Poll: Okay, gotta do it... Why do people make such general statements?

[FalloutJack]

Only semi-serious, but I have to ask... I see sometimes a question around here that goes "Why does [INSERT GROUP OR NATION OR EVERYBODY HERE] always [INSERT SUBJECT ENACTED OR SPOKEN OR WHATEVER]?". Why is it that some people - not everybody, but some people - point at some mass of other people (be they part of a country or business or whatnot) and ask why they ALL say or do that thing which, chances are, the question itself is probably not even remotely true of 'everybody'?

(If you don't have a specific answer or just don't feel like providing one, say something amusingly general or even irrelevant - because this IS Off-Topic, after all - for funsies.)

 

[Thaluikhain]

Because it is a stereotype associated with them, and people are being lazy?

Though, being more specific may or may not be better.

"Why do so many people named FalloutJack betray humanity to the space lizards? I know, I know, not all of them do, but many."

 

[FalloutJack]

"Why do so many people named FalloutJack betray humanity to the space lizards? I know, I know, not all of them do, but many."

The Hydrans are a better people! They have a better way of life! Don't judge me!

 

[Hoplon]

I guess I might be one of those people, so let's take the "Why americans want the world to end?" thread, I could do it more specific and call it "Why does american pop culture seems to idealize post apocalyptic civilization?" but it's much longer and not as eye catching.

Plus you get more indignation views that way. because you never actually seem to have anything to say about the subject or have even thought or read about it for 10 or 15 seconds.

 

[1981]

Plus you get more indignation views that way. because you never actually seem to have anything to say about the subject or have even thought or read about it for 10 or 15 seconds.

I was going to say the same That's how you get a lot of replies. And people reply because it gives them a chance to feel smart without doing much thinking. I'd know. I do it all the time. It's even more rewarding IRL.

 

[Guffe]

Well generally speaking, many do things like this, because they like generalise the generosity of the governour!
Then again the governourns generalisation of the people in gentown is quite a common generalisation.

Maybe because the majority of people do something, and then to add that little extra, and make it bigger, we use the word everybody, in stead of majority or most, inside a certain business or nation (as was your example)?

 

[Wary Wolf]

Because actually trying to think makes my head hurt.

If I was going to generalize and give you an answer though: Peer pressure/ societal 'norms'

Or to put another way: people tend to have popular opinions because they're popular.

Mmm... Perfect Pasta Sauce!

 

[sternduckling51]

Reminds me of the joke:

Question: Who many members of a culturally distinct sub-group does it take to screw in a light bulb?

Answer: Two, one to screw in the lightbulb and another to do something stereotypical of the group in question.

 

[Barbas]

I think it's for the same reason that people frequently engage in exactly the same behaviour they condemn in others, or are quick to react in anger before taking as little as sixty seconds to investigate something that turns out to be completely different to what they expected. For the same reason they grab at others for sympathy while being the cause of someone else's misery. For the same reason that they say they stand up for freedom of speech while carrying out whatever methods they think they can get away with to silence their opponents, or doing their utmost to tilt the playing field in favour of themselves and those who agree with them. For the same reason that they measure friendship and worth by consensus, perpetuate gossip and struggle to find an honest, decent statement to make about people they don't know while never being caught without a cutting remark. Because it's easy, and in a moment of laziness, they take the easy option. And the more they do it, the easier it becomes and the worse they are. Never mind that it's self-indulgent and potentially self-destructive, or that it can end up stunting social interaction and relationships and seriously limiting your prospects in life, because at just the right moment it is the easier option than trying. For a second, it feels good to be angry, or to make someone else angry.

That what you were looking for?

 

[Lufia Erim]

Only semi-serious, but I have to ask... I see sometimes a question around here that goes "Why does [INSERT GROUP OR NATION OR EVERYBODY HERE] always [INSERT SUBJECT ENACTED OR SPOKEN OR WHATEVER]?". Why is it that some people - not everybody, but some people - point at some mass of other people (be they part of a country or business or whatnot) and ask why they ALL say or do that thing which, chances are, the question itself is probably not even remotely true of 'everybody'?

(If you don't have a specific answer or just don't feel like providing one, say something amusingly general or even irrelevant - because this IS Off-Topic, after all - for funsies.)

It's called a generalizing. People do it because if not you would get sentences like:

"why is it that some people - not everybody, but some people". .

Which are needlessly long and confusing. Everyone knows that it isn't EVERYBODY that does something it's just people in general. Hence generalizations.

 

[OldNewNewOld]

It's a general questions, but that doesn't mean the person asking the question asks why literally all members of said group do the thing he asked. What it usually means is why a lot, not all but a lot of people of said group do X. And everyone knows it's not literally.
See? I just did it. Everyone knows, yet you either didn't know it, or just ignored it. Yet I said everyone. Because I didn't mean literally everyone but why make it longer than necessary?

 

[omega 616]

To speed some shit up!

It is the main problem with the internet, you can't assume people will think "oh, he is just generalizing, I know he doesn't mean EVERY SINGLE PERSON when he says everybody, he just means the majority". It's all to common to make a generalization and then be called out on making it or they actually think you mean EVERY SINGLE PERSON.

There are very few things every single person does but yet, it has to be spelled out 'cos apparently in an argument, being as detailed as possible and making sure to reiterate your exact argument is of the utmost importance.

 

[FalloutJack]

That what you were looking for?

Hey, it's as good an answer as anything else I've heard. Pretty good ones, actually.

EVERY SINGLE PERSON.

Some people do legitimately think it means everybody.

 

[Saltyk]

Like all things, the answer can be found in Men in Black.


This cuts both ways. I mean, I am smart. I know that you can't sum up an entire group of people with a single observation. I have friends among some of these groups that buck the trend. However, I still generalize some of these people, even while acknowledging that there are "exceptions".

At the same time, put me in a group and mob mentality tends to take over. I'm a part of the amorphous mass and don't have autonomy.

A person is smart. People are dumb. And when we make observations this continues.

"[insert group] is [insert vaguely bigoted observation]. Except [insert vaguely ethnic name]. S/He is not like the rest."

 

[ObsidianJones_v1legacy]

People like feeling better than others.

Having a large group of people to feel superior than feels good.

Having others agree with you is addictive. That's why people are on twitter and sit and think about what's going to give them likes.

 

[Pirate Of PC Master race]

Because general statements makes thinking and stereotyping easier?

People HATE excessive thinking.

...as well as making much more powerful message to be understood by larger audiences.

 

[RedDeadFred]

Because they're either ignorant, don't want to put the tiny bit of effort into making their comment less offensive, or they know that their comment is going to get a lot of flames and thus get them a lot more attention. It's basically a more subtle way of trolling.

 

[MoltenSilver]

Monkeysphere theory; the basest most primitive part of our brain refuses to see anyone other than ourselves and the people we interact with most as real thinking sentient actors (As a hypothetical example, when I cut someone off in traffic it's because I'm running late and its very important I get to my destination as soon as possible but whenever anyone else inconveniences me it's obviously because they just a selfish asshole. Of course the truth is whenever anyone does anything bad they think its justified as well while thinking of me as just a selfish asshole when I do things that inconvenience them). Basically the primitive part of the brain just doesn't have enough empathy to go around and so it starts clumping people into easily-digestible groups to cut corners unless we spend a great deal of conscious effort trying to counter these automatic thoughts.

 

[1981]

What it usually means is why a lot, not all but a lot of people of said group do X.

There are very few things every single person does but yet, it has to be spelled out 'cos apparently in an argument, being as detailed as possible and making sure to reiterate your exact argument is of the utmost importance.

If you take the aforementioned "Why americans want the world to end?" thread as an example, the real question is "Why do people in First World countries find apocalypse scenarios appealing". It has nothing to do with a specific nationality. And it's been widely discussed before. Not saying there's isn't room for more, but a well-argumented opening post would help steer the discussion in the right direction. I'd also point out that I'm not sure if it applies to all advanced countries or only the West.