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Sunday, October 20, 2013

There are *reasons* for stereotypes

There are *reasons* for stereotypes ... that main one being that they accord with what multitudes of people have experienced over time. One of the stereotypes about Gypsies is that they kidnap children. The leftist/post-modernist pious myth that stereotypes are ipso facto immoral, and the corollary command of non-judgmentalism, are themselves immoral assertions. "... Child abduction is certainly no longer common among Gypsies, but the economic logic was explained in Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire: mutilated children make better beggars because they excite more pity among passerbys [sic], but do you really want to mutilate your own child?"

3 comments:

B. Prokop said...

Hah! Reminds me of when I was a small child. If I didn't behave, my mother would threaten to sell me to the Gypsies! (My grandparents were 1st generation immigrants from Poland.)

Ilíon said...

I never even knew there were such a people as Gypsies, or that stereotype of them, until I was in school.

My mother -- who was on crutches my whole childhood -- didn't rely on threats, not even the "Just wait 'til your Father gets home!" one. Well, I suppose, "You can run, but I'll eventually catch you" might be construed as both a simple statement of reality and as a threat.

My brother likes to laugh about one time when he was little and bound to get his fanny swatted, he was "running" and crying (as little kids do even before they get swatted). As he was "running", he was going in a tightening circle around where she was sitting, and eventually she just grabbed him and gave him the swat.

Another time, a demon from across the street got mouthy and fresh with her, thinking he was safe 'cause she was on crutches. She chased him down and taught him never to get mouthy with her. It was glorious!

B. Prokop said...
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