Stereotypes You Got Wrong

[RicardoZ]

Or maybe stereotypes that other people think exist that really don't...

For example, people in Canada have the idea that Americans think Canadians all live in igloos...but we don't...we assume everybody in Alaska lives in igloos (or at least I did), I never thought of Canadians as occupying them.

Also, Americans are supposed to assume that all asian people are Chinese, but I always assumed they were all Japanese.

What are some stereotypes that you got wrong?

[Uennie]

I've never met anyone who thought Canadians lived in igloos haha. That must be in isolated pockets.

[Gamdwelf]

Or maybe stereotypes that other people think exist that really don't...

For example, people in Canada have the idea that Americans think Canadians all live in igloos...but we don't...we assume everybody in Alaska lives in igloos (or at least I did), I never thought of Canadians as occupying them.

Also, Americans are supposed to assume that all asian people are Chinese, but I always assumed they were all Japanese.

What are some stereotypes that you got wrong?

What?, like nobody thinks those things. Almost nobody lives in igloos. Also I think american's think that asian people are from asia.

If you don't stereotype then you can't get stereo types wrong.

[Kalis]

Lots of people think that the French are 'cheese eating surrender monkeys', however they have a pretty impressive military record - though they do tend to get a damn good thrashing from Britain on the battlefield.

[Itisamuh]

I grew up thinking women were supposed to be the kinder, more gentle and passive gender. Talk about getting disabused.

[Gamdwelf]

Lots of people think that the French are 'cheese eating surrender monkeys', however they have a pretty impressive military record - though they do tend to get a damn good thrashing from Britain on the battlefield.

The surrender monkey stereotype comes from back to back take overs in WW 1 and 2.

[Confirm Deny]

Also I think american's think that asian people are from asia.

...Well, shit.
Reporting to post in thread /salute.

Kidding. People looked at me funny when I considered Indian people Asian, speaking of Asian ethnicities. I mean... it literally touches China, and (I hope) most Americans could place them on a map so- stopped making that small semantic argument as a joke pretty young because it wasn't worth it.

India is in Asia

S'what I'm saying. I believe the "semantics" were more about perception (cultural history, actual history...) than geographical fact. /shrug.
[Edit #4] I see the British differ on that perception. Must be all those old trade routes, eh?

[Kalis]

The surrender monkey stereotype comes from back to back take overs in WW 1 and 2.

World War One?

[Deleted]

Belgians always think Dutchies eat cheese and peanut butter with every meal and that their beer is crap.

Turns out Belgians produce and consume more cheese then the Dutch

[Payday]

...Well, shit.
Reporting to post in thread /salute.

Kidding. People looked at me funny when I considered Indian people Asian, speaking of Asian ethnicities. I mean... it literally touches China, and (I hope) most Americans could place them on a map so-

India is in Asia

Belgians always think Dutchies eat cheese and peanut butter with every meal and that their beer is crap.

Turns out Belgians produce and consume more cheese then the Dutch

Hey what's wrong with Grolsch?

[Gamdwelf]

...Well, shit.
Reporting to post in thread /salute.

Kidding. People looked at me funny when I considered Indian people Asian, speaking of Asian ethnicities. I mean... it literally touches China, and (I hope) most Americans could place them on a map so-

Well that's where it gets trickier because while it is part of the continent of asia, it is many time considered part of the middle east. Kinda similar with Russia, while it is mostly in asia, Russians are many times considered Europeans.

[mvaliz]

Finding out, via a documentary, that most Native American stereotypes and culture I thought were a given were actually derived from Hollywood films - and that subsequently those depictions have indeed BECOME a part of their culture due to those movies regardless of authenticity.

My favorite bit was finding out the real reasons Native Americans were depicted with feathered headbands. Not because it was a cultural thing, but because the actors in the John Wayne movies who played the Native Americans wore long black wigs, and the only way to keep the wigs on was to hold them in place with headbands! Bloody Brilliant! :P

[Kalis]

Well that's where it gets trickier because while it is part of the continent of asia, it is many time considered part of the middle east. Kinda similar with Russia, while it is mostly in asia, Russians are many times considered Europeans.

In Britain, India is considered to be Asia, never Middle East (never heard that before). In fact Asia/Asian traditionally refers to India and the surrounding area, and the Orient/Oriental refers to Japan and China.

[Gamdwelf]

In Britain, India is considered to be Asia, never Middle East (never heard that before). In fact Asia/Asian traditionally refers to India and the surrounding area, and the Orient/Oriental refers to Japan and China.

Well if you go back far enough, Asia originally referred to Turkey and surrounding areas.

[Deleted]

Hey what's wrong with Grolsch?

I don't know that beer or how it tastes, but I can see the problem: the name, you'd think that its from Scandinavia, Germany or Poland. It should have been called Saburn or Rijn or something like that.

Also Grolsch is the sound my stomach makes when I mixed substances that are not supposed to be mixed.

[Gamdwelf]

Middle east is western asia.

But it also extends almost into parts of europe an africa depending on who you ask, its not a clearly defined area.

[Deleted]

Lots of people think that the French are 'cheese eating surrender monkeys', however they have a pretty impressive military record - though they do tend to get a damn good thrashing from Britain on the battlefield.

Come closer, I can't hear you over the sound of your sissy longbows

Well that's where it gets trickier because while it is part of the continent of asia, it is many time considered part of the middle east. Kinda similar with Russia, while it is mostly in asia, Russians are many times considered Europeans.

Probably because the vast majority of the Russian population lives west of the Urals, so they're European.

[Kalis]

Come closer, I can't hear you over the sound of your sissy longbows

Oh, another stereotype about the French is that they make crap pop music...kind of hard to disprove that one though

Joe Le Taxi.

[Gamdwelf]

Oh, another stereotype about the French is that they make crap pop music...kind of hard to disprove that one though

Joe Le Taxi.

Not really, go listen to Yelle.

[Kalis]

Not really, go listen to Yelle.

I just did, didn't really do much to disprove the stereotype though as it sounds like traditional Euro pap.