Again, I didn't say that you need to stop using generalizations.

In fact, I haven't disagreed with anything you've said during this entire conversation.

All I'm doing is explaining why I thought it was necessary (in this ONE circumstance) to bring up what I did. The question was asked so I answered the question. If it hadn't been asked, I wouldn't have said anything.

I never once said that it was necessary for people to constantly (or even often) think about generalizations and try to assess each person they encounter as an individual. Not once.

Again, in every day situations, generalizations make things easier. I never said that they didn't.

The reason I brought it up is because I, personally, know too many people who are unable to separate their well conceived and helpful generalizations from the personal judgments that they form about the people they meet and I can think of at least 20 times in the past year where people have had problems in their relationships (personal and professional) because they couldn't open their minds in the slightest to realize that some of their stereotypes didn't apply.

20 times in a year? Pfft. Who cares. I get it. That's life. They shouldn't be brought up, most of the time. But when someone actually asks what the biggest misunderstanding between men and women is, why not bring it up? Oh, I know. You are smart and you have common sense perfectly understood. That's awesome, for you.

There are, in fact, people who, despite knowing that you think they know, allow stereotypes to create problems in their lives.

AGAIN, I'm not saying that generalizations don't serve their helpful purpose in life and AGAIN, I'm not saying that they need to be thought through on a daily, or weekly, or even yearly basis. But, when the question comes up, it can be helpful for some people to be reminded that sometimes it might be helpful to question their ideas and opinions about others.