Comments on: Why EVERYONE Loves Facebook

By: Rima

Rima — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 21:54:17 +0000

“Minorities have to get over the idea that they represent their whole race. That’s ridiculous.”

Well said, June. This is definitely the flip-side to the issue. Having X, Y, and Z personality traits doesn’t do a thing to make you any more or less Nigerian, French, Indian, Pakistani, etc.

The only white parents I can see wagging their fingers at kids for not being white enough are white supremacists!

It’s definitely a whole different ball game with minorities, particularly minority groups struggling to keep their motherlands’ identities alive while living in the US. Speaking from personal experience, there were people in my life who thought I wasn’t “Indian” enough growing up.

Have any of you seen the “CUZ I’M _____” videos on YouTube? Check these out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cgFgJmbQgg – Cuz I’m Asian
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cRpIYpdjRY – Cuz I’m Scottish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnqrXcXs4Ok – Because I’m Indian.

By: junecstraight

junecstraight — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 21:45:02 +0000

I think stereotypes are bad when that’s all a person can see in a group of people. But just like people are drawn to social networking, we’re also wired to categorize and label people, places and things. That’s what we do. We have to point out what’s different, why we’re special, better even. It’s part of our DNA. SN: I always find it stupid and annoying when people whine about reinforcing stereotypes … minorities have to get over the idea that they represent their whole race. That’s ridiculous. Do you think there are white parents wagging fingers at their children, telling them they’ve made life harder for white people everywhere?! Come on!

By: Ron Newman

Ron Newman — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:11:30 +0000

I’d say that the English, Germans, and Scandinavians are not especially known for that

By: smycynek

smycynek — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 18:22:50 +0000

I agree. I think it is a natural tendency for a group to assume that some common trait is unique to it.

One stereotype I’ve always kind of laughed at is the notion of a family of a particular ethnicity that likes to sing, drink, dance, and eat a lot. Greeks? Italians? Indians? Jews? Irish? Sound familiar? It would be easier to list ethnicities that _aren’t_ known for being jolly around the dinner table (Maybe the Japanese?).