Diary of a Mad UVa Student

So for my first blog, my question is what do bloggers blog about, well I am going to think of this blog as a diary(Well maybe not a diary where I spill my inner most secrets, but one where I can speak or type my mind). And for experimental purposes I will refrain from disclosing my race, sex, favorite foods, and age. I am a “Hoo”, and you shall call me “Hoo.”

So lets start with a rhetorical question, what is the first thing you notice about a person? Or what are the first things that come to mind when trying to describe someone? What are certain stereotypes you place on individuals, and what about them makes you assume that stereotype fits them? 

 (Your turn to jump in)

My two cents: Honestly what is so important about knowing whether it is a make or female, Human or alien, short or tall, has two ears or doesn’t. Besides the psychological aspect of it, meaning how the mind creates cognitive maps and connections to help us figure out the world we live in and how we are expected to behave. Cognitive maps are essentially a graphical map that organizes our thoughts and emotions, sort of like an agenda. So besides the fact that our mind automatically organizes thoughts and sight, why do we stereotype or label?

Well let me tell you that this was infact the topic that was presented on essay portion of my junior year SAT. I say that I honestly I hate being stereotyped, especially when it is wrong because they are 98% of the time it is wrong. For instance, there was a store back home I liked to go to, but every time I would enter I swear I would feel all eyes turned on me. Not even being paranoid, I would literally turn my back and watch the owner (who was obviously a different race than me) break her neck to awkwardly watch me browse. Sometimes I would get so mad that I would leave, why should I subject myself to that mistreatment? But after awhile I would just turn all the way around in prefect view of the owner and wave with a huge grin on my face allowing her to (how you say) “stick her foot in her mouth” figuratively. Then there is Charlottesville, more specifically the UVa community. And for the sake or honesty lets not pretend like we have not all stereotyped others on campus. And no matter how diverse or progressive UVa has presented itself about “acceptance” I still get stereotyped. And I will not make this a race-specified discussion, because stereotypes are not biased to only ethnic backgrounds but can be applied to almost anything. For example the term “townies.” A term that I had never heard until my second semester at UVa and up till a few days ago was not aware could be taken offensively. The term “townies” for those of you, who are not aware, is designated to Charlottesville Natives that usually do not attend the University of Virginia. It is derogatory because what I associate with the term “townie” is a that is different much like placing that person in a lower class that those who attend the University of Virginia. When the fact is that most of those townies are probably making twice as much as we will ever make. Also brings up the issue of the apparent separation of UVa and the Charlottesville community.

To bring it home, my main concept in this entry is to present this idea that in a perfect world we could be free of stereotyping and labeling. And for the sake of sounding a bit naïve or romanticizing, but in a perfect world where we could ignore color or class and just interact without feelings of inferiority or intimidation. For instance this entry and fact that I have not disclosed my race, sex, or interests, does that change the way you feel about the subject or react to it?