What is generalization? How is it beneficial on Yahoo Answers?

Answer 1

Generalization is a loose overview of a topic.It is an analysis of a topic that is not to specific but that covers the topic.
It is beneficial on Yahoo Answers because many people want to know something about a topic in a general way so they can be aware and be able to reason it through and discuss it with others.

Answer 2

Generalizing is speaking of something in a general, or overarching, way. For example, saying "Orthodox Jews don't eat pork" is a generalization. Generalizations are useful in precisely the degree that they correspond to reality. No generalization is completely true, but some are much truer than others. When we attempt to think without them, we become narrow, blinkered, intellectually myopic. But when we use them exclusively, we risk forgetting the reality of the individual case.

Everything in the paragraph above (except the second sentence) is a generalization. But, I would argue, they're pretty helpful ones.

Answer 3

Generalization is never beneficial

Answer 4

it's lumping everybody into the same category. ie: all men are pigs. or all blondes are dumb.

it ignores the fact that there are exceptions, and often the generalization isn't correct to begin with.

Answer 5

Generalization is being NON SPECIFIC, in a way it is a way to conceal a lack of knowlege, or being evasive about something.