A stereotype is a common conception or image of a certain kind of person. They are made because people might see one person doing something they don't like, and then they see someone who looks or dresses in a similar fashion. The person will assume that they are the same as the person that they don't like just by looking at them. In reality, this is utterly ridiculous. There are all kinds of people who might dress in a similar fashion, but really have completely different mannerisms and personalities.
Skateboarders are one group of people who are often stereotyped against. Some people see kids or teenagers skateboarding who are dressed in a similar fashion and they figure that they must all be the same kind of person. One big source of negative stereotypes against them is the image projected by skate parks like the one next to Everett Arena in Concord, New Hampshire. They are places with a lot of graffiti scrawled over them and do not look like constructive places to hang out. This leads to the stereotype that all skateboarders are thoughtless vandalists. In reality, it is wrong and inconsiderate to assume that everyone who skateboards or goes to the skate park fits this description. All it takes is a few people to cover the area with vandalism, not everyone who has ever been there. To back this concept up, there is often vandalism in Concord High School. There are roughly 2000 students who go there. Is it reasonable to assume that because they all go to the school, they all vandalize it and all 2000 students write graffiti on the bathroom walls? No. That is clearly a ridiculous and shameful idea. The same reasoning can be applied to both the school and the skate park. To both the students and the skateboarders. All it takes is a few to deface those places, so not everyone should suffer from being plastered with the demeaning image of being a criminal just because they go there. We must end the mindless discrimination and stop stereotyping against everyone who skateboards!
Skateboarders are one group of people who are often stereotyped against. Some people see kids or teenagers skateboarding who are dressed in a similar fashion and they figure that they must all be the same kind of person. One big source of negative stereotypes against them is the image projected by skate parks like the one next to Everett Arena in Concord, New Hampshire. They are places with a lot of graffiti scrawled over them and do not look like constructive places to hang out. This leads to the stereotype that all skateboarders are thoughtless vandalists. In reality, it is wrong and inconsiderate to assume that everyone who skateboards or goes to the skate park fits this description. All it takes is a few people to cover the area with vandalism, not everyone who has ever been there. To back this concept up, there is often vandalism in Concord High School. There are roughly 2000 students who go there. Is it reasonable to assume that because they all go to the school, they all vandalize it and all 2000 students write graffiti on the bathroom walls? No. That is clearly a ridiculous and shameful idea. The same reasoning can be applied to both the school and the skate park. To both the students and the skateboarders. All it takes is a few to deface those places, so not everyone should suffer from being plastered with the demeaning image of being a criminal just because they go there. We must end the mindless discrimination and stop stereotyping against everyone who skateboards!
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