Sometimes discussions lead to strange ideas, usually for the other person. Over the course of emailing someone the topic of pain had come up. I had made the following comment: physical manifestation of emotional pain as a form of coping with that that you cannot deal with. thats my tattoos, my piercings. Granted that is my OWN reasoning for it usually. However I’m not sure this holds true for everyone. In fact I’d say that is rather an exception than a norm. I know of several people that have tattoos and pierces that got them for totally different reasons. While it still might be an emotional reason, it is not a painful emotion. But they do still serve as a method of memory I’m sure.

Anyhow thats not even the fun part of the email. But to get to that there will be a slight disconnect in ideas, subject, and topic flow here so that we can jump to the idea stereotypes.

I had a teacher admit that stereotypes are based on truths. This actually does two things; it validates my thoughts on this, and makes me think I should have gone for higher education (lord knows my writing skills could use it). Seriously though, anyone that attempts to tell you that stereotypes are not based on truths is full of crap. The problem realizing if the truths are sound and valid. While it may be a stereotype that a certain race or type of person has a predisposition towards violence and criminal activity, you must ask yourself if those truths are valid. If you can find flaw in the source of a stereotype then you can find exceptions to the stereotype and maybe open your eyes a little.

Broken down in to ideas that don’t connect, but should make sense…
One of the traits of being human is recognition of patterns. It helps keep us alive and make reasonable assumptions.
We learn by observing patterns.
These patterns become stereotypes. They are perfectly normal and natural.

The problem is when you take a stereotype and you apply it in a negative way and fail to realize that sometimes patterns are broken and the stereotype does not hold true. Or since standing on the shoulders of a giant you will see further, allow me to just link to a comic that explains it very nicely.