Stereotyping

Sometimes a thing is so widely done by so many in your community that it comes to represent that community to you as a whole rather than something done by just a few individuals.

Case in point: Driving. There are so many crazy drivers in Utah that I've come to think of Utahns as people always in a hurry, always trying to get an advantage over their neighbor and always distracted from what's safe or wise or considerate.

This became even more obvious when we were driving in Las Vegas and went to change lanes and someone slowed to let us in. Yes. Las Vegas. That never happens in Utah. If you try and change lanes, cars speed up because they're better and faster than you and the place they're going is more important.

And because that hasn't just happened once, but happens all the time, I've come to stereotype Utahns in a negative light on roads.

Second case in point: Basketball games. I once lived in a community where fans clapped politely when the opposing team was introduced, in respect to their talent and their reputation and their hard work to get there. This same community clapped in appreciation when a great move was made by the opposing team and recognized that every call against their team wasn't necessarily a booable offense of the referrees.

Basketball games here are an embarrassment to the community. The rabid fans are rude and insulting -- not just as individuals, but as a whole.

I'm a Utahn. These observations reflect as much on me as on anyone else, so let me turn them into suggestions: Hey Utah -- slow down out there and take your turn on the road. Recognize that good is good and bad is bad for every team -- not just your own personal favorite.

Stereotypes can change if we do.