Long story short I have an image I don't like but from another point of view I fit it perfectly. It's not really a negative perception but I just don't like I'm being shoved into a stereotype. It's even more infuriating when I try to do my best to not fit into that stereotype. But people still see me as said stereotype.

So what should one do when they have an image they don't care for? Should they try their hardest to change it? Or maybe something else?

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[–] 29 points 9 months ago (1 child)

Start masturbating in public. People will forget whatever your other problem is.

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  • [–] 25 points 9 months ago (2 children)

    Are you a generously proportioned italian assumed to be a mobster, by any chance?

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  • [–] [S] 12 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    Suppose I was, what advice would you give?

    Seriously, that's actually a pretty good analogy. 😂

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  • [–] 4 points 9 months ago

    I suppose you could become Big Tony by turning fat to lean muscle but that would only increase the mobster stereotype despite all the hard work. If there's a skill or love you have, you could lean into getting noticeably good at it. Then at least you'd be Fat Tony the Mobster Who's Surprisingly Good At Textile Art.

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  • [–] 14 points 9 months ago

    hugely depends on the social setting and maturity of the people involved.

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  • [–] 9 points 9 months ago (2 children)

    Learn to stop giving a fuck.

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  • [–] 9 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    Fake my death; start over elsewhere.

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  • [–] 8 points 9 months ago

    It doesn't sound like you don't care about your image/reputation.

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  • [–] 7 points 9 months ago

    What I do is, I blast Joan Jett's "Bad Reputation" at full volume and dance around until I feel better.

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  • [–] 6 points 9 months ago

    Keep living your life however you want to. If you lean in to it that can solidify said stereotype, if you lean away from it people can see the opportunity to bully you further with it. Grey rocking the stereotype with simple disinterested answers will lessen it's hold over you. Like the other person said, if you're assumed to be a mobster, saying things like "yeah people have been making that joke all my life now", "ohh original havne't heard that before", "sure, watch out or I'll get the boys onto you." Passively engage with it giving it as little energy as possible and people will usually match that. If someone thinks they're hit comedy gold with your stereotype ask if they'll ever have any new material or are they planning on using the same tired joke through your entire relationship?

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  • [–] 11 points 9 months ago

    Nothing to be done - that image is all in the minds of other people, and you don't control what they think.

    Just do you, people will be who they are.

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  • [–] 4 points 9 months ago (3 children)

    So what should one do when they have an image they don’t care for?

    If one doesn't care, why bother?

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  • [–] 4 points 9 months ago

    Wear a funny hat.

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  • [–] 8 points 9 months ago

    People don't randomly assign you to a stereotype. They based it off of your appearance and actions.

    If you want to be seen as someone else, you need to act like that instead.

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  • [–] 3 points 9 months ago

    You should focus on being true to yourself and let others think what they want.
    Anyone's opinion of you, that isn't close enough to you to know if it's accurate, doesnt matter.

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  • [–] 1 point 9 months ago

    Get a new group?

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  • [–] 1 point 9 months ago