Discussion»Statements»Rosie's Corner» Do average ordinary typical people know they are or does everyone sincerely believe he/she is extraordinary? Why?
Everybody is the centre of the universe from their point of view. And as we're all unique in some way, the "average ordinary typical person" is a mythical point of reference, a figure of speech. Go tell the most boring person you know that they're "average, ordinary and typical" and you'll likely earn yourself a poke in the snoot. All generalities are untrue.
Really? ALL of them? When people marry they should be faithful to one another. Parents are supposed to protect their children, guide them, love them.
Two generalities right off the top of my head kiddo. If I wanted to spend more time I'd give you more. Your generality is untrue methinks. Thank you for your reply Sbf and Happy Tuesday. So are you "generality" faithful to your wife? Did you generality protect, guide, love your children? Which generality do you dispute and why?
This post was edited by RosieG at February 6, 2018 5:38 AM MST
"Should" and "do" are completely different things. Ideally, spouses should be faithful and children should be nurtured. In the big bad world, some spouses cheat and some kids are neglected - I believe you personally experienced the former years ago, from your first husband. Didn't you say on AB once that number one cheated on you? I can count all of the bedmates I've had in my life on the thumbs of one hand, and did the best job I knew how to do as a parent (and now a grandparent). But I'm far from "typical" (or ideal), I'm a highly opinionated smartass and a friendly extrovert.
That wasn't me Sbf. None of them to my knowledge cheated on me. The one about which I said something was probably the compulsive gambler/liar. The other two were nice guys but we just grew apart. It happens. Jim is my ideal mate. Finally. You are parsing here m'dear which is unusual for you Sbf. The discussion is not about should and do and you know it. The discussion is about generailties. You said all of them are untrue. I said that is not true. Now you bring up should and do which is out of left field completely. Nice try but no cigar. Thank you for your reply.
But you have always said you were a "square" peg and been proud of that. Why not give others the benefit of the doubt and allow them to be "square pegs" if they choose to be?
This response has ZERO to do with the point og. Here is it again. Sbf said all generalities are untrue. I said that is untrue and I gave him two examples. Why you think square peg is pertinent here I do not know but it isn't. Thank you for your two cents' worth. I won't spend it all in one place.
We think or speak in generalities because it is easy for us to do so. But once we let such generalities harden in us then they can turn into prejudice. So rather than see each other as individuals we judge them by how well they seem to fit into our generalities.
No. Generalities and stereotypes are simply shorthand. I say "the French excel at cooking". A generality. Not ALL French folks excel. Some suck. BUT the French are known for their excellent cuisine og. Do you deny that? That is a stereotype and a generality. Your saying that if we engage in generalities we don't see each other as individuals is 100% false. Here's why. When you MEET an individual you don't generalize. You only generalize about those whom you don't know. You cannot treat those you don't know as individuals. You are conflating things. You are going from a premise to a conclusion that is false because your premise is false. Your premise is that if we generalize people those their individuality. That is untrue. OK. I'm done trying to explain it to you. You either understand it or you don't. Either way I've said what I wanted say and I'm done here.
This post was edited by RosieG at February 6, 2018 6:34 AM MST
Some people may generalize "all women are emotional". Fine. But then they may take that and extend it to "because we are all emotional then that means because of that we cannot trust them with anything that requires calm action". Which is, of course not true. I am emotional some of the time but mostly I am collected and efficient. Which the company I work for recognized only after years of such service. And only to a certain point - while I have come to be trusted with many very minor decisions I am not with anything major! So generalities can be a very slippery slope if we are not careful with them. Ideally we don't generalize when meeting someone - but I think in fact we do because we naturally draw on what we have already learned which may consist entirely in generalities.
Should mention as well I never cared a whit for French cooking!
Am I "average"? Yes. "Ordinary"? Pretty much so. "Typical"? Perhaps not in all things. "Extraordinary"? Really I don't think so at all. All of which have no bearing whatsoever on how I live my life. Nor do they limit what I choose to do with it. Whatever we happen to be or however others choose to see us we are entitled to all the happiness we can make for ourselves and others.
This post was edited by officegirl at February 6, 2018 6:17 AM MST
Here is my opinion. EVERYONE IS AVERAGE including me. Why? Because we all are great at some things, mediocre at some things and lousy at some things. The things vary among us of course but when you add them all together and divide by 3 what you get is AVERAGE. Now I happen to enjoy my averageness and have no problem with. Others who look down on us don't buy it. They truly believe they are completely superior to "ordinary" folks and I think they are all ful of sh**! Thank you for your reply og. What other people think of me is their right. It is my right to think as I do so I'm just gonna keep on truckin'!
Slartibartfast 