From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!zeppo!mes Newsgroups: net.misc Title: Re: freudian B.S. - (nf) Article-I.D.: zeppo.311 Posted: Thu Sep 9 12:14:25 1982 Received: Fri Sep 10 04:23:33 1982 #R:pur-phy:-45500:zeppo:9300002:000:1941 zeppo!mes Sep 9 12:13:00 1982 Ah, Eric, you have hit upon one of my very, very sore spots. As a native New Jerseyan myself, I have long wondered about the stereotyping that goes on. I am from the north pine barrens (center of the state, to you foreigners), and now live in the very, very rural northwest of the state. Believe me, this is not the same as living in Newark or Hoboken... However, the issue is a far larger one. What is it in people that forces them to adopt stereotypical images? We all do it to one extent or another - i.e, Im sure that not all Californian girls are 'valley girls', and they probably aren't all blond, either! Do all people from Missouri walk around saying 'Show me?' ? I think not. But, we in our infinite perfection where we are, come up with these global assumptions, and use them frequently, even though we may "know" that they are impossible. These stereotypes can hurt, as well. They bind communication, they force misunderstandings, they prevent the growth of interpersonal relationships of any kind because of these preconcieved natures. I myself was guilty of considering any person living within a 40 mile radius of New York City as slightly less than human - it took me until undergraduate school to realize just how preconcieved I was! I think that I am past that stage now, but I shudder to think of what I would have missed, had I not opened myself up to other lifestyles, far different from my own. So, the question is, what makes us do it? In the 'Information Age' (sorry) why is so little information passed around, such that these stereotypes develop and prosper? In fact, inherent in the last sentence is a assumption that can be questioned - is the lack of information responsible for these stereotypes? Some good discussion material here... From Northwest New Joisey, Mike Sajor, BTL-Whippany NJ, (201)386-4409 zeppo!mes