this post was submitted on 28 Apr 2026
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I fit the internet SJW stereotype to an uncomfortable degree, but I don’t really identify with it (which makes sense, given that it’s a shallow idea of a person designed by people who dislike them).

At the same time, I absolutely do not fulfill the stereotype of the American in Germany, and people are often very surprised when they hear that I am.

Do you fit or break a lot of stereotypes?

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[–] RBWells@lemmy.world 2 points 1 hour ago

Not much. I am a middle aged white woman, do not ask for the manager or call the police. I fucking love spicy food and all kinds of music, hang out with all sorts of people. My mom used to say my taste in books and movies was that of a teenage boy. Drive a manual 6 speed car when I have to drive. Still tech support for some of my kids and definitely for my husband.

In stereotypical fashion though, I do love a fruity cocktail, use my e-reader to read smut sometimes, and am very good in the kitchen. I do yoga. Love cats!

So maybe an average amount stereotypical?

Skinny polymath nerd who is antisocial, often bored with life or the people around him, has a major sweet tooth, and near permanent dark circles under his eyes because his thoughts and projects keep him from sleeping.

Off the top of my head, characters sharing this stereotype are: L from Deathnote, Saiki K, and (if you swap tobacco and opium for adderall and chocolate) Sherlock Holmes

(Not that I’d say I’m as intelligent as any of them; also my life is definitely more boring than all of theirs)

[–] THE_GR8_MIKE@lemmy.world 3 points 3 hours ago

Probably not. I like muscle cars, baseball, beer, and rock music, and I despise the orange pedonazi and any of his followers.

[–] bizarroland@lemmy.world 7 points 6 hours ago (2 children)

Is there a stereotype about a six foot one Native American man who is a jack of all trades and a techie working in the IT field?

If not, I'd say no then.

[–] garbagebagel@lemmy.world 2 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

Sounds like the mad scientist character trope where the main character finds you in a locked decked out apartment in the middle of the most dangerous destroyed city and you help them escape. (Respectfully)

[–] bizarroland@lemmy.world 2 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago) (1 children)

I do have a lab coat and quite a few interesting electronics.

Unfortunately, all of my Tesla coils are decidedly non-lethal.

But following your second point, I have never been able to get lost in my entire life. I have actively tried to get lost, and somehow I always find my way, suffice it to say, if we are in a bombed out city together, I'm pretty sure I can find us clean water, shelter and other survivors.

[–] LastYearsIrritant@sopuli.xyz 2 points 3 hours ago

I have never been able to get lost in my entire life.

Found the stereotype.

[–] idiomaddict@lemmy.world 2 points 6 hours ago

I mean, I do think a true jack of all trades would be good with tech and IT and would probably seek out work with a high level of variation (which IT could be, depending on what you’re doing), but I don’t necessarily align that with or against being Native American or 6’1”.

[–] Iconoclast@feddit.uk 3 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago) (1 children)

I don't think so. The closest one would probably be the male stereotype, but even there I have some pretty major differences from your typical male. Like the fact that I don't like sex, drink alcohol, watch sports, or are incapable of handling difficult situations by talking them through without raising my voice or insulting you.

I consider myself pretty "unpredictable" in the sense that it's virtually impossible to predict what I think about X based on what I think about Y and Z.

[–] idiomaddict@lemmy.world 1 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Pretty good username then :)

[–] Iconoclast@feddit.uk 2 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Thanks! Very few people realize it actually means something.

[–] idiomaddict@lemmy.world 2 points 5 hours ago

Well… my username fits me too, I like funky terms!

[–] YiddishMcSquidish@lemmy.today 9 points 7 hours ago

Yes and no. I am the typical sjw irl cause I can get away with being blunt. I'm gigantic with a shaved head and beard, and whenever I hear somewhere at the bar start in on the typical chud talking points, I immediately address it and let them know they're a piece of shit (very very red area). I'm a socialist/leftist so I got guns and looking the way I do leads to people telling on themselves at the range. I keep a very robust log of who is not allowed in the commune when the fall happens.

