Are stereotypes really missleading?

[Anmon]

It creates common sense, that is not to antagonise anyone dangerous.

[Winter wind]

It creates common sense, that is not to antagonise anyone dangerous.

antagonize? You think they really care all that much about you? So unless you shove them, what reason do they have to bother you. That's one. Two, when African Americans who are in their teens tell me that random people seize up when they pass them on the street, I can now believe them.

[Anmon]

Quote by: Winter wind antagonize? You think they really care all that much about you? So unless you shove them, what reason do they have to bother you. That's one. Two, when African Americans who are in their teens tell me that random people seize up when they pass them on the street, I can now believe them.

I didn't say 'seize them up' quite the opposite actually.
Yeah and they will care about you, if you sus them out or be a smart arse to them in any way, it doesn't matter if they know you or not.

[Chancellor]

Quote by: Isherwood It may be overused, but that's true of any word that sums up a rather complex concept into a single term. Why type an entire sentence when a single word will suffice? It isn't true, though, that's it's ill defined: Stereotypes are ideas held about members of particular groups, based solely on membership in that group. They are often considered to be negative or prejudicial and may be used to justify certain discriminatory behaviors. ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotypical

But they all have their basis in fact. Take, for example, the common stereotype about hillbilles (people from Appalachia) marrying their relatives. The factual basis for the stereotype is that in the late 19th and early 20th century, it was not all that uncommon for first cousins to marry.

[Jack]

I don't think the OP was concerned so much with the origin of them as much as their usage. I agree, though, most stereotypes have a basis in reality at some point in time.

[Chancellor]

Quote by: Isherwood I don't think the OP was concerned so much with the origin of them as much as their usage. I agree, though, most stereotypes have a basis in reality at some point in time.

The original post asked "Does stereotyping a group of people really create a false image of that group (totally), or is it only harmful to a few individuals within that group that might be an exception of the majority (of the targeted group)?" That all stereotypes have their basis in fact is an important element that people here seem to be ignoring as they whine about how terrible it is to stereotype, arguing from emotionalism instead of reality.

The fact on which a stereotype is based is usually of sufficiently common occurrence that it almost rises to the level of a trait. The line between stereotype and cultural/ethnic trait is a very thin one.