Ever wondered where the funny little stereotypes even came from? Like how emos always cut themselves, or goths worship the devil (people at my Christian school keep ranting to me about that), and so on and so forth.

I've always wondered: Where do people even come up with this? I thought some deep person dubbed themself emo and cut themself and everyone else followed suit. Same with the other stereotypes. I don't know where they come from in the first place, but people don't appreciate themselves for who they are sometimes. *cough* always *cough*

So...what are your views on stereotypes?

[ I'm hoping for some witty points here so I'd further understand, please try hard guys! ;D ]

It's like a virus that's spread by word-of-mouth. I don't have any views right now.

Eh,...how wonderful...anyone who does? .__.

Stereotypes are a part of our culture. Who really knows where they came from? Or in this case, who cares?

Originally Posted by Equivalent Exchange

Stereotypes are a part of our culture. Who really knows where they came from? Or in this case, who cares?

Well apparently, I do. I mean, this is the reason you're debating, isn't it? Because we care. So mind you, may I proceed? D:

It's my job to provide you with the debate, it's your job to fish out ideas, so basically you post to care.

Originally Posted by silent.assassin

Well apparently, I do. I mean, this is the reason you're debating, isn't it? Because we care. So mind you, may I proceed? D:

I don't see we. I see you. You is not we. And sometimes I enter debates 'cause I feel the need to post my opinions. No need to shoot mine down just because I'm not saying what you want me to say.

I think you're the one that's doing the shooting to be "pint". I don't need you to ramble, rather someone else to contribute an idea. I never said that we would include me. I meant the masses. Just because the masses aren't here doesn't mean the masses won't be here.

If you have issues with me, you don't have to bother. Because it's not fun. Trust me, Demonic Vampire had a hell of a headache herself, and neither one of us wants to go through it again.

I don't want to make you say what I want. I said "witty". I mean try to contribute something worth meaning. I see nothing. Honestly, I don't. I've seen harder thoughts to deal with that actually gave me a headache, and I can't tell if you're trying, but I can tell you it's not working. If you want to piss someone off, you can do it elsewhere.

I'm trying to hold and effective debate here, and this so far is a very bad root. I don't think we should go on with this part, but I still want some life in my debate, so lets not pollute, shall we?

I don't know you. Period. Why would I waste my time picking a fight with a random stranger. I come in here with my own time, and I post saying that I'm neutral on stereotypes and you attack me like I just killed your third son. I personally don't see anything to contribute to the discussion, other than how it's spread- and that's related. I think you need to stop being so touchy about everything. I could understand being true to a subject, but I've been reading your other posts and I'm only saying what other people aren't.

Simple. I don't get you either. I'm not being touchy, only that you're the one attacking my topic in the first place. But, that doesn't mean I won't take any action. That hon, is what foolish fools do.

I don't qualify myself as one.

I don't see anyone as a stranger. In fact, I'm pretty acquainted with you already, having seen you say so much. So, I think I'm going to stop here and see what someone else has to say.

You contributed, thanks. I acknowledge that much. And, if you're not trying to pick a fight yourself? Why in goddamn hell are you even bothering to reply to me?

The wise man stops, the foolish man keeps going.

@Equivalent Exchange: Yeah... if you have nothing good to say, please do not say anything at all? u_u

Originally Posted by â—• w â—•

@Equivalent Exchange: Yeah... if you have nothing good to say, please do not say anything at all? u_u

yes, precisely. Anyone else wish to contribute to topic?

To â—• w â—•: Oh please. You're just as bad. This isn't your argument. If you'd like, I think she wants you to discuss the topic, not her. Because that's what she's telling me. Oh wait, does that mean she's biased?

To silent: Well, hon, I'm not foolish, but I'm going to take the high road. I'm not attacking your topic. Go back up and read. Then read it again. Bloody hell, I'm not even attacking you. I was making a fairly good comment about your topic, when you decided to try to be snide about my post. I reinforced it by saying: "Stereotypes are a part of our culture. Who really knows where they came from? Or in this case, who cares?"

And it's not my job to fish out anything. It's not even my job to contribute. Yet I am. So think before you start disrespecting people. I have a different point of view then you, that doesn't mean I'm attacking you, your beliefs, what you stand for, your mom, your house, your dog- I'm only doing what you ASKED OF ME. I answered your question.

I'm replying to you, because you're replying to me. Obviously, I don't know you. You can say you know everyone by three posts, but I don't. I don't know who you are, or even where you live. I don't like picking fights, but you need a good lesson in internet etiquette.

Stereo typing is taking a general trait that stand out in a small group of people and over emphesising it.

It's an idea of individualism through conformity, a contradiction of foolishness that commonly plagues teenagers for the most part, but can be seen in all age groups.

It stems from the human need to understand. We are highly visual beings, so naturally appeace and habits we notice visually are a huge part. We feel we need to understand the reasoning and to understand the people around us so we classify and group them to make better sense of thier identity in our mind.

Example, you see someone all in black, you asume they're gothic, and therefore must follow most of the traits of the gothic stereo type, which may or may not be entirely accurate.




And just a note on all the bickering, has any one notice how peopke love to bicker about whether or not they're going to bicker?

