- every instance of concept B is also an instance of concept A; and
- there are instances of concept A which are not instances of concept B
I said most people because it is apparent that with rise of people opening their mouths to give their opinions that are full of generalizations. The Latest Face of Generalization is Stephen A. Smith.
I read about his rant on “First Take,” the program on which he debates sports issues with Skip Bayless on ESPN about about the Ray Rice domestic abuse case & punishment.
“In Ray Rice’s case, he probably deserves more than a 2-game suspension, which we both acknowledged. But at the same time, we also have to make sure that we learn as much as we can about elements of provocation. Not that there’s real provocation, but the elements of provocation, you got to make sure that you address them, because we've got to do is do what we can to try to prevent the situation from happening in any way. And I don't think that’s broached enough, is all I’m saying. No point of blame.”
But to say that a statement that could mean, women need to stop provoking men into abusing them, I don't stand behind that. Too many women are being abused everyday just because their abusers woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Stephen A Smith's statement was a generalization. A hasty & unsafe one at that.
We all generalize and that is wrong. Black folks are poor and uneducated. Feminists are lesbians. White folks are rich racists. Illegal immigrants are Mexicans. Pastors only want their parishioners to marry other Christians only. Men want their wives barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen. Those are just a few I heard and read last week. I reposted this image on Facebook just last night to make a truthful point.
That picture though true for some is still a generalization. Now clearly every woman does not stay in the wrong relationship that long. But many stay in the wrong relationship well passed the expiration date. Keyword is Some not All.
That is the problem with statements about a group of people or things that is based on only a few people or things. It unintentionally characterizes All and not the Some it only should define. Stephen A. Smith though he did state that Ray Rice was wrong and was justly punished should have made a statement that spoke to women who put their hands on men. His statement should have warned them that their are men that will retaliate in harsher ways than what they aggravated. A woman who hit anyone is exciting a quarrelsome issue. His statement should not acknowledge anything about all women who are abused provoke their beating. Stephen A. Smith here is the lesson for you.
There are women who have been hit by men that hit the man first but all women who have been hit by men did not provoke anyone to hit her.
I think over the weekend Smith learned that lesson. He apologized on the air, today, Monday morning.
"While elaborating on thoughts concerning the NFL's ruling versus Ray Rice following a domestic dispute with his then-fiancee, I ventured beyond the scope of our discussion by alluding to a woman's role in such heinous matters, going so far as to use the word "provoke" in my diatribe. My words came across that it is somehow a woman's fault. This was not my intent. It is not what I'm trying to say. Yet the failure to clearly articulate something different lies squarely on my shoulders. To say what I actually said was foolish is an understatement. To say I was wrong is obvious. To apologize to say I'm sorry, doesn't do the matter it's proper justice, to be quite honest. But I do sincerely apologize."
His most important sentence in his apology was. "Yet the failure to clearly articulate something different lies squarely on my shoulders". That is what happens when we generalize. We are not thinking while we are speaking. If we think before, while, and after we speak, our feet stay out of mouths. Slow down so you can use the proper words and stop being hasty in our opinions of people and situations.
Hey remember this rule A is a letter but All letters are not A.
Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms
Okay... don't throw anything at me when I say this... I AGREE with him, not that ALL women provoke, in this case she did provoke and my mama has always taught me -- if you are big and bad enough to hit someone (male or female) then you UST feel big enough to handle that persons reactions. We call ourselves humans, yet we are still animalistic (we kill for food) when you provoke an animal you must be prepared to get bitten. HOWEVER I am not saying all domestic violence is the case of provoking, what I am saying is that WE really should remove ourselves from harms way. I mean that in every sense of the word. The first time you see that look in his eye that makes you cringe because you believe you are about to be hit- is the time that you REMOVE yourself from harms way. I AM speaking from experience and I am saddened by how many domestic violence cases their are behind these stupid abusive men and unfortunately women who did not see the signs and are lead to believe that they are the weaker of the sex. And I don't say that to be mean or generalize but most abusive men who are just asses and like to abuse women SEEK out specific types of women-- I do not want to seem insensitive to those who are or have been in domestic violence relationships, and if you are then I pray that you can find it within yourself to seek the help you need to remove yourself from such situations.... but the first time that a person shows you who they really are-- you should believe it.......... now these ARE NOT the women myself or Steve A are talking about, the ones we are talking about are the ones who get up in that mans face and call him all kinds of Bs and daring these men to hit them and fingers in face and yes some go so far as to hit them and other provocative things (like I said I have been in a fighting relationship) THESE are the cases in which he is whole heartedly correct. Yes a man should have control enough not to react but we are all human and we can only take enough, so it was okay for her to become emotional and lose her mind but he was to remain in control??? Please, that's the most sexist thing I have ever heard. Keep your hands to yourself, keep you face from harms way (for those who like to be all in a mans face saying what he isn't going to do-- and then not understanding why he knocked your ass out). I am not talking about being weaker, I am talking about being smart! If you are starting a new relationship, and you see the signs-- GET OUT, if you are not in an abusive relationship and you get into an argument, don't wait until its time to bob and weave before WATCHING your mouth or HITTING him. Its not a womans place to be weaker-- but being a woman it is my DUTY to protect this face God blessed me with! :)
ReplyDeleteOh I never said I didn't agree with Smith and well now you. I think both husband & wife are wrong. She shouldn't have hit him and he took his reaction too far. Everybody keep you hand to yourself.
ReplyDeleteI got what Smith said. I just feel like he needed to be careful in how he said an important statement. His statement had a Generalizing connotation. That was what I was speaking on. Somewhere he should have said something like "Women who are provoking men to hit them and we know they are out there. I am talking to them." He could have including a like that in his little 15 seconds he had.
Oh there is this culture of nasty women that feel like because they are female and a man can't hit a woman so they can hit a man and there will be no consequence. IMO Some of these women are committing domestic abuse. Sad part is society and pop culture actually protect them. A woman hit a man. That man press charges on her. He is call a derogatory names like wuss & punk. Not abuse victim. So yeah, some of these guys snap. Then they go to jail. I'm not saying Ray Rice's wife is an abuser but she is part of the culture of women that think it is ok to hit a man. No Human has the Right to Hit, Punch, Slap, or Kicking another Human unless it is in Self-Defense or they are being legally paid to do so. The Rice's both were not getting paid to box or ultimate fight so both should have kept their hands to themselves. Don't know how to fight without your extremities, Get Away for Each Other.
But the sentiment of Stephen A. Smith's statement was fine, to me. His actual words were just too inclusive. Somebody needs to address these women that are quick to put their hands on men. Teach All our children not to hit anyone, boys & girls because they will get hit back. That is a human reaction. Everyone keep their hands to themselves, No One has to think about walking away before it escalates further.