TOPIC 2: Stereotyping is exaggerated generalizations associated with a categorizing system, they go beyond the facts at hand and make claims that usually have no valid basis. It is also something that most people find difficult to avoid from doing. What do you think?

Stereotypes are generalizations about a group of people whereby we attribute a defined set of characteristics to this group. These classifications can be positive or negative, such as when various nationalities are stereotyped as friendly or unfriendly. The purpose of stereotypes is to help us know how to interact with others. Each classification has associations, scripts and so on that we use to interpret what they are saying, decide if they are good or bad, and choose how to respond to them or not.  From my point of view, we all are stereotype person, and we all have biased perceptions. We even apply stereotypes to ourselves, and then modify our own behavior based on those stereotypes. Stereotypes need to avoid as it can give negative and positive impact on individuals. There are a few ways to avoid stereotypes. Firstly, we need to check our sources, research our information and then size up the person that made the stereotypical statement. We need to ensure that we are able to avoid the stereotypes given to us by someone else's biased opinion. We should accept it as fact only those things that we can prove. Secondly, we should understand that people is different. We should look at ourselves and how we are seen by other people. We have to treat the others as we would have them treat us by waiting to from opinions until we know a particular person. Next, we need to be friend with everyone. We should listen and talk to people of all different types and not only form opinions about who they are and not about some group or ethnicity they may be part of.  And lastly, people should be critical of themselves. We cant take for granted any opinion that pops into our head. Sometimes, we need to step outside of the situation and look at the big picture that need us to look at all sides of the biases involved, so we will be able to come to our own opinion without blindly following one side or another. Being able to avoid stereotypes is more rewarding even though it is easy to jump to conclusions about people.