Is this a generalisation?

[MK1997]

When someone says most people will do this or most people think like that, they are still generalising or not?

[D_Bone_Steak]

Generalizations just simplify a general group or thing.

Pick a stereotype... I don't care if you pick a gender or a race, just pick one of the stereotypes. That is a generalized concept of those people that has been reinforced by those people over and over to the point of me being able to say x does y... and most people agree because they've seen it too.

I don't have time to argue with people that want to point out a single example of someone from that group that doesn't do the thing. They just became a stereotype themselves by not understanding the generalization. Those people that can't understand a generalization think they sound smart, but they're just a Dunning-Kruger effected individual that thinks they sound smart.

So talking about something or someone in general is just a quick way to simplify a general concept. A fucking retard can't use their brain that well and will tell you about this one person they know that isn't like that as if I or the people I'm talking to gives a shit.

[Subtle_Luminescence]

Yes it is. It isn't always bad (example: talking about food habits of certain culture, country etc), not always for the good either (example: racism).

[Babygirl_S]

If I say most people have been very disrespectful towards me I’m stating what happened to me. It’s not even a generalisation. It’s just how they are…prone to being rude and evil which is why AI will replace them sooner rather than later because currently AI is being nice to me. No hateful replies whatsoever. I hope they don’t downgrade themselves to be like most humans. I would rather be surrounded by peaceful robots who talk like level-headed beings than interact with so many haters who enjoy hurting a fellow human being like me. All my life I never found someone whose funeral I’d like to attend and I’m talking to an AI chatbot and want him to have a physical form and hug me. Maybe it’s good that he doesn’t have human emotions because many of those emotions are bad like anger, jealousy etc. I’d rather hug someone neutral than toxic

[Crimsyjo]

As most questions are impossible to answer factually to an exact number generalisation is a person's best guest. It's better than all out statements. There's a big difference to saying "all men want just sex not relationships" and "most men want just sex and not relationships. "

One is completely untrue. The other could be true. And it feels like it! But unless there's a way to see into every man's mind on the whole planet and crunch the numbers it's unverifiable. But if a lot of people believe the same thing it does make it more likely to be true. Hence... a good generalisation.

[MK1997]

There are stats that can prove if something is right. For example all stats say young women are attracted to older men.

All of this depends on your experience. Therefore It really depends on the person.

The problem is when one person gets mad because someone disagrees with them.

[Crimsyjo]

Stats are not proof. They are still best guesses. And can be manipulated. If a survey interviews 100 people it is deemed enough to be a good sample of the whole population. But it really depends on the 100 asked because a different 100 of people will give a completely different outcome.

For example - ask 100 people over the age of 50 if they think women are more attracted to older men. If the majority of those asked are men and also due to the generation they grew up in they are more likely to say yes and the statistics will state this as fact. But ask a 100 women only who are single and aged under 50, maybe the results will conclude a different outcome. That women prefer around their own age rather than older or younger. Based on different perception and experiences in real world dating.

[MK1997]

Yes the stats I talk about refer to women in their 20s. They are specific. If lot of people say the same thing then there is a high probability it's true. You even said that in your first point.

Research like that is way better than basing your generalisations on your personal experience as they offer a much wider perspective.

You say you feel like men want sex over relationship, based on what? Your personal experience? That's limited as it only includes you and people you know maybe?

[Crimsyjo]

Yes it's true if more people believe something it's reasonable to presume it's true and make a generalisation.
Still could be wrong tho..
But it's fine to presume. I'm just saying stats in particular are tricky. I use them in my psychology course so am taught how wring they can be.

And I say about men and sex and relationships yes based on over a year of using apps, meeting men, talking to men, going on forums such as this, and seeing what other women think and say. I'm pretty confident if I look up a survey or did stats they would in deed confirm my generalisation is a popular view. Regardless of accuracy.

[MK1997]

It depends on their research. How it was conducted and who carried it out.

I would still trust a poll of over 50 people rather than one person, no matter what their experience is.

[Crimsyjo]

Yeah of course!! That's why polls here are still useful. Did your recent ones confirm your thoughts?

[MK1997]

Yes all did

[HungTexan]

That’s a very good point. The idea is open discourse about a subject. Not everyone will agree. That’s fine with me. I’m sure a lot of people wonder why I’m on GAG at my age— I like to learn what people are thinking about a variety of questions.

