NAXALT

Frequently, when a post is made online about a generalization - particularly if a group of people engage in a less than ideal behavior - you will see people furiously writing in comments "not all (x) are like that!" Here are some of my observations on that -

First, "when you throw a stone into a pack of dogs, the one that yelps is the one you hit." In other words, very often, the ones who write those comments furiously are often the ones for whom the statement holds true.  And they often feel that the post or statement is derogatory towards them.

Second, the argument "na(x)alt" is half-baked because almost no argument or generalization made is all-inclusive. Nobody was saying it was all-inclusive. You knew that.  You're just trying to derail productive commentary because you feel bad because it shines a light on your poor decisions. 

Third, the exception proves the rule. If someone is the exception, then that fact proves the rule.  Otherwise, the counter argument would be "that never happens."

Fourth, those who really are the exception to the rule almost never say so on social media. This is almost like the other side of the coin from the first point. Those who yelp are the ones who got hit. Those who are the real outliers do not Yelp because the proverbial rock didn't hit them. They just don't care. 


What say you? Other observations?