6 ms·

What do you call a stereotype when it is backed by statistical data? The a priori belief that is most common is that no stereotypes are true. It's the polite th

by tw268 13y ago

What do you call a stereotype when it is backed by statistical data? The a priori belief that is most common is that no stereotypes are true. It's the polite thing to believe. But if you are of a certain analytical mindset, you can be argued out of it with enough data and anecdotal evidence from friends.

Jun8 13y ago
An oxymoron :-), i.e. stereotypes are by definition not backed by reliable data (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stereotype http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stereotype)
- tw268 13y ago
  What I'm trying to say is not all racial stereotypes describe a false belief, though it is fashionable to think so.
- jack-r-abbit 13y ago
  Not to split hairs... but your link defines Stereotype (noun): an often unfair and untrue belief that many people have about all people or things with a particular characteristic Note the word often which does not mean always. Often (adverb): many times : on many occasions Always (adverb): at all times So a stereotype, by definition, may be true... though often is not.
- omonra 13y ago
  What do you call an accurate assessment of a group that may be unflattering or unpleasant? And what if said assessment is correct in 90% of the cases - how do the 10% for whom it fails would feel?
  - tw268 13y ago
    Black people really do commit a lot of crime in America, it's not just a "stereotype". And particularly, young black people, and particularly young black males. Black males between the ages of 14 and 24 commit 27% of all murders, despite being 1% of the population. It's not scrawny white twitter engineers who are shooting each other in San Francisco
    - csense 13y ago
      It's not entirely race. I'm certain that e.g. poverty and lack of opportunity play a role as well. Growing up without access to money, good schools, or positive role models can be crippling to success regardless of race.
      - tw268 13y ago
        Poor whites and Hispanics aren't nearly as dangerous as poor (young, male) blacks. There is not another comparable group that manages to commit 27% of murders as 1% of the population. That's a huge ratio. Keep in mind, most black males will never kill anyone. But black males commit a plurality of murders in the US. And 1 in 3 will spend some time in jail in his life. 1 in 7 American black men are in jail at any moment. Remember, there are more whites in poverty than total blacks in the United States, and blacks commit 48% of murders. If you're in an urban environment, don't be a progressive hero and try not to avoid young black males. It can be dangerous[1][2] [1] http://isteve.blogspot.com/2013/11/yglesias-i-wasnt-victim-of-fake.html http://isteve.blogspot.com/2013/11/yglesias-i-wasnt-victim-o... [2] http://isteve.blogspot.com/2013/08/all-we-have-to-fear-is-inference-itself.html http://isteve.blogspot.com/2013/08/all-we-have-to-fear-is-in...
csense 13y ago
> What do you call a stereotype when it is backed by statistical data? An inconvenient truth. Or perhaps the elephant in the room.

by tw268 13y ago

Jun8 13y ago

An oxymoron :-), i.e. stereotypes are by definition not backed by reliable data (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stereotype http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stereotype)

tw268 13y ago
What I'm trying to say is not all racial stereotypes describe a false belief, though it is fashionable to think so.
jack-r-abbit 13y ago
Not to split hairs... but your link defines Stereotype (noun): an often unfair and untrue belief that many people have about all people or things with a particular characteristic Note the word often which does not mean always. Often (adverb): many times : on many occasions Always (adverb): at all times So a stereotype, by definition, may be true... though often is not.
omonra 13y ago
What do you call an accurate assessment of a group that may be unflattering or unpleasant? And what if said assessment is correct in 90% of the cases - how do the 10% for whom it fails would feel?
- tw268 13y ago
  Black people really do commit a lot of crime in America, it's not just a "stereotype". And particularly, young black people, and particularly young black males. Black males between the ages of 14 and 24 commit 27% of all murders, despite being 1% of the population. It's not scrawny white twitter engineers who are shooting each other in San Francisco
  - csense 13y ago
    It's not entirely race. I'm certain that e.g. poverty and lack of opportunity play a role as well. Growing up without access to money, good schools, or positive role models can be crippling to success regardless of race.
    - tw268 13y ago
      Poor whites and Hispanics aren't nearly as dangerous as poor (young, male) blacks. There is not another comparable group that manages to commit 27% of murders as 1% of the population. That's a huge ratio. Keep in mind, most black males will never kill anyone. But black males commit a plurality of murders in the US. And 1 in 3 will spend some time in jail in his life. 1 in 7 American black men are in jail at any moment. Remember, there are more whites in poverty than total blacks in the United States, and blacks commit 48% of murders. If you're in an urban environment, don't be a progressive hero and try not to avoid young black males. It can be dangerous[1][2] [1] http://isteve.blogspot.com/2013/11/yglesias-i-wasnt-victim-of-fake.html http://isteve.blogspot.com/2013/11/yglesias-i-wasnt-victim-o... [2] http://isteve.blogspot.com/2013/08/all-we-have-to-fear-is-inference-itself.html http://isteve.blogspot.com/2013/08/all-we-have-to-fear-is-in...

csense 13y ago

> What do you call a stereotype when it is backed by statistical data? An inconvenient truth. Or perhaps the elephant in the room.