Re: stereotypes - the other

[P3D Earl Keyser <earl_keyser@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

        Reply to:   RE>stereotypes - the other kind - FINIS

Since I started this, I'm going to end it.

The original post was intended to ask a serious 3D question.  I've STILL got
no answers to that.  And I hope the dealer hasn't sold the darn thing.

The rest of the post was intended as gentle, irreverent humor, nothing more. 
The humor was meant as a COMPLIMENT to two ethnic groups.  You, whoever you
are, may or may not have been amused.

Now, the following is a PERSONAL statement.  My company, family, church, race,
protected class status and attorney have NOT been consulted.

When we go into the world, we need some measures of how to interpret what we
encounter.  One way of doing that is defining classes of objects or
experiences.  Chair is one such class.  By the height, size, weight,
upholstery, wood color, price, position of the chair, we decide whether we
want to sit on it or buy it or burn it.

The same principle applies to people.  But, because we value humans more than
chairs, it gets messier.  Now, our "universal chair" stereotype becomes the
basis for many more actions regarding others - actions both wonderful and
reprehensible.

>From my perspective, not sitting in a chair because it is green, is a personal
choice.  Silly, maybe, but my choice.

Not hiring a person because of something (gender, race, age, height, speech
patterns, religion, sexual preference) that has NOTHING to do with their doing
the job is WRONG.  Period.  Other areas of society such as mortgage lending,
choosing a career, picking a school come to mind.

Choosing persons with whom I care to associate is not anyone's choice but
mine.  Right or wrong, it's my time, my life, my choice.  I choose to
associate with Martin, Wendy, Mary, John, Mr. Baker, Elaine, Jill, Greg and
Barbara because I like them as human beings.  Their unique characteristics are
why I like them; their stereotypical characteristics are part of the package. 
And, I'll leave it as an exercise to the reader to determine what those
characteristics might be.

Preaching political correctness to others is, essentially, a waste of time, I
think.  Holding a reasonable discussion may be useful.

Now, that's the end.  Please.

Earl Keyser, resident smart ass.


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