[quote=Jig]I'll target the bits where we dispute.A single fictional not-very-accurately-written psychopath isn't real either. They're fictional. I don't really follow your point. An individual representation of a particular demographic does not constitute stereotyping that entire demographic.[/quote]

Except it [b]does[/b] affect how people see psychotics, and if you don't believe me, look at the general media. Look at the next time they see a psychotic killer. Are they going to focus on what was likely an abhorrent life? Nope. The warning signs that he or she was about to snap, likely shown for multiple [i]years[/i]? Nope, maybe a footnote. The fact that they're psychotic and all psychotics are monsters and you should look for X, Y, and Z warning signs to keep yourself safe? Yup.

The way society looks at the mentally unstable is absolutely contributing to the loneliness and desperation that many of them feel. Hollywood and the general news media are not helping in this regard, they're generally making it worse by constantly pumping this stereotypical crap into people's heads.

Again, I don't think it's necessarily morally [i]wrong[/i] to do so, nor am I even going to pretend that a person who is psychotic doesn't need help--they absolutely do. Just that on a personal level? Yes, it bothers me, and yes, it's a more apt comparison to dehumanizing and making monsters out of a national/ethnic group like Chinese or Russians. Which, again, both are often used as generic villains. Because they exist, and so do psychotics. Whether you make one evil Chinese person or millions of evil Chinese people, or one evil psychotic or millions of evil psychotics, it's a more valid comparison than Pikachu, because they exist. Pikachu does not.

Do I really think it needs to stop? No. Do I think more awareness needs to be put on the issue so people realize that these are just movies and what not? Yes. Does it still disturb me when people make these types of monster characters thinking that's a real, accurate representation? Absolutely.

Other than that I agree with what you said.

[quote=LowKey123]Reading through some of these posts, the bits about the 'generic psychopath' sometimes gives me memories and make me feel like 'wow holy shit i did things wrong'[/quote]

Don't worry about it? :lol It's not like you're a bad person, especially if you didn't know. Just think about it and do some research and that's really all I can or would ask of you. It's not like I'm going to ask you to stop enjoying things like Halloween or Friday the Thirteenth or etc: They're classics for a reason.