Generalizations, Assumptions, and Lumping

We live in a society that commonly lumps things together. We lump together things that are the slightest bit similar to each other. For example, we often make assumptions about the personalities, political and religious views, and lifestyles of people who dress alike, have similar physical characteristics, live in the same area and have the same accents. We place generalizations on people and things based on a single experience with one part of a group. We often do this “lumping” without paying attention to the fact that we are doing it at all. There is one school of thought that says generalizations are good because they save time and help us to make split second decisions without getting into the details. This way of thinking would tell us that details and specifics are unimportant – even when the details involve other human beings. There is another way of thinking that says making generalizations and lumping things or people together allows us to miss out on the beautiful intricacies of life. Lumping may certainly save time and it may even hold true up to a point, but truth and beauty lies in the details. Remember this; although birds of a feather flock together, they still each flap their own wings. Now, that’s Powerful!