Darrians News

[rust]

If the common stereotypes concerning Germans would come anywhere
near the reality, I would have left this country decades ago ... :lol:

 

[Lord High Munchkin]

It isn't always so, intention is key.

Not all stereotypes are derogatory parodies — that's an outrageous stereotype!!!

An example, Frenchmen are stereotypically romantic. They may be or not... but they like to think so, and quite often try hard to live up to it (although the French women I know snort at such).

People who wear glasses are smarter... I know this one to be true!!!

There are many such "pleasant" stereotypes.

 

[rust]

The problem with stereotypes, nasty ones as well as pleasant ones, is that
they are self-reinforcing and almost immune to changes.

If someone behaves according to the stereotype, this is usually seen as a
"typical" behaviour that confirms the stereotype, while a different behavi-
our ... well, it is just an exception ...
As a result even the stereotypes that once described very common traits
of a culture tend to lag at least one generation behind the continually chan-
ging reality of a culture.

 

[Cleon the Mad]

Yes, if one only compares two individuals that probably is correct, but even in that scenario 50% is still quite a large amount.

I disagree. The only reason a large population tends to fall within a stereotype is because individuality gets "blurred", it's just harder to see the unique traits of each individual when one is looking at let's say the population of a whole nation. Start interviewing each individual and I think you'll find that each individual breaks the stereotype one would expect of said population to some degree or another. If anything, it's unusual at best for someone to perfectly fit into any one stereotype of a group or nationality.

I actually consider stereotypes to be lazy thinking to a degree, something people do to assign a label so they can in their mind understand a group, nation and so forth without truly taking the time to understand a group, nation, culture, etc.

So again, I think you'll find that stereotypes are as generally wrong as they are generally right. NO-ONE truly fits into their nation, race or cultures stereotype fully, there's always at least some deviation from such. Stereotypes are at best a rough guideline that one should prepare to ignore on a case by case basis.

 

[Mongoose Pete]

I actually consider stereotypes to be lazy thinking to a degree, something people do to assign a label so they can in their mind understand a group, nation and so forth without truly taking the time to understand a group, nation, culture, etc.

Unfortunately when you only have 200 pages to fully detail a subsector-wide (or worse, sector-wide) culture, its history, tech, military, planets and some campaign guidelines, it becomes difficult to avoid sweeping generalisations. :wink:

So again, I think you'll find that stereotypes are as generally wrong as they are generally right. NO-ONE truly fits into their nation, race or cultures stereotype fully, there's always at least some deviation from such. Stereotypes are at best a rough guideline that one should prepare to ignore on a case by case basis.

Absolutely!

 

[Cleon the Mad]

Unfortunately when you only have 200 pages to fully detail a subsector-wide (or worse, sector-wide) culture, its history, tech, military, planets and some campaign guidelines, it becomes difficult to avoid sweeping generalisations. :wink:

Well yes, I don't expect you to detail EVERY single Darrian citizen with this book. Nor did I expect every single Vargr in that book, every single Aslan, etc. (Although if you are so inclined...no, maybe not. ).

But yes, I do understand that stereotypes are used to form a general opinion, perhaps lazy thinking was too strong of a statement. I think what I really meant to say is it's okay to use such as a guideline, but again be prepared for the stereotype to be proven wrong, possibly every time you meet an individual. Now to what degree said stereotype is proven wrong will vary of course too.

Anyway, very much looking forward to the book.

 

[Mongoose Pete]

Well yes, I don't expect you to detail EVERY single Darrian citizen with this book. Nor did I expect every single Vargr in that book, every single Aslan, etc. (Although if you are so inclined...no, maybe not. ).

:shock: Nooooooooooooo!

But yes, I do understand that stereotypes are used to form a general opinion, perhaps lazy thinking was too strong of a statement. I think what I really meant to say is it's okay to use such as a guideline, but again be prepared for the stereotype to be proven wrong, possibly every time you meet an individual. Now to what degree said stereotype is proven wrong will vary of course too.

Anyway, very much looking forward to the book.

In appreciation of everyone's good humour and good sense, here's a quote from the book... :wink:

"Other than these generalisations, most Darrians are just like other human beings. They feel love and hate, fear and loathing, humour and sorrow. They can also be just as courageous, murderous, treacherous, dishonest or envious as the average man, yet usually keep such feelings carefully concealed behind the public veneer of polite good humour."

 

[Cleon the Mad]

Well yes, I don't expect you to detail EVERY single Darrian citizen with this book. Nor did I expect every single Vargr in that book, every single Aslan, etc. (Although if you are so inclined...no, maybe not. ).

:shock: Nooooooooooooo!

But yes, I do understand that stereotypes are used to form a general opinion, perhaps lazy thinking was too strong of a statement. I think what I really meant to say is it's okay to use such as a guideline, but again be prepared for the stereotype to be proven wrong, possibly every time you meet an individual. Now to what degree said stereotype is proven wrong will vary of course too.

Anyway, very much looking forward to the book.

In appreciation of everyone's good humour and good sense, here's a quote from the book... :wink:

"Other than these generalisations, most Darrians are just like other human beings. They feel love and hate, fear and loathing, humour and sorrow. They can also be just as courageous, murderous, treacherous, dishonest or envious as the average man, yet usually keep such feelings carefully concealed behind the public veneer of polite good humour."

that works, and makes a nice guideline as well. I like that.