why do people stereotype?!?

Question

why once people hear the word islam, they immediatley think terrorism..... i mean, im muslim, but do i go around bombing bulidings, and killing innocents, no. in my opinion, being muslim has nothing to do with it, its a matter of choice...... u find terrorists in every religion.......what do u think?

Answer 1

i dont feel that all of them are terrorists...but i think that people are sterotyping them because the terrorists were muslim and followed their faith which is islam. if they prayed to their god and insist that their god told them to do those kinds of things and follow that...i think its just the religion not so much the people. but they may automatically think just because they are muslim that they follow their god in islam. but you are right...there are terrorists in every country and in every nationality.
i understand...if you are curious to know what i mean by that then you are more than welcome to send me a message :)

Answer 2

People stereotype because stereotypes are themselves an amalgamation of what a group perceives to be commonalities amongst a people. Many times this has some truth behind it although some times it is based on an uninformed perception of the stereotyped.

It is unfortunate but for many people in the "Western world" their first real exposure to Muslims came from the news around September 11th 2001. As such, it was immediately perceived by some that this is what Islam is about.

Also, many "leaders" in Islam did not immediately come out and decry the attacks on that day, fueling the perception that they were condoning the act.

Frankly but kindly, if Muslims had a farther reaching presence in the Western world before the attacks the immediate perception might instead have been that these were extremists of a generally peace-loving faith but as I said this was not the case and as such we have the current perception.

Also remember: those who are peaceful are often silent and those who are militaristic are often the loudest. In my opinion, the world would be a better place if the peaceful peoples of the world would simply raise their voices more and, collectively, drown out the noise made by the latter.

Answer 3

People stereotype because they do not want to take the time to look at the fine details that other people and cultures have to offer. In their minds the thing that is most prominent is the thing that has the biggest impact on their views of the world.

Islamic extremists have done horrible things by 'todays' moral standards, and because of all our technology and the media, free press, etc. the views of the extremists are featured most prominently and so because people do not take the time to learn about the niceties of a society, they only assume the worst about everyone from a minority faction.

And its true that you find terrorists in every religion, but those groups are taken out of the limelight by having more finesse in their work. If you were to bring the Spanish Inquisition, or the Salem Witch hunts into modern times, Christianity would have the reputation as being the most violent 'modern world' religion.

Its a matter of when things happen, how many people are apprised or know of the situation, and how many people are willing to accept what is presented to them at face value rather than taking the time to learn of the mis/un-represented views.

Saying that, general stereotypes exist because it is easier to hold a generic view of a group rather than getting to know the intricate quirks of every individual.

eg. orientals all look the same
..... africans/african americans love their chicken
..... jewish people control everything (hollywood, diamonds, bill gates, steven spielberg)
..... islamics are terrorists
etc etc...these are just some of the stereotypes that i've seen or heard off...

Answer 4

It can be argued that stereotypes have basis in truth. But normally the truth it is derived from is only a narrow view. For example most Americans view the religion of Islam as terroristic because all we see on the news is the bad that the group has done. If people hear about the good Islam brings people would change their ideas.
In my personal opinion people have a need to constantly assert where they stand in society and that can happen through stereotypes. (Kind of like who dogs at a dog park are constantly sniffing each other even after their pecking order has been established.)

Answer 5

Who knows you might find terrorists in every religion but you would have to look pretty hard wouldn't you. The number one thing you should be concerned about is how your religion is going to purge itself of those scumbags before things get so out of hand that you will end up having to live under their tyrannical rule. Of all people it should be you that are really are upset at them. Be assured it is not just the non Muslim that is going to suffer.

Answer 6

Stereotyping is a problem that will never be solved. Think about how long it has been going on and how long it has been complained about. Part of it has to do with one person in any culture that makes one stupid move and then their whole country and all of its people are stereotyped as, in example, terrorists. There are many nice people who are muslims and such, who are thought to be evil and are never given a chance in country's other than their own. I think this is one of the worlds more serious problems, that leads to wars and such, and it needs to be stopped.

Answer 7

People stereotype because it's the easiest response, requiring the least amount of mental energy. It's always easier to lump people into a group than it is to consider them as totally distinct indiviuals. I think everyone does that to some degree or another. You do so yourself, by lumping non-Muslims into one group. It's easier that way. That doesn't make it right, just convenient for the speaker.

Answer 8

I think world opinion would change overnight if all these peaceful Muslims would get together and put an end to the criminals that are breaking their own supposed laws and beliefs.
Instead of disarming their radical neighbors they hide them and their weapons.
No one is going to see the Muslim as truly peaceful until they police their own society and religion which has gone insane.
God Bless!

Answer 9

True, but all Muslims and their leaders need to denounce terrorism on all levels.

It seems that most Muslim leaders refuse to speak up and denounce terrorism.

Also, some Muslim mosques in the U.S. were proven to have harbored people planning terrorism. Muslims need to report any person who is planning terrorism...even if they are of your same religion.

Then and only then when you stand with America, and possibly against Muslim terrorists, will the stereotyping end.

Answer 10

I think part of being a member of the "sound byte" society means we hear/see bits and snips of a picture and it's normal to draw conclusions...normal in that every one does it, not normal in that it would be ok to let this limited view dictate how you treat people.

Yes there are terrorists in every religion and every "social cause" from politics to race relations.

Not every black person went out and rioted and assaulted innocent people after the Rodney King beating.

Not everyone gets a rifle and hides out somewhere and tries to shoot the president.

You don't read about pro-abortion people fire bombing churches.

The people who do these things, regardless of their intention, motive, or duress at the time, represent the worse of their fellows...fellow political adversaries...fellow black people...fellow pro-lifers.