What is Stereotyping?

Since the beginning of time (or at least since Earth was formed), stereotyping as existed. Many different creatures probably figured that since one group of bees stung an elephant then all bees are mean bugs that like to sting elephants; but is that necessarily true? A stereotype is defined as "a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing" (OxfordDictionaries). I don't believe this is the right definition. To me, a stereotype is an idea that someone-who was too lazy to get to know the real person or thing-came up with in order to seem smarter; sadly, many people adopted this idea and so stereotyping was born. What really grinds my gears about stereotyping is that every single person on this planet is grouped into one category, when in reality we all belong to many different categories. In "Black Men and Public Space," Brent Staples said that he was "often being taken for a criminal" (207). Why is it that a tall, young black man is grouped into the same category as a criminal when in fact he isn't one? Does society not understand that being judged based off the actions of a few, does not define one person? Is it too hard for society to accept that everyone is like another person in some way, shape, or form? The ignorance of society really makes my blood boil! I wish everyone would learn to judge people based off of their personal experiences, and not something that their Aunt Sally, heard from her friend Gladys, after talking to Shelly from church. Gosh, open your eyes people!