whores who take back multiple people from the club whilst snorting all manner of drugs. It's actually a reputation that's made a couple of dating things difficult because guys presume that in my line of work it's standard?!
It's really not, I don't do drugs (Jack Daniel's does more than enough to make my night) and aside from being way too busy focusing on the music and mixing, I'm also butt ugly so it just doesn't happen to me.
Didn't stop one guy telling me that he can't date me because I've "had more ass than a toilet seat" and I had to make my last boyfriend sit in the booth and watch as absolutely nobody looked at me for hours on end.
I'm sure there are deejays who are that and roll, but it ain't me
Listen To My Words, Not My Voice
I come from a township( lets use ghetto for universal understanding ) and i have the accent. Because of where i grew up, people always assume i do/did drugs, steal, fight all the time, drink alot, all that jazz that makes my township famous.
I hate it because once back when i was a kid, we were visiting some distant relatives and one of them misplaced their purse and they accused my brother because he was a little rascal back then.
Anyway, heard them insist it had to be my little bro because all children from Westbury( my hometown/township) steals. I kid you not, they kept saying it was him without even looking for it. Now he absolutely refuses to see any family members other that our parents and siblings. And yeah, they didn't apologise when they found it.
Also in my first job interview ever, i told them where i lived and i could see the horror and fear in the interviewers face. That sh-t made me so self conscious about where i live.
Wrong On Every Conceivable Front
Then there's those moments when you consider someone and you're not correct in your assertions on any level.
Getting It In More Than One Direction
I'm an unmarried woman from an Asian country, and am an only child. People love to say 'do your parents allow you to do x?' every time I do something that are outside of the norm for someone like me. Like living independently. Like getting a job in another city (Hell, HR person asked me about it during the interview). Like not spending every weekend at home. The combination of stereotypes about only child, gender, and filial piety sure is fun.
Some Simple Geography Knowledge Would Be Appreciated
Hispanic with white skin here. Many are surprised I can speak Spanish even tho my last name is Hispanic.
Shoutout to people forgetting about the entire country of Spain (though tbh, even as a Latino it always throws me off for a sec when a random white dude brings out Spanish better than mine before I realize they're probably a Spaniard)
More Independent Than You Realize
Blind people need to be always helped and are incapable of being fully independent.
B-tch I'm about to get married to a blind man while being a blind woman and we are moving across the country. We are capable and adaptable.
No Understanding At All
I'm autistic.
We have so many bad ones.
• Mathbot
• Idiot
• Genius
• Idiot genius
• Totally incapable of functioning
• Sheldon Cooper
I kind of hate them all.
Keep an open mind, listen to when people talk to you, and don't jump to any conclusions. The best way to get to know someone is being willing to admit you're wrong in your initial encounter and to simply listen to their stories.
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