Person1: Stupid comment

Person2: responds to comment by saying they're above responding to comment.

Please grow up and debate like mature and intellignet people. Debating and arguing are different. Argueing is when you just want to be right, debating is when you share and discuss opinions.

As for the Goth thing, if you really are a Goth you really do worship the Devil, but most are just "wannabees" or do it for the fashion. But originally goths were people who worshiped the devil...

I think stereotypes are dumb, but when you think about it, they're everywhere. The preps and the jocks especially...

I'm proud to say that I don't fit into category since I'm just me :D I guess I could be a band geek, but I'm not really geeky... I'm just weird :P

Cool your jets, guys. I have no qualms about locking a topic that contains only bickering and flaming. If you can't be polite, simply drop it and move on.


About the topic - Everything starts with a grain of truth. "Emo" began as a style of hardcore rock music that dealt with emotions and depression. When dealing with darker sentiments like that, you attract a lot of self-medicating and self-destructive listeners. Once cutting came into public view as a way for people to deal with their own inner pain, it became associated with this kind of music.

As for "goths," it's pretty easy to see where such a stereotype would come in: The subculture is known for deliberately trying to upset the status quo and move away from popular society. One main element of this is moving away from popular religion. Once they rejected Christianity, people noticed. Some openly associated themselves with the devil while others simply denied the existence of God.

Stereotypes are just common observations taken to the extreme.

I think these stereotypes start when people actually do them. Like a lot of the people who pretend to be goth act all dark and creepy and generally act stereotypical, which starts stupid stereotypes. And a lot of emo people cut themselves to make it look like they are oh so depressed. And then other people copy this garbage because they think it makes them cool and that they are fitting in with a group of people.

As far as the ever-so-popular "all teens are irresponsible" or "all blacks/Hispanics wearing hoodies are gangsters" type of stereotypes, I blame the media. After all, turn on the news and what do you see?

Also, you'll notice that when teenagers actually do some GOOD in the world, they're called "exceptional", I.E. "the exception to the rule"; instead of offering their works as a bar for what should be the rule, they're set waaaay up on a pedestal that no one feels like they can reach. :/

Unrelated, but I've heard of stereotypes that Goths cut. XD Probably because some lame brain calling him/herself a "Goth" AND an "emo" was really just emotionally disturbed and hurt themselves. Though, you'll note that most 'cutters' tend to try to hide it, and don't talk about it with everyone and their grandma on MySpace.

For me, I don't like them. People stuck me in the stereotype that I'm like every other guy, though I'm nothing like them. I mean heck, I don;t even understand guys at all >.<

I think stereotypes start with a majority..

example:

Cindy, Julie, Beth and Josh all wear dark clothing and talk a lot about witch craft and so does Sue from down the lane.. This is strange behavior for most the people in this town and no one else that they know of acts or is like this..

So in conclusion. All people who wear dark clothing and is appearance similar to that of Cindy, Julie, Beth and Josh as well as Sue from down the lane. Must talk a lot about witch craft.

Those are all interesting ways of putting it, carefully too. I'm pretty impressed guys, wow.

But the thing with stereotypes is that no one feels about the person being labeled when they dub them a stereotype title. They never think that so and so might not actually appreciated being labeled. But but, there ARE people who like to be labeled. So, there really isn't an accurate way of putting it at all.

most the people that like to be labled.. do what they are doing purly because of the stereotypes.. I know around were I live. People that are Homosexual in my um how should I call it community? only around people my age and that are interested in about the same stuff as I am XD.. Get popular I mean extremely popular just because a guy is gay or a girl is lesbian. So a lot of people will act to be like them.. they will say that they are Bi just to get attention.. and there are A LOT of people that do this.. even tho in their mind/hearts they are not really Bi, gay or lesbian... they do it anyway for the publicity.

Yes, you are absolutely right. For some reason they don't feel that they get the public attention that they deserve. Twisted. I don't think I'm popular, and I don't see how going, "I'M A LESBIAN" is going to turn any heads, but I suppose I WOULD get noticed. And scar myself for life. D:

my sister has a lot of homosexual friends. She witnesses this on a regular basis.. She tho is not lesbian nor claims to be as such.. but she has had both they guys and girls say stuff like.. if only you were a guy tisk tisk.. or if only you were lesbian...tisk tisk.. lol sometimes i think they are trying to talk her in to it.. with out actually saying it...

>.< but yeah its quite annoying. I think sometimes that people just want attention no matter what kind of attention it is..

yes, yes. They don't even care anymore if it scars them for life. That's only the sad part.

I think that the worst part is that they have to live up to the expectations of their stereotypes. Like, always going out to buy nothing but black, or they have to sharpen their razor blades with a pencil sharpener every day that it becomes a daily routine.

I feel sorry for them deep inside because they don't appreciate who they are, that they require a title.

yeah but thats the way it is with humans...

I think it comes about because people tend to not care about others. Some people are ignored and just not heard so they have to do something drastic..

I was one of the Ignored ones .. still am sorta.. but I never resorted to being something that I'm not..

I have tried not being so negative in thought.. tho.. XD

**shoves piece of pear in mouth**