Generalizations, I would venture, provide the central nervous system of rational thought and rational thought the backbone of western civililzation. If you are not a fan of western civilization or indeed of civilization from any part of the world today, you may as well close this page now and go gnaw on bones.
Without generalizing, we cannot discuss anything more than specifics. One toenail. One drop of rain striking the windshield. One second of pain shooting up our arm into our molars. No discussions of heredity or weather or monsoons. No shoe fittings, no forecasts, no diagnoses of heart attacks. Without generalizing, we're pretty much fools salivating in dark corners hoping without reason someone will feed us.
But when generalizations become stereotypes, the anatomically correct model that teaches medical students how and where to press, to slice, to listen is rendered something no more useful than a paper doll. Flat. Easily torn. Of little value save as a collectible.
I am trying hard not to make my hundreds of contacts with students into stereotypes, even as I try to learn enough about them to generalize in a way that allows me to step with some sort of assurance into the pool of light that is each of their individualized collective lives.
Without generalizing, we cannot discuss anything more than specifics. One toenail. One drop of rain striking the windshield. One second of pain shooting up our arm into our molars. No discussions of heredity or weather or monsoons. No shoe fittings, no forecasts, no diagnoses of heart attacks. Without generalizing, we're pretty much fools salivating in dark corners hoping without reason someone will feed us.
But when generalizations become stereotypes, the anatomically correct model that teaches medical students how and where to press, to slice, to listen is rendered something no more useful than a paper doll. Flat. Easily torn. Of little value save as a collectible.
I am trying hard not to make my hundreds of contacts with students into stereotypes, even as I try to learn enough about them to generalize in a way that allows me to step with some sort of assurance into the pool of light that is each of their individualized collective lives.
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