Generalizations

Okay, I am going to get on my soap box again.  So, if you don’t want to read another post about something we “should be careful” about, then you need to either go to another of my posts or move on to someone else’s.

Generalizations can be good or bad.  They themselves don’t have power one way or another.  It is what people do with the “information” they “think” they have that is either good or bad.  Generalizations can color attitude and actions.  We hear them every day.  Probably lots of generalizations in the same day.  We take that information and we either “test” it or we take it as truth.  That is were the “danger” can come in.

We generalize things, animals, races and individuals.  We take what we learn or hear about and either add to them from our own perspective. Then, we act on the premise that the generalization is true, partially true, false or completely false. 

If you are wondering what a generalization would be….”All pit bulls are agressive and dangerous animals” is a generalization.  Depending upon your experiences with animals and pit bulls in particular, you may either believe, partially believe, or totally discount the above statement.  In my experience, dogs, what ever the breed, are usually not agressive and dangerous.  They can be taught those attributes by how they are handled and cared for.  And, agreeably, there are a few that are “naturally more agressive” than others.  It is all in how they are trained or not trained or treated or not treated that usually tell the demeanor of an animal.  Any animal.

That being said, the above generalization can teach a person to be cautious around animals with whom they are not familiar.  That is a good thing.  But, thinking all pit bulls are dangerouse is not a good thing.  Get it?

Well, people tend to not only do these generalizations about animals or things, but about people and even races of people.  Hello, where do you think discrimination came from?????

Last night, I experienced this first hand.  Not discrimination.  But generalization of people and how it can color one’s attitude and response to others.  It was generally held, amoung the people I was with last night, that Southerners are cliquish and not very friendly or warm.  Even though this was not directed at me personally, being a Southerner I had my feelings hurt because I would not describe myself or most of my fellow Southerners as either. 

If one person goes into a situation and gathers information about one or maybe even a few people that is unpleasant, it does not then mean that all people of that ilk are the same.  Often, people have a very small test group from which they make their generalizations.  Then their attitude colors how they approach others of the “same” ilk or ethnicity or color….That is wrong.

Of course, I am a Southerner.  So, one could say, I am a member of the “club”.  So, my experience would of course be different from those who are not Southerners.  Even making generalizations of a certain section of the Southern population is wrong when tested agains the rest of the Southern region. 

I have known the most generous and kind Southerners.  I have known those who are class conscious.  I have known those who bear ill will towards “others” because they are interlopers to the South.  And, believe me, the generous and kind ones far out weigh the others mentioned above.

I can also attest to the same about Northerners or Westerners or Young Mommies, or Marrieds….generalizations cannot be used to “measure” the goodness or kindness of those we do not know or are not familiar with.  If we go into a situation where we already have “preconceived” ideas about how a person or persons are going to act, we most often are already in the mind set that will not see how wonderful and welcoming people can be. 

People and animals can sense if you are already in the mind set that you are going to judge them before you “get to know” them.  

The only things that usually do not change from the generalizations that we already have are things.  And, that cannot be held totally true either.  How many times have you heard “I only drive a ______ because other cars/trucks are not good or dependable”.  You can fill in the blank with your favorite brand.  Just because one person or maybe two or even ten had a bad experience, we take that and run with it to generalize that all ______ perform badly.

So, the next time you are tempted to say….anything that is a “generalization” about a people or a race, remember there are others out there “generalizing” you too.  Just as much as you won’t like their generalization, they will not like yours if it has a negative connotation.

Careful….you could be missing out on a lot of cool wonderful and fun people by generalizing way too much.