[–] Clbull@lemmy.world 2 points 5 hours ago

I definitely fill the British bad teeth stereotype. My dental hygiene isn't the best.

[–] Crystalbound@lemmy.world 2 points 5 hours ago

Id say im stereotypical as an average white guy overall. I dont watch sports, drink, etc but otherwise think im pretty normal and uninteresting

[–] Asafum@lemmy.world 20 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

I'm like the worst mix of stereotypes. I'm an uneducated factory worker, but I'm not into anything like sports or cars or anything that would connect with these types of people. I'm a science/video game nerd that likes anime, but I'm not in the slightest bit intelligent or involved in IT and have no interest in "cons" or owning any kind of "toys" that relate to games/anime. I'm anything but "normal" but my aesthetic is "Khols stock photo." Other "Khols stock photo" people would have no interest in me.

I pretty much don't belong anywhere lol

[–] idiomaddict@lemmy.world 5 points 8 hours ago

I also dress like kohls stock photo and none of my friends do at all. I’m a pothead, but I give off absolute narc vibes :(

[–] owenfromcanada@lemmy.ca 8 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

I typically want to dispell a lot of ridiculous Canadian stereotypes, but I find the opposite happens instead. Case in point:

4858

This is a picture of my father eating cheerios with maple syrup instead of milk.

[–] idiomaddict@lemmy.world 3 points 8 hours ago

That sounds delicious though (in small quantities, as he seems to be)

[–] leoj@piefed.social 5 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) (1 children)

I probably break a lot of stereotypes, or maybe I don't?

I'm a woke leftist who grew up "poor" (United States) in a rural farm area, yet I wasn't a farmer, and had two college educated parents.

My roots are redneck, I grew up eating hunted game and surrounded by corn fields and forests.

I watch Democrats where I live now mock rural people, which is a shame. You should mock their bigotry and their stupid ideas, but you shouldn't mock their existence or scorn all things rural.

These people are the downtrodden workers we're supposed to stand for, they just need to be reached with the right messaging to break the chains of decades of propaganda and education, but no one really seems to want to do that.

I've always been a misfit, didn't fit in with the red necks, but I don't fit in with the cultured people, I guess I am the intersection of two borderzones of American culture, and it kind of fucking sucks.

People make tons of assumptions about me from first glance, but I don't even know where I fall on half of the scales of sexuality and gender, I'm just me - I like to dance, I like good music, I to look at beautiful versions of the human form.

Thanks for reading.

[–] AskewLord@piefed.social 3 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) (1 children)

you sound like you belong in one of those leftist small cities they have in the midwest.

the coastal elite leftists would eat you alive. they hate poor people more than anything else.

[–] leoj@piefed.social 1 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Yeah I live amongst a lot of coastal elites, they don't get it at all.

Spouse and I have Michigan as one of our five year plan possibilities!

[–] AskewLord@piefed.social 2 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) (1 children)

i went to Harvard and i come from a poor family that is uneducated.

I've regularly had interactions where I was told I should kill myself my entire adult life but supremely bitter rich kids who are super angry I'm smarter/more driven than they are. basically only made friends with international students because they didn't care about how rich my parents were.

But I like living in a big city, so I just suck it up. There are no people like me here. They all got priced out, but I make enough to afford it and I 'pass' but as soon as anyone finds out my upbringing they HATE me. It's so bizarre how much resentment they have towards poor people. The whiplash of 'oh you went to HARVARD you must be so AMAZING' to 'you poor rural piece of shit you should just die' is wild.

[–] leoj@piefed.social 1 points 7 hours ago

I didn't go to Harvard, but I hear you words - I don't have an accent or sound uneducated so I get "passing".

I think because of it we see the worst - we see their scorn without any kind of filter, why would you hold back if you're talking to someone who isn't a part of that class?

