Generalisation Good or Bad?

Connor Lidell wrote: hahah what a generalization on my part. haha

Akkarin wrote: All generalizations are bad Connor...

Are all Generalizations bad?

My response
No, generalizing something is a healthy and natural method of processing information, I put all my cups together because I know they all can hold a body of liquid.

Generalizing to me is a healthy method in which we understand the world around us, by all means don't "hold" onto these generalizations, allow flexibility in them for example, generalizing that all teenagers are horrible people who want to cause disruption and wreak havoc amongst the elderly is a negative generalization but it does help you be "prepared" for what you may face if you're heading into the area full of teenagers.

Another example is I know most (but not all, some may have had their teeth removed for traveling circuses) lions have teeth and that's why I'm not going to go dancing around a lion in nothing but a loin cloth.

My questions is below, feel free to give your own response.

Are all Generalizations bad?

Yes, generalizations are part of our development and learning process. But, many times, we hold on to them for too long.

Our entire elementary school system (at least in Texas) is built this way. We are taught to put things in classifications so we can learn to identify them. But, as we get older, we tend to keep those classifications. "Apples are good for you". We learn that. But, what about people who eat them all the time? People with diabetes? High blood pressure/sugars?

I think what Akkarin was referring to was that generalizations at this stage in my age and development were backwards thinking. They tend to limit our knowledge instead of expand it, like they do when we are children.

"All generalizations are bad"

You do notice the irony, or possible joke in that statement right?

DAMNIT AKKARIN WAS MAKING A JOKE AND WE ALL MISSED IT. *cries*

Proteus wrote:

"All generalizations are bad"

You do notice the irony, or possible joke in that statement right?

Do I have to be specific with my answer?

Rickie The Grey wrote: Do I have to be specific with my answer?

Usually, no...

I think specification and generalisation can go hand in hand, we can say the jedi is one word, such as peaceful and that can be seen as a generalisation, and in the specification, we expand on that