Stereotypical

As humans, we put people in categories so we can move on to more important things. That’s why stereotypes are prevalent. The problem is they always have a spec of truth in them. Add a dose of confirmation bias and you are cruising downwind towards folly. The breeze becomes a tornado.

The woman walking down the street clutches her purse when a young tattooed dude walks by. Why? Safety, common sense, fear, stereotypes?

The challenge is we don’t have all the information and we largely don’t want it. We don’t want it because it would take far too much effort to get to the bottom of something that is only marginally important. At least from our POV.

Stereotypes are lazy and convenient. Perhaps the better choice is to give the benefit of the doubt. The truth is complex and if you dismantle every stereotype you have it would take you out of the game.  

The point is to know that they are a short cut and often short circuit reality.  

Sometimes reality is more beautiful than you think.