There are more of us out there!

[–] IcedRaktajino@startrek.website 15 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago) (2 children)

If I do, then it's in ways I'm totally blind to.

I'm gay but I have to remind even close friends of that fact from time to time lol.

I'm a huge Star Trek nerd, but I can't quote plot points and episode numbers like bible verses.

I work in IT but I'm far from the as-seen-on-TV geek / graybeard. (thankfully that stereotype is fading away for the most part).

I'm sure there are some stereotypes I fit into that I'm just not aware of, but the ones I am aware of I tend to buck.

[–] IlmariGanander@lemmy.wtf 11 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

I think the word "nerd" got rehabilitated, and was replaced by incel or neckbeard for those even more useless, gross, and uncool than a nerd was ever portrayed to be.

I'm definitely a nerd, but thoughtfulness, optimism and such take me out of the incel or neckbeard category. I just don't have the blame everyone but myself nihilism outlook.

[–] IcedRaktajino@startrek.website 4 points 9 hours ago

Good point. I guess I'm a "nerd" in that I like to learn, like to understand the "why" of things, and prefer a good book to a movie, but I was mostly basing "nerd" off of the Hollywood nerd / dork character I grew up watching.

[–] PonyOfWar@pawb.social 6 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago)

I'd say working in IT as a Star Trek nerd counts as fulfilling one stereotype at least.

[–] idiomaddict@lemmy.world 13 points 10 hours ago (2 children)

To elaborate: I’m a queer leftist vegan with a bisexual partner and I’m not sure of my gender. I’ve got autism, ADHD, and anxiety, and I work part time as a barista in my thirties while very slowly getting a master’s degree in a niche liberal arts field after being unable to find work related to my bachelor’s degree in a related niche liberal arts field. When I was younger, I frequently had blue and/or pink hair, but now I donate my hair, so I don’t dye it anymore; similarly, I’ve had over 15 piercings, but could currently only wear a ring in my septum and maybe my earlobes if I put in some work. I feel very strongly about multiple causes, but do little active protesting.

At the same time, I’m (afab, received socially as a woman, but who knows?) married to a man apprenticing as a butcher, I went back to school after saving up enough money in my role as an adjuster for litigated long tailed claims (basically contract analysis and directing defense strategy), I currently work in my desired field (German language education for new arrivals here in Germany), and I help run a mutual aid group and immigrant support group instead of demonstrating because I’m an immigrant with uncertain status.

I’m very interested in preserving food, handicrafts that help me to be self sufficient, folk dance, and puzzles, but I’m also interested in TTRPGs, mtg, larping, and involved board games. Those groups of activities each fulfill different genres of SJW stereotype (puzzles and larping might work as cross category overlaps), but I also like cycling, rowing, swimming, and lifting weights, which feel like they don’t really fit.

I guess most important would be that I try not to be preachy or judgmental in my daily life and have no reason to believe I don’t succeed- it’s pretty easy to get honest feedback from large groups of students who aren’t expecting my brain to hyperfocus on all spoken English after so long in Germany. Through those aid groups and my husband’s job, I end up giving out about €75 worth of meat a week, which means people are often very surprised that I’m a vegan (but the meat can no longer be sold, though it’s still safe to consume, so there’s no profit going to the butcher, and people buy less meat when they can get it for free, so it reduces demand, so my conscience is clear).

As for being an American in Germany: again, I’m a vegan leftist, but I’ve also mastered German to the degree that I’m a German teacher, and my full married name sounds as bland in Germany as “Katherine Marie Parsons” would in the US.

[–] FerretyFever0@fedia.io 6 points 9 hours ago (2 children)

Jesus, you really do fit most of the stereotypes.

[–] idiomaddict@lemmy.world 4 points 8 hours ago (2 children)

I know… I’m not a dick though?

