Which stereotypes of nationalities and ethnic groups does your experience back, and which does it undermine?

Question

Someone said, the trouble with stereotypes is what's wrong about them, and what's right about them. What's your experience?
For example, people believe Jews are tight with money - rubbish. All the Jews I've known are very generous. Alert to business opportunities? Yes.
Sexy French? Yes, but it's often a bit of a pose.
Efficient Germans? No, not really. Some of them.
Humourless Germans? No, but the sense of humour isn't very developed - like dull 13-year-olds.

Answer 1

I've heard things like Nigerians are fraudsters. I haven't been able to prove that one wrong because, the few Nigerians I've met, they end up doing things that 'sort-of' seem illegal.

Australians are nice: yeah, that goes for every Australian I've met in my life.

South African whites are racist, well, my boyfriend is South African and white and I'm South African & black and he loves me to bits.

And the bestt one.... Indians will step on everyone's toe to get to the top.

So they you go, same thing that anyone can tell you, its one's experience about a certain type or group of people that we causes us to put them in boxes.

Answer 2

I don't deal in stereotypes because they are sweeping generalizations and all generalities are false. The logic behind that statement is simple: once you find even one person who doesn't fit it, you no longer have a valid rule. Since all of us are individuals, compounded of good, bad, indifferent, ugly, lovely, kind, unkind--you see where I'm going with this.

So, therefore, I don't tend to categorize people. I much prefer a proverb of my teen years, attributed to an unknown Native American ethnic group, that says "A stranger walking toward you is only a friend you have not met."

Answer 3

On business, I've had to travel to Scotland & France an awful lot. I have found the vast majority of French to be very rude and arrogant, whereas I have found the Scottish to be the opposite of tight, and have welcomed me, a hated English man, with open arms.

The Italians are actually nice people, with a love of life that's only matched by Australians.

But, please, these are my opinions only, through my own experiences. France as a country is beautiful.

Answer 4

I don't believe in stereotypes. I'm British, but I can cook and I speak more than one foreign language.
I was brought up in a 'middle-class' background, but I'm more left-wing than Tony Blair. I don't live in a semi in a naice area.
I don't like fish 'n chips and I eat horse meat - oh, and I enjoy horse riding!
Not too much stereotyping there.

Answer 5

All nationalities are the same ? have a look around you , which people would you categories as the same , people are individuals , stereotype is just assumption based on personal prejudice .