Stuck in a stereotype?

[fancbrd4me02]

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It's ok, Debi. We can be strange together (and some desert rats....well, I gotta agree

).


Stereotypes....
I'm smart, so therefore, I have no life experience.

I live in the desert, so I am strange.

...I had too! And, I can't fully argue it either.

I live in the desert...with chickens, therefore I am an uneducated redneck. (I am quite educated, thank you very much! And DH prefers "country", "down to earth", or "in touch with the land"...not redneck. I've been called hippie too... I kinda agree with all of them in some ways, but definitely not uneducated.

I have a good memory for things I learn, so therefore I am a know-it-all.

I a geologist, so I must be an alcoholic. (Yes, I am a geologist, Yes I drink beer....that does not make me an alcoholic). See this site ...Hilarious!! while exaggerated..I can't argue with a lot of it!

I'm nerdy (I'll accept that), so therefore, I am naive, prudish and probably easily offended. (On the contrary...see the geologist section!)

Wel according to that site I am a geologist!!!!! LOL!!!!

That IS hilarious!

 

[ebwy]

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I was gonna correct your spelling, then I noticed you are in the UK. You guys use an "S" instead of a "Z" sometimes.

We also include the U in "colour" and similar words. Divided by a common language again!

 

[ebwy]

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I was just thinking about this today. Larger, indirect words tend to appear as more intelligent, but they really just show an enlarged vocabulary. Anyone can grow their vocabulary purely by reading books. Classics, pleasure reads, anything will do. So why place such significance on something that can so easily be maneuvered? I read quite a bit and love classics so I unintentionally use more copious terms. The social stigma that a considerable vocabulary shows intelligence is silly. Why use words that walk around an issue? They sound so passive.

having a large vocabulary isn't the issue, I have one. I choose not to use it on a daily basis because smaller words convey the message much more directly. That's just what makes sense to me, I'm a fan of plain language without dressing it up

 

[Boyd]

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it happens more in real life than online though

Sometimes I think it's funny to make fun of those stereotypes or turn the paradigm on it's head. It sounds funnier to say it out loud also!!!!!!

 

[Laurajean]

I am a Vegetarian and get wrongly stereotyped all the time! People get very defensive when they hear I don't eat meat because they think I'm going to attack them or preach to them or something. The truth is I am a very "to each his own" kind of person and I could care less if someone wants to eat meat, as long as I don't have to.

NOBODY wants the vegetarian over for Thanksgiving, so every year I spend it alone. Irritates me too, because I love Thanksgiving food! So I skip the turkey, big deal, but I love all the other things: stuffing, squash, sweet potatoes, mushroom gravy, cranberry sauce, pie, etc. (Not to mention the companionship).

If I'm at a restaurant the people at my table get weird and say things that vary from apologetic to rude. "Sorry, I hope it's not offending you that I'm eating this burger"... or "So you're probably just going to eat SALAD, huh?" Some even go so far as to say things like "Hey Laura, look at my bloody steak! YUM..."

And then there's the know-it-alls who tell me that I MUST have meat in my diet and can't get all the proper nutrients without it, even though I've been a vegetarian for TWENTY FOUR years and am healthier than most of the people doing the lecturing, lol.

I try to joke it off and I'm constantly assuring people that I'm not some screaming crazy activist who is out to get meat-eaters, lol, but it really gets annoying. The irony of it all is that these people are so worried that I'm going to harass them, and really that's what they're doing to me.

Well, thanks for the chance to rant a little about being stereotyped! Now put that burger down! (KIDDING)

 

[Laurajean]

Oh yeah WriterofWords, I get that one too! I'm single, therefore I surely am after all the local husbands. I feel like saying, "Seriously? Have you LOOKED at your husband lately??

 

[PineappleMama]

How I'm seen depends entirely on who you ask... but most all of them would probably use the word unique in their description.

Some (those who've seen me tackle a project) say I'm OCD, Detail Oriented, Driven, etc.

Then there are the ones who've actually seen my house who say I'm a packrating procrastinator.

Of course, those who've peeved me to the point I'll actually confront them (this takes a LOT as I hate confrontations) will tell you I'm a stubborn, hard headed, judgemental, steam roller... but then when it comes to things like wife beating, child abusing, theft, drugs, etc... well, most things I can let slide but there are some that No One should let slide.

Then there are the ones who ask me for help and get it... who think I'm dependable, trustworthy, caring, kind and considerate... these are usually the ones who think my moniker is very apt... the whole hard outer armor but heart of gold/sweet inside and/or the Hospitality thing...

There's the few who've seen me in a bar (can't find karaoke anywhere else)... and even then the opinion vary greatly from recluse (I tend to sit by myself since the sole reason I'm there is to sing) to a bright eyed bushy tailed charismatic lunatic (for the few who actually talk to me while I'm in "bar mode") to the rare few who actually get to know me and think I'm a crazy mama bear who just wants to connect with my bloodlines via music... I got my ear from my Gran via her mama Memaw ... Gran passed a few years back, Mems we buried a week ago Thursday.

Even within my family there's a huge difference in perceptions... but I think most (all?) tend to say "strong one"... some even realize how much it sucks to be the strong one, others don't.

Then there's B, my better half, who when asked to describe me in two words came up with Casual Majesty and Willful Beauty... I think either would make an awesome name for a horse...

Some traits I like, some not so much... but mostly I just try and do the Golden Rule thing and hope for the best... people are going to think what they want to think no matter what you do so there's not a lot of point in giving yourself an ulcer over it.

 

[saddina]

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You're perfectly welcome to come, just let me know what you'd rather eat (I usually offer pasta dishes).

 

[Laurajean]

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Thanks Saddina, how kind. Too bad you don't live closer! I've tried to tell people that there is SO much to eat on Thanksgiving, that I'm not missing a thing by skipping the turkey, but I guess they don't believe me. Or they feel weird carving a turkey around me, I don't know, lol.

As far as other meals, I love pasta, yum. It's funny that people think I live on salads, because there's so many other choices. My personal favorite is home made macaroni and cheese, mmmm....

That just reminded me of another stereotype: People think that because I'm a vegetarian, that I'm a health nut. They'll "call me out" if I'm drinking beer or having cheesecake as if they caught me! I'll totally pig out on food, and I could eat chips and dip all day, so I'm hardly a health nut, lol!

 

[fancbrd4me02]

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Thanks Saddina, how kind. Too bad you don't live closer! I've tried to tell people that there is SO much to eat on Thanksgiving, that I'm not missing a thing by skipping the turkey, but I guess they don't believe me. Or they feel weird carving a turkey around me, I don't know, lol.

As far as other meals, I love pasta, yum. It's funny that people think I live on salads, because there's so many other choices. My personal favorite is home made macaroni and cheese, mmmm....

That just reminded me of another stereotype: People think that because I'm a vegetarian, that I'm a health nut. They'll "call me out" if I'm drinking beer or having cheesecake as if they caught me! I'll totally pig out on food, and I could eat chips and dip all day, so I'm hardly a health nut, lol!

I'm vege and I get the same treatment, except I cook the Thanksgiving dinner every year. But seriously, some people act like just saying I don't eat meat is a chance for them to try to either annoy me or try to harm my "delicate feelings" by brandishing a burger at me (I just want to say that's ineffective and pretty sophmoric) or interrogate me about my food choices. I just don't get it...I don't go around lectureing or mocking meat eaters, but just turning down a meat dish can turn into a big discussion. Also, people always think being a vege makes you "wacko" or "unrealistic". BTW, I love, love love pasta! And mushrooms! OMG!!! I eat medeterranian food most of the time, pasta, rice and cheese, olive oils, tomates, garlic, artichhokes, spinach, and of course, my own eggs from my spoiled and healthy hens. Yum!!!