What stereotype do you get most often?

Question

I'm curious to know, how people think people who don't know them, look at them.

Answer 1

Because I'm a quiet guy, people often assume that I am shy and/or inarticulate. But I see a big difference between being quiet and being shy. Quiet people just don't see the need to talk as much as others and they're usually okay with that. Shy people often wish to be more outgoing, but they cannot because they have fears about socializing. It's a subtle difference, but its there if you're willing to carefully observe and listen to people.

Personally, I get kinda insulted when people think I am shy because I'm not at all afraid of social situations. I just don't feel the need to dominate them most of the time. And when I have a pressing thought or need, I will express it, usually with coherence and good diction. Then people are surprised that I am able to speak as well as I do.

Don't ever mistake a lack of speech for a lack of thought or conviction.

Answer 2

I'm overweight, so I must have no self control. (To tell the truth, I don't even like most food. I'm an extremely picky eater with fat genes and medication that slows my metabolism down to a crawl.)

I speak my mind, so I must be a bit-ch*. (Okay, so maybe this stereotype is true. I guess a better one would be, "I'm a bit-ch so I must not have feelings." Although I'd like to think that I have no feelings, I do. I'm an extremely sensitive person, even though no one knows it. I hide behind brutal truth and hope it shields me.)

I stutter, so I must have a low intelligence level. (I hate this one because people assume way too much. Just because it takes me a little longer to get out what I'm trying to say doesn't make me stupid. Teasing me because I stutter is what's stupid.)

I'm female, so I must use men as a crutch, and if I don't, I'm a lesbian. (Not much explanation here; I'm not a lesbian, and I don't have anything against the gay community, but I don't use guys, either. I can hold my own weight and am stronger than some of the "manly" men at work.)

* - I have to use the - or else I can't say *****. See?

Answer 3

being an atheist, people often think that I don't know the difference between right and wrong since I don't fear their "hell"

They also assume I don't think there is a point to life so I just sleep all day.

The truth is I have good health, family and friends. I have to get up everyday because I own my own business. The business won't run itself. Also believers do not have a monopoly on knowing the difference between right and wrong. Atheist are able to understand ethics based on the social contract.

People who get to know me for a while are usually amazed when they find out I'm an atheist and have alot of questions.

As an atheist I've never been offered any evidence to the existence of any god(s). I know, because I live it, that believing in something that there is no evidence of is unnecessary for life.
Atheist know that when we die there is nothing else, so we enjoy life, friends, family, now, before it's too late.

Answer 4

Hippie. Clothes and hair and speech.

Most people who use this stereotype on me, when pressed, have no idea what a hippie is--what hippies believe, their values, etc-- other than the stereotype of peace signs, pot, and protest. I'm guessing some of your answers might verify this stereotype.

Answer 5

1. I'm female
2. I'm a very petite female
3. I'm blonde

People don't think that I can formulate my own sentences. The fact that most people really do think blondes can be dumb is a fact. They think I get by on my looks and they definitely think that I'm some fragile little person that needs "big buff" men to help out whenever possible.

It can benefit me sometimes but it is quite irritating...

Answer 6

"You're gay; you must be a sensitive and caring individual who wants to hear my problems."

I'm gay, right, but I'm an insensitive asshole who couldn't possibly care less about your problems.

And within the gay community, because of the way I dress and act, everyone assumes that I am "the bottom" in my relationship. Funny thing is, my boyfriend gets the same assessment. Other people in the gay community don't seem to get that I can wear girls' clothes (they fit better) -and- do something other than lie there and take it. My boyfriend will vouch that I can.

Answer 7

Because I'm ugly.....I must also be ignorant, under educated and unable to think for myself.
It continues to amaze me after fifty years that the cutie with the high school GED begins a conversation with, "You wouldn't know this...You wouldn't understand this." It goes on and on,but the discrimination of beauty over ugly is as obvious to me as beauty toward fat or skin color or nationality..It happensand it is ugly.

Answer 8

Ethnics trying to act like the ethnics they think the popular or self constructed perception of them should look like. I'm fortunate. Though white, I lived in poor neighborhoods. In lieu of a toothier word, the polite word was usually " You're jive. "

Answer 9

Snobby - I am confident but don't speak unless I know what I am talking about otherwise I listen to others intently. People take this as I am too good to join in conversation.

Answer 10

I'm blond so I must be stupid.
I look younger than I am so I'm naive.
I'm white so I'm automatically a racist.
I'm conservative so I must be a Christian wacko (actually I'm an atheist).
I'm Lebanese so I must be a terrorist, ride a camel, know how to make a bomb, etc.