Whether here on myLot or elsewhere beware of generalizing
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
United States
February 8, 2016 11:28am CST
If I were to say:
* Men are silly.
* Kids are noisy
* Writing sites are dis-honest
Those are generalizations and that can get you in trouble. If you know that a few men are silly, then phrase it correctly.
* Some men are silly.
* Some kids are noisy.
* A few writing sites are not honest.
If I were to say, "There is a gas station on every corner in the US." Although it may seem like it is where you live, we all don't live in cities.
If I were to say, "We all lower our thermostats to save money." Not everyone does.
Or, "Everyone loves chocolate." Hum, I know there are people who do not like it at all.
I have generalized a few times and once I was called out doing so. I like to try my best not to do that any longer.
28 people like this
27 responses
@allknowing (130067)
• India
9 Feb 16
Everyone seems to be advising the myLot community these days
3 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
9 Feb 16
@allknowing - myLot is a hot topic at myLot...
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
9 Feb 16
@Mike197602 Now I have to ask, how is my advice - did I make your top 5? Maybe I shouldn't ask LOL.
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
9 Feb 16
advice is good.
People should listen and apply any advice...if they find the advice is rubbish then they should ignore the giver
Personally I take advice from anyone but regarding this site less than 5 people I'd take advice from.
Personally I take advice from anyone but regarding this site less than 5 people I'd take advice from.2 people like this
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
8 Feb 16
generalising isn't a great idea but we've all done it at one time or another and I don't see it as a big deal.
Sometimes I'll call someone on it, other times I don't bother.
3 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
9 Feb 16
It was stuck in my crawl today after reading three discussions that stated generalizations that hit home with me.
2 people like this
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
9 Feb 16
@AbbyGreenhill I get the same way.
see something a bit annoying once and that's ok but when the same thing is repeated it can get very wearing.
I think generalising is something people do but often don't realise they're doing it so getting called on it once in a while is good.
Like I should really have said above it's something "some" people do...if I got called on that I'd accept it as they'd be right but it's a relatively small generalisation so I may not appreciate it much
1 person likes this
@slund2041 (3315)
• United States
8 Feb 16
I am bad about this too. I need to stop generalizing so much. It is hard to get out of that habit though.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
8 Feb 16
It takes a little proof reading...then you see it.
2 people like this
@slund2041 (3315)
• United States
8 Feb 16
@AbbyGreenhill I think I have been generalizing this morning when writing about young people in today's world. I do not mean all young people are bad, but it seems most have gone on a downward spiral. I try hard not to make a lot of blanket statements though.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (457412)
• Switzerland
8 Feb 16
@AbbyGreenhill I do not remember either, but it is possible I generalized in one or two occasions.
1 person likes this
@whiteream (8567)
• United States
10 Feb 16
I know, I have done it, I will have to be more careful
2 people like this
@HanVanMeegerin (1161)
• United States
8 Feb 16
@AbbyGreenhill this is absolutely good advice.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (158692)
• Boise, Idaho
8 Feb 16
I have learned over the years to go back and go over some of my 'generalizations'. I do want to be fair.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (158692)
• Boise, Idaho
9 Feb 16
@AbbyGreenhill ....People don't seem to edit their work in a lot of cases.
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
9 Feb 16
Yes, stereotyping is generalizing and should be worded more carefully too.
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
9 Feb 16
Yes we are and I do try not to, but if were to look back...I'd probably find that I did it.
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
9 Feb 16
It seems to be that way with many people and you are right-thinking or commenting in generalities can really cause some issues!
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
9 Feb 16
Some people get very offended about being lumped into a certain group.
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
9 Feb 16
we all do this (hahaha I generalized), let me try again, I know I do this, and suspect many also do this now and then as well.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
9 Feb 16
I knew you would say we all do it....LOL, you didn't let me down.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
9 Feb 16
@AbbyGreenhill I totally couldn't help myself
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
8 Feb 16
Seeing things differently is not what I'm talking about. Can you truly say that all men are silly? Can you? Nope.
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69416)
• Germany
8 Feb 16
@AbbyGreenhill I've read your post from beginning to end and have understood it but when I started writing my comment, my thoughts drifted into a different direction. I hope you can excuse this. :-)
1 person likes this
@nottoooldtowrite (2715)
• Philippines
9 Feb 16
True. We should be more aware to put qualifiers and quantiiers 
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
9 Feb 16
Good way to put it, thanks."qualifiers and quantiiers :
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
9 Feb 16
@nottoooldtowrite I wasn't looking for errors...LOL don't worry.
1 person likes this
@nottoooldtowrite (2715)
• Philippines
9 Feb 16
@AbbyGreenhill whoops should have been quantifiers 
1 person likes this
• Brandon, Florida
9 Feb 16
I totally agree. People may not realize what they are doing, but I think generalizations can really shape how others look at a group of people... I mean racism, sexism, man-bashing, female-ridicule... all examples of what can grow out of generalized thinking.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (215177)
• Chile
8 Feb 16
I wholly agree with you. There are few sentences that accept generalizing terms.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
8 Feb 16
Some might not think there is a difference.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
9 Feb 16
I think most of us try to avoid it - see how general that was.
1 person likes this
