wow! there's a brain behind that face of yours!

stereotypes. they help us discern the world around around us, and make connections that can be beneficial. for instance, when to say, that man in the mask looks strangely like a ninja. maybe he can kick my ass. but when does a stereotype slip out of the category of generalizations to just plain bigotry? for example, if someone saw me, they might notice:

-tall
-blonde (well, -ish...)
-thin
-in a sorority
-goes to university
-correction. goes to MIAMI university
-spends summers in europe
-enjoys mocha's, like any american should


from that, what conclusions would you draw?



my point, exactly.



but that is only the superficial. there's so much more to me, my interests, my passions. beneath the exterior, i am a tv and film and book nerd. i think a cool night is spent on the sofa reading voltaire. i sing. i ride 2,000 pound animals. and if one only judges on stereotypes, then what chance is there that they can look past what society dictates for them to see?

it can be a dangerous self-prophesy too.

case in point: a few weekends ago, i was at a bar, and - wisely or unwisely - set my coat, along with cell phone, camera, and credit cards, under some other coats. i was moderately pleased at the effect - my coat was like the milford school and was neither seen nor heard. i thought it would be safe for the hour or so i would be there. how very wrong i was. i came back to check my phone, and there was a man rummaging through my credit cards. i inwardly groaned, because it wasn't a "typical" miami student: he was about 6'2", 300 pounds, and black. i snatched my cards from his hands and demanded that he empty his pockets, and my driver's license popped out.

now, i know. i didn't do things properly, either. i should have carried my effects with me rather than blindly trust that oxford is a small town; i had never had a problem prior to this. but talk about perpetuating a stereotype. there are any number of them out there: if a korean woman rear-ends you, or a jewish man is wealthy. you can never say one part represents the whole, but what of those who say stereotypes exist for a reason?

watch crash and you'll know what i mean.

you can't not not stereotype. the question is, is that good or bad?

quote of the day: (i must first set the scene for this.)
jenn just ordered papa john's breadsticks. there was marinara in which to dip them. i was famished. and this came out of my mouth.

me: i just love dipping my sticks in your red sauce, jen.
brittany runs in from the other room and screams: "that's what she said!