Why do some people still generalize?

Question

Blacks, Whites, Christians, Atheists, or whatever. Shouldn't we know by now that it makes no sense to generalize since, even in the same culture or religion, we all are different?

Why don't we start using the word "some" when identifying a specific group?

Answer 1

It's a functionalist approach that many in society adopt. Fostering the belief that society/a group, is more important than the individual itself. Therefore focusing on the group in question rather than the individual (Generalizing), which is often much easier. Therefore forgetting that one accounts for their own actions, not the other way round.

To every rule, there is an exception.

To assume one falls under a catogory, will only make an a$s out of you and me, lol.

A$s-u-me

($ = s, Would have filtered it otherwise).

Answer 2

Because most educated people know what a generalization is.

To force everyone to dumb down every conversation because some people DON'T know what a generalization is would be foolish, literally.

The problem is people who don't understand what a generalization is and expect everyone else to add qualifier after qualifier for something that is perfectly obvious for the rest of us.

I don't see a reason for that. Generalizations are necessary unless we are always going to have to add qualifiers to everything:

"All mammals give milk, except the platypus, which we aren't sure about, and marsupials, which really aren't mammals because..."

"...yes, dear, we'll get to dogs soon, but now I have mentioned dogs and have to give the addendums to the generalization of what a dog is.thank.you.very.much!"

Answer 3

My husband gets on my last nerve with this one all the time.
He's 64 years old and I'm 33 so maybe it's partially a generational thing. He's also highly educated (he's currently self-employed as an Opthamologist).
He says: "Black people aren't as smart as white people. And white people aren't as smart as Asians. It's been proven and I'm okay with that [we're white]... I don't know why it offends so many people."

Grrrr... I tell him even if there's a shred of truth to that, people shouldn't promote that view because each individual is different. And individuals shouldn't be judged according to people's perceptions of the supposed "general" rule.
But he doesn't seem to understand that.

Answer 4

Unfortunately for you a disbelief in stereotypes doesn't mean that they don't exist or are there for no reason. Even Tupac admits in one of his songs, "We ain't ready, to see a black President, uhh
It ain't a secret don't conceal the fact
the penitentiary's packed, and it's filled with blacks
But some things will never change"
Tupac was a man beyond his years, he's one rap artist whom i can say without a twitch in my voice that he's one of the only Rappers with much artistic value and has something to say. Listen to his song, "Changes" and really read into what he's saying. It's genious, and can provide you with that mirrored perspective that i believe you need to look at.

Answer 5

They want to see the masses instead of the individual.
We are like grains of sand on a beach. Individual but also part of a collective.

Answer 6

Different to an extent but christians tend to have things in common that a group of atheist wouldn't, yes?

Answer 7

T generalize people at present takes little to no thought; perhaps that is part of why people (especially in USA) do it!

Answer 8

People generalise because it's easier and less work than thinking for themselves. And yet if you generalise about *them*, they don't like it.

Funny how people seldom judge others to be better than themselves...

Answer 9

Screw that I am going to call a spade a spade. Not just based on my opinions. I can assure you that my judgment about something was given with serious thought. If I am wrong, I will say so. If not, then live with the truth.

Edit: Being mean nevermind.

Answer 10

You mean, "some people", in general??