The World We Live In

Stereotypes. Our world is run by stereotypes. Webster describes a "stereotype" as 1. something conforming to a fixed or general pattern; especially : a standardized mental picture that is held in common by members of a group and that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude, or uncritical judgment. In short a mold. A mold that people use to describe themselves and others. Stereotypes rule this day and age, where everything has to belong to a group, where nothing can go uncategorized, and everything must conform to their specific mold. It does not matter what your stereotype is, regardless you are expected to conform to its most simplified form in the least, a specific state of being that is set in stone but subject to change with the next generation. A foundation for a specific existence that is subject to change? This is stereotypings greatest downfall. How can it be a mold when the mold itself is constantly being broken and reimagined. This stereotype today could be that completely different stereotype tomorrow. All they share is a name and a general idea, but how they exist today and tomorrow can be two complete different things.

And how do we live in a world like this? Do we follow the crowd or do we refuse entry? It does not really matter what your decision is. You can, like me, believe that you do not live by stereotypes, but regardless you are going to use them at some point in your life, even if for something as simple as a name to staple to a group of people so that you can easily refer to them in a conversation. I find myself falling to this. I see a group of youngsters dressed in dark clothing and looking generally downcast and I am going to think "Oh, look. A group of emos." There. I used a stereotype. The trick is to use stereotypes in a friendly way, but to not let them make the individual. I look at an self-declared "emo" and I do not see an emo, I see a kid who follows the stereotype. I do not judge him on his appearance or the stereotype grouping he has allied himself to. Individual ideals and concerns, morals and prejudices should always be considered first. If you look at a person and judge them according to the grouping or stereotype they appear to follow then you have just killed that individual in your mind. His individualism has been destroyed in your mind's eye by your tasteless use of pop culture stereotypes. You monster!

That's right. Shame, shame.

But, unfortunately, we all end up in some category or another. Whether just a little or a lot. To commit yourself to one of these social groups is, in my opinion, to limit yourself and your potential as an individual. What a sick world this would be if we were all the same, and within the world of a social group you are, in fact, all the same. For the goth you look to your right and you see a kid wearing black clothing with black makeup covering a powdered, pale exterior. You look to your left and you see another of the same, and so is the same for the goth in front of you and the one behind you, at each corner and stretching out into infinity. The mold and the cookie cutter, where no individualism can thrive, because it is shackled down by conformity.

Stereotypes, social groups. The form of your conform.

And here I am, writing a blog entry on stereotypes when I am, in fact, flamboyantly using stereotypes in order to create this object of abstract literacy. It just proves my sticking point; we all do it. There is no way around it, and I find it creating an increasingly unpleasant world around me when we follow preconceived ideas instead of construction our own. Oh the humanity of it all, or lack thereof.