Stereotypes
I hate the idea of Stereotypes but at the same time I depend on them. I depend on them to tell me how to act in front of some people and my word choice. See an adult with a child I hold my tongue from cursing. See women I hold my tongue and open doors. Yes i realize these are not exactly stereotypes but they are. I assume the adult doesnt want their child to hear foul words and I assume that the women wants the same and to be respected. Point being they exist despite what anyone claims or says.
I am a video gamer stereotype. Acne, rather stay inside then go out, insomnia that I purposely take part in, Sleeping in late, shy around people, have friends that I have never seen in person yet I will talk about them as if I have, and no job.
Do I think this is all bad? Not exactly. Do I think the stereotype is the only thing I am? No. Is the stereotype all that I show to the outside world? Pretty much. So do I expect people to think I am just a gamer? Yes.
If I want people to think I am anything but a gamer i have to show them otherwise.
So many people want to break a stereotype but never do anything to actually break it. They embrace it or just give into it. Sure they are different behind closed doors but how will anyone see that? What they show when they are in public is what people will see and stereotype.
“But but but we are different!” Really? Prove it. Dont just keep flashing the same stereotype and embracing it and instead show that you are different. Show everyone your true side. Dont be ashamed. Embracing stereotypes are for the lost and confused.
“Well Jesse maybe you should follow your own advice.” Well to be frank I am. I am on a local softball team as a way of leaving the house and having fun with people I dont see all the time. I have friends that I will try to spend as much time as I can with. I set an alarm to wake me up and each time I get used to waking at that time I make the alarm even earlier. I often try not to mention video games or online friends not cause im ashamed of them but I dont want people to simply think that is my stereotype.
“Sounds like you are trying to hide your true-self still.” Well yes and no. I dont want to announce myself to a stereotype right away so I may not say something to someone immediately but once I have talked to them quite a bit I will tell them.
“Not everyone is a stereotype!” True but In my personal experience for ever person who doesnt express a stereotype there is someone who does express it. People who are not one are independent from needing others in order to feel happy and content.
Now Im sure some of this seems like I am endorsing stereotypes but as I said in the beginning of this I hate them. I wish they couldnt exist but sadly they can and always will. People will always act similar to each other as it is a way of feeling that they belong to something. If you act like someone else and that someone else happens to be 100 or so people then you will ultimately feel you belong. Its something that people like to do. Not everyone feels this way obviously(refer to “Not everyone is a stereotype!”)
The feeling to belong can happen on any level. The most popular one is the want to feel “cool” aka peer pressure. Kids will act certain ways or do certain things simply because it will make them seem “cool” in other people’s eyes. I could go on about this subject but I think I will save that for a later post or rant.
I am only saying all this as certain things annoyed me lately that dealt with a certain stereotype and them claiming to not be the stereotype but actually fitting it to the T from what they display to the world.
I dont generalize using stereotypes beyond how I react or act initially to someone or someones. I believe that out of all the people who show off a stereotype only 5% of them actually are it to the bone while the rest are just sheep following the leader for the time being.
