Making broad generalizations

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Anyone else do this? People seem to think I'm doing it for shock value. How do I stop?

I do it all the time, especially here on WrongPlanet. Believe me, if I knew how to stop, I'd tell you.

By generalizations, I mean frequently using words like "always", "never", "everyone", "nobody", etc.

Last edited by IdahoRose on 06 Mar 2010, 8:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Did I not recently make a thread about this?#
Only asking the opposite question: "Do you undergeneralize?".
I do not know how to start generalizing.

I generalise by putting those that generalise into a group.

I make "outrageous statements" without trying to. Broad claims. I can be very one dimensional.

I'm not sure I understand the difference between undergeneralizing and overgeneralizing. I just feel like I'm "missing the greater picture."

I've been known to make broad generalizations about the general population, over my six years, here at WP.

I like to add almost always or most of the time because if you don't it kills your argument, it's better to cover yourself.

This may not work (since I am pretty much the opposite on this), but every time you made a generalization about a group of people, try to think of all the exceptions that you can. For instance, if you find yourself thinking "All NT's are really loud and obnoxious" try to think of a quiet NT you know. If you find yourself thinking "I don't see how ANY Aspie could enjoy a college party, try to think of a post on here where you saw someone saying that they do (or an Aspie you know, but that's likely to be a smaller sample).

Generalisations are excellent, they're ultra useful for short explanations.

The problem is, lots of people assume that by generalising, you are steriotyping. Or that you treat a generalisation as fact for everyone. That's the reason they don't like them. Personally when someone generalises, i assume they are generalising, which an extremely usefull skill and tool in life.

For example, where i work, some generalisations i make of people in the factory are: a lower IQ, lower education level, feeling uneasy/vunerable in the office, poor understanding of computers, poor understanding of taxation, rate calculations and terms like cumulative and gross/net.

All of these make me better at my job by targeting my responces. BUT, someone else will come along and say "but for all you know they could have a masters degree and be cleverer than you, you shouldn't generalise". They think they're being clever but they're not saying anything i don't already know. Of course they could, but the majority will not, therefore my responce is tailored to the majority. If they show themselves to be more comfortable with the discussion i will change my language and explanations to my new assumed level of knowlege.

Generalisations are excelent, as long as you use them right. Don't let other peoples poor abilities unfluence you against them.

Just to clarify, "all NT's are really loud and obnoxious" isn't a generalisation, it's an incorrect factual statement.

"most NT's are really loud and obnoxious" or even "NT's are really loud and obnoxious" is a generalisation, one i don't agree with, but nevertheless a generalisation. You can meet 5 NT's who are polite and quiet without disproving your generalisation.

My mum makes generalizations about race a lot. She has four half indian children. We don't like it when she generalizes, especially about indian people.

I never make broad generalizations but I've noticed that everybody else does.

That smiley is out of place.
Like this one or

When I was a teenager and no one knew I had Asperger's, I used to say that a lot too. No one seemed to notice it except my brother. Being a typical older bro he would remind me over and over again how often I said never and always and told me I was using "(my name) logic".

I tend to make these generalizations from time to time. I think there is an asd tendancy to do it. I shot myself in the foot on WP for doing it.

Cute, Janissy.