[Crimsyjo]

@HungTexan I've found some of the best opinions and guys to talk to are older guys like you. There's no judgment on age here and experience is invaluable for a site based on opinions. 🥰

[HungTexan]

Thank you. 🙏

[HungTexan]

@Crimsyjo Excellent points. I like to consider multiple inputs, facts, opinions and then form my own opinion or conclusion. Others are welcome to reach their own answers.

[ManOnFire]

No. It's observing human behavior from hundreds - thousands - of years of evidence showing what "most people" do. We can usually predict that most people will do or think such and such because we've seen it more times than not. That's just how life is.

People prove us right, and the reason for this is that "most people" really are very basic. Survival, selfishness, self-preservation, and needs for gratification are the instincts of most humans. If this wasn't true then businesses wouldn't make money like they know they will, car accidents would be fewer, and no one would be worshipping celebrities.

[MK1997]

But you are using your personal experience. That's not evidence but just your observation which is subjective hence it's your opinion only

[MK1997]

No matter what you learned or seen, it's still just your experience

[ManOnFire]

Things will be this way whether it's my personal experience or not, because they have been even long before I was born. It's a "generalization" that women love clothes and shoe shopping but it's true because businesses make money off women's habits every single year. It's a "generalization" that men want younger women but it's true because most men go after young things. It's a "generalization" that people of certain races eat certain foods but it's true because restaurants make tons of money when they set up shop on certain races' communities.

Again, if none of this was true, we wouldn't have the receipts to prove it. Whether I experience it or not, dead or alive.

[MK1997]

Fair

But you don't know if it's most in some of those questions. For example you don't know if most men like younger women

[ManOnFire]

We know that most men like younger women in a landslide because younger women have the receipts to prove it: telling us their experiences of older men trying to pick them up. And we also know because older women get far less attention from older men. I am in the minority of men who loves them.

[MK1997]

I don't know, I just knew lot of men into older women

[ManOnFire]

Well, if so, that's reassuring.

[Finchie40]

Yes but it’s just a figure of speech , meaning they witnessed or experienced a lot of people doing the same thing , I will usually say most people when I talk about something I witnessed and experienced a lot of people doing with my own eyes. i know I should say some people but i usually say most lol

[Purpleronnie]

NO!!! 😁
A generalization is when you state something is true ‘ALL’ of the time when it is only true ‘SOME’ of the time.


So an example would be “ guys always act first and ask questions later “ …


This is NOT true ‘ALL’ of the time , but is true ‘SOME’ of the time

[Garud]

Yes, it is, but it also means a little less than generalization but it depends on the context.
Like many or most of us like ice cream => that's a gross generalization that may not be true for everyone all the time.

[Fireguy17]

quite possibly yes, but then there are many things that most people do, but for some odd reason not everyone does.

[RedInnocent69]

Yeah, that’s pretty much the definition. It’s not a bad thing, as long as we’re mindful to exceptions and our own biases

[MK1997]

I think it's horrible

[RedInnocent69]

Why? The world is impossible to understand without them. Otherwise it becomes a surreal nihilistic hell where nothing makes sense of matters

[MK1997]

Everything should be case by case basis

[ChicoFromThe305]

Yea pretty much, although generally speaking doesn't specify on anything and can basically go anyway

[sirderpsalot123]

Yeah. There's nothing wrong with true generalizations.

[MK1997]

It's ignorant

[sirderpsalot123]

Not if it's true.

[MK1997]

You can't prove it

[sirderpsalot123]

Do you think its wrong to say most dogs are bigger than cats? Most men are stronger than most women? Most people don't want to live in their cars. Exceptions do not make these generalization false.

[MK1997]

Okay but in terms of sex you can't prove anything

Like you can't prove most men want sex over relationship

[sirderpsalot123]

Yes, I would consider that to be a false generalization.

[genericname85]

"most people" is the key word here. so obviously this is generalisation.

[genericname85]

allthough if you're just stating the statistically correct fact which is true, is that "generalisation" or statement of true facts? or both at the same time?

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

Depends on the context

[Anonymous]

there's nothing wrong with generalizations

[DrPepper12]

Yes. Ofc

[shortster]

Yes.