BFTP: Selective overgeneralization
Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 09:01AM
At one service club meeting, the breakfast table conversation revolved around the press coverage given to police officers. One of my WASPish fellow members stated that it was but a tiny fraction of law enforcement officers who act inappropriately, but th those few make society unfairly believe that all police officers perform badly. Heads nodded in agreement.
A bit later the talk turned to a YouTube video where a group of young men watched and recorded a man drowning rather than saving him. "Typical millennial generation' behavior," the same fellow who had just made the pronouncement about the police officers asserted. Again heads nodded.
Except mine.
I asked "Why would you not apply the same logic to kids that you just applied to police officers? Why do you think this was not just a couple kids giving the rest of their generation a bad name?" And I added, "I can guarantee my grandsons - who are both Boy Scouts - would have done everything in their power to save a drowning person."
I didn't see many heads nod.
Over-generalizing, believing stereotypes, making "allness" statements - I know I am selectively guilty of such thinking myself. But doing so is especially dangerous in this political climate.
Reader Comments (2)
I think you and I are great examples - we do not agree on "everything", but we "always" are able to have "open" "discussions.
Weird to think that I can call you a friend - but glad I can
Hi Kenn,
I am glad you think of me as a friend - I certainly consider you one. Anyone who is at heart a decent human being and can calmly articulate their values (even if I don't always agree with them) will have my respect and friendship.
Doug