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[–] AskewLord@piefed.social 3 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) (1 children)

your obsession with labels is def on par for the streotype of a SJW.

everyone i know who is one IRL is obsessed with labels and labels everyone else and themselves and acts upset if you don't buy into their labeling nonsense.

[–] idiomaddict@lemmy.world 5 points 7 hours ago (2 children)

I’m not personally big on labels (that’s part of why I’m not sure of my gender- I just don’t really care how people perceive me, so it doesn’t seem like a priority), nor do I ever introduce myself like the above irl. Very few of the people in my life are aware of all of the above, but it’s relevant for the post, so I looked for all the labels that fit.

This isn’t a topic that consumes me, it just occurred to me that I check off a lot of boxes even though I don’t think I seem to.

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[–] Keshara@piefed.blahaj.zone 12 points 10 hours ago

I'm a pretty geeky IT person, who is trans, watches anime, reads manga, and plays WoW.

Yeah I'm basically a walking stereotype at this point 😅

[–] sturmblast@lemmy.world 2 points 6 hours ago

Not many, no

[–] astraldew@lemmy.world 9 points 10 hours ago (2 children)

I’m a bit of a walking contradiction! I lean hard into the bimbo aesthetic, but I’m actually very nerdy and into deep, intellectual topics. I’ve also got a materialistic streak while staying pretty down to earth. I guess I fulfill the tropes, but I break them at the same time.

[–] DagwoodIII@piefed.social 4 points 9 hours ago

Hedy Lamar?

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[–] manuremy@sopuli.xyz 5 points 9 hours ago

I think I break more. I don't use makeup and wear very boring clothes and we have strong religious cults around here, so I'm always expected to be one of those cultists - until I open my mouth and start swearing.

[–] Strider@lemmy.world 2 points 7 hours ago

I do mostly not fulfill stereotypes of the groups/things I am part of.

Yes, I do fulfill the German stereotype in part. But even that is not fully due to being German, but also because of being an Autist. And there I am very atypical - at least regarding popular belief.

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 5 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago)

I'm probably a stereotypical millennial, but if you focused on any of my various individual interests, I don't really fit into any of their cliches.

[–] kbal@fedia.io 5 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

Sometimes I wonder about which stereotypes I'm resembling, for example when I'm wearing a plaid shirt and cutting down trees with an axe. But that normally only happens two or three times a year.

[–] AskewLord@piefed.social 3 points 7 hours ago

seasonal plaid is just boring basic white person stuff. esp if you are in a suburban area with an acre+ and you've got trees to manage or deadfall to remove. your ax was probably 20 bucks form home depot too.

lumbersexual is the year-round plaid people in cities who have $500 axes and outdoor tools purely for a esthetic reasons.

[–] zxqwas@lemmy.world 5 points 10 hours ago

I fit into more than I break steretypes.

Music style and operating system can be guessed from my looks.

Hobbies is an "aha that makes sense" if you know where I live.

[–] jupyter_rain@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

Yes and No. I work in Science, an Engineering Departement, do like some good Metal or Rock and wear a lot of Caro Shirts. But I am also a woman, so that breaks the stereotype a bit.

I am also really into books, cats and baking which somehow fits into some stereotypes about women.

At the same time I like to lift, run long distances and do events like Mud-Masters (basically a muddy obstacle run). I guess this fits a bit more into the Engineering/Science thing, but not quite.

[–] AskewLord@piefed.social 1 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago)

I don't know any women into cats, books, or baking.

Stereotypical woman in my city is into traveling, hates pets/children, and doesn't cook/bake. They eat out most meals or they get those mealbox services or they do 'meal prep' where they eat the same thing all week because cooking more than once a week is too 'inefficient'.

[–] SharkWeek@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 8 hours ago

I fit no stereotypes that I know of, and have never met or heard of anyone else like me ... I don't think I've fitted in a particular box at any point in my life now I come to think about it!

[–] remon@ani.social 3 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

I do cover a lot of German stereotypes or so I'm told.

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