[quote=Phil Ayesho;1471166]once more you are making the huge assumption that
A. stereotypes are not useful.
And
B. human beings are capable of NOT stereotyping.

no matter what numbers back up stereotypes about black men, i always find myself offended when they're applied to me. i doubt that i'm the only one who feels this way. phil honey i know, human nature, can't help it yadda yadda yadda but stereotypes are only useful when applied to the people who portray the stereotype. for those that don't, it's no less than prejudice.

In a larger sense, we can not SAY anything about Anything, without generalizing.

in a smaller, more realistic sense, do you not see that when stereotypes and generalizations are applied, they're often negative ones?? muslims are often categorized by the most extreme, men categorize women's sexuality according to the most brazen, unadulterated whore, black men are categorized by the uneducated, self-victimizing thug.

i've never been asked, "gee are you all as poetic as maya angelou" or "are you all as well-spoken as barack obama". it's usually "why do all black guys talk funny".

Discussions are one thing... arguments are another. Arguments imply contention and disagreement...

that's exactly what i'm NOT talking about. i'm talking about the name-calling, the personal attacks, for instance someone made several references to a cousin who molested me. a traumatizing event was used to cut me down.

Its not a big deal... You do not have a right to live unoffended. If you call yourself an adult, you should be able to shrug it off.

sounds like you're trying to justify rudeness and disrespect.

phil i often find you inquisitive and you usually make good points but i'm asking people to apologize for rude behavior, please don't turn this into a another quote-by-quote deconstruction of marleyisalegend.

i doubt anyone here cries or takes anything too personally, but is respect too much to ask for while we're on the site?? should the population be only stone-cold don't-give-a-damn outspoken people who force out everyone who doesn't want to log on and be condescended??