Combatting stereotypes

[Uppercut]

I've recently been arguing with a Bush fanatic that argues that stereotypes exist for a reason and that they are most likely racially embedded. I instantly rejected this and pointed out that he was a flaming racist and that just about anyone born in an inner city area will be inclined to take desperate measures in order to survive, and that it is just the way the media portrays ethnic groups, which are usually blown way out of proportion with reality. This makes us think that different ethnic groups are further apart, when we're really not different at all and that your environmental conditioning and social being plays a larger role in determining a person's thinking.

Is my argument pretty much correct? Also, if anyone has anything to add, it would be much appreciated.

[Jazzhands]

I've recently been arguing with a Bush fanatic that argues that stereotypes exist for a reason and that they are most likely racially embedded. I instantly rejected this and pointed out that he was a flaming racist and that just about anyone born in an inner city area will be inclined to take desperate measures in order to survive, and that it is just the way the media portrays ethnic groups, which are usually blown way out of proportion with reality. This makes us think that different ethnic groups are further apart, when we're really not different at all and that your environmental conditioning and social being plays a larger role in determining a person's thinking.

Is my argument pretty much correct? Also, if anyone has anything to add, it would be much appreciated.

Pretty much correct. You pretty much summed it up, but point out specifics more. For instance, blacks supposedly eat more fried chicken. This appearance is caused by the fact that blacks in inner-city areas can only afford to eat lots of cheap fast food...such as KFC. I don't know where the watermelon thing came from though.

Keep in mind that people are changed by the world they live in and by the people around them. After a stereotype emerges, people will change to fit that stereotype until the stereotype becomes true, whether they do it consciously or not.

[Kuppo Shakur]

Well, obviously, stereotypes exist "for a reason". One group observes another group, usually with bias, and finds something that can be largely attached to that group, whether it be social habits, diet, talents, etc.
You are certainly correct in pointing out that a person's environment, including social influences, are generally what decide whether that person adheres to the stereotypes associated with whatever groups they may be in.
Of course, even a racist would probably agree that there are always exceptions to stereotypes, which fortunately helps us to move past this focus on generalizations.

[AK]

Pretty much correct. You pretty much summed it up, but point out specifics more. For instance, blacks supposedly eat more fried chicken. This appearance is caused by the fact that blacks in inner-city areas can only afford to eat lots of cheap fast food...such as KFC. I don't know where the watermelon thing came from though.

Keep in mind that people are changed by the world they live in and by the people around them. After a stereotype emerges, people will change to fit that stereotype until the stereotype becomes true, whether they do it consciously or not.
This is probably one of the smartest things I've ever heard on RL.

[GreenCommunism]

You are certainly correct in pointing out that a person's environment, including social influences, are generally what decide whether that person adheres to the stereotypes associated with whatever groups they may be in.

also ask him what he would think of the stereotype that all whites are racist. if he claim it isn't true etc, tell him stereotypes concerning other races are the same thing. social environment also plays a role in being racist.

[RedAnarchist]

Pretty much correct. You pretty much summed it up, but point out specifics more. For instance, blacks supposedly eat more fried chicken. This appearance is caused by the fact that blacks in inner-city areas can only afford to eat lots of cheap fast food...such as KFC. I don't know where the watermelon thing came from though.

Keep in mind that people are changed by the world they live in and by the people around them. After a stereotype emerges, people will change to fit that stereotype until the stereotype becomes true, whether they do it consciously or not.

The watermelon thing comes from the times of slavery, when watermelon was a staple of the slave's diet. Nowadays, there is no correlation between racial identity and the consumption of watermelon.

[Blake's Baby]

There's also a stereotype that white people aren't as smart as East or South Asians. 'IQ tests prove it' (except they don't, obviously, they prove who is and isn't good at taking IQ tests). But white people in the US habitually score a couple of points lower than Asians. Ask your friend if he believes white people are stupid.

In Britain there are the expressions to 'work like a nigger' and to 'work like a coolie' (both meaning to work very hard). This would imply that white people are lazy too, in that they can't work as hard as black people or Chinese people. So, now we're getting to white people being stupid and lazy (and racist, as has already been mentioned).

Find out his origins. Rag on them mercilessly. Ask him if he's still so keen on stereotypes.

Or, you know, don't. But you could.

[Bubbles]

IQ tests is culture specific and can't be translated through out countries and depending on the test it measures different kinds of intelligences.

The key in the argument is that races don't exist within humanity. Genetic differences between individuals in one ethnic group can be bigger then between ethnic groups.