FarePak

[Sam Slater]

Rightly or wrongly, we all generalise at times. It's a human condition I suppose and quite natural. Modern society tells us not to do it, but we always do because our brains are developed to classify and but things in boxes. Even if they don't fit into a certain box, we either make a new box, or try to squeeze them into a box they may not belong.

I've just pulled c.j. up (though he seems like a great guy) on another thread where he's been critical of the way Africa is treated by the 'developed world'. He has a valid point, but he laid blame squarely on 'The White Man'. Now, I'm white but I've never meant to harm Africa in any way. I'm not related to any rich family who've made their money from a plantation of some sort!

He generalised and fell into the same trap we all do from time to time.

Anyway, generalisations are usually close to being accurate...............'generally'. They wouldn't have become generalisations otherwise....................unless there's some mass vendetta behind every generalisation! !wink!

Japanese people are 'generally' more intelligent that Swedish people, and Swedish people are 'generally' more intelligent than French people.

The generalisations are only correct when worded properly.

Correct = Swedes are generally cleverer than the French.

Incorrect = Swedes are cleverer than the French.

Both statements are generalisations, and from the speaker/writers point of view, they probably mean the same thing. It's just that the latter statement doesn't tell anyone that the person is generalising, thus lumping 'all' French people as inferior -intellectually- than Swedes.

We cool now?