I met this acquaintance the other day. The easiest place to meet is a Cafe Coffee Day, right? So, we meet there. And the moment we are done with the pleasantries, he says, "Let’s get out of this place. I hate CCDs."
I instantly liked him. I’m okay with CCDs, in fact their Iced Eskimo is my favorite cold coffee. But, knowing very little about this guy, I liked him. Just because he doesn’t like a particular cafe chain? What does that say about the person he is? No non-sense? Closer to earth. Doesn’t make people who enjoy CCD farther from earth, but makes the non-CCDites closer to earth.
"People who don’t like CCD" = good -> did I just form the latest stereotype? And here I am, taking pseudo-pride in making opinions of people independent of the stereotype associated with them based on caste, region, religion, etc.
Made me wonder about what other stereotypes I have hidden within – positive or negative.
- Whether or not they go out in public with oiled hair?
- Does she wear georgette salwar suits with "bling" embroidery work?
- The colors of lipstick she prefers.
- Stubble or no stubble and how he carries it?
- A statement like, "I shop only in South Bombay."
Geez…there’s a whole lot…not good, not good.
Do you have such filters too? What are they?
..and too often, we pass judgment and fit into stereotypes focusing on the ‘what’ rather than the ‘why’? 🙂