it's called a generalisation.
A lot of people use generalisation.
it's a way for human beings to quickly figure out how to classify someone in a way that is immediate to them.
Tourism and Marketing is based on generalisations and stereotypes. It's not necessarily a bad thing.
I'm surprised you take so much offense at that. I didn't take offense at the "jew" comment, in fact I saw it as a compliment. And I used to live with a jewish guy from israel.
yes I love my B&H and Adorama, although they can be curt sometimes.
Yes if you want to break it down the germans are living all over the world blah blah blah.
but let's not make a mountain out of a molehill. I don't think the person who made the comment actually meant it maliciously.
To