Quote:
Originally Posted by dogsbody70
i don't know if any of us can generalise about members of any nationality, can we. lumping everyone together just because they are from a certain country. aren't we not allowed individuality along with all our faults.
governments make rules---i did not vote for our present government and am very unhappy about many of its current changes--but i have to adhere to them.
when i see someone dislike the brits--- really all brits are not the same are they thank heavens anymore than individuals from other countries are identical with others from their community, there is good and bad within every nation or group/community.
i guess some of us tar the japanese with the same brush hearing about the group system--but individually i am sure they too have their virtues and faults.
we receive certain images about americans via their films etc-- but i only know two americans personally-- one of whom bought one of my dogs from me at a very generous price. he is a fashion designer.
both americans were outgoing and not afraid to say what they really thought.
one needs to get to know people individually to really form a true impression
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I think you have a point, but I also think sometimes generalisations can have an element of truth to them . . . generally speaking.
Of course, we should never judge someone solely on their nationality, and everyone is an inividual. In any society there will be a mixtue of good, bad, and everything in between. Then again, I do think stereotypes exist for a reason, mainly because it is possible for a group of people to share certain shared traits - not all, but many.
I have a friend in America, and recently said something and I remember getting the response 'I can't believe it's true that the British really do say that!', and likewise when she said something all I could think was 'God, that stereotype about the Americans is so true' - now, I don't represent all British anymore than she represents all Americans, but I found it amusing in the respect that sometimes generalistions can prove true. I mean if you read many guide books you will find some generalisations are given, such as customs and manners and so forth. I think some things can be generalised because they are a part of
culture. Every culture values different traits more or less than others, and every culture has different expectations for its people and has different roles in mind for its citizens.
Surely there's a difference between 'so-and-so nationality exhibits this trait, seen in how they observe so-and-so customs/festivals/events', rather than 'this country is so stupid! Look at how they behave, haha!' So yeah, I think generalisations can be fair in certain contexts, just so long as one remembers there is an exception to every rule, and that the boundary between valid observation and verging-on-racist stereotypes isn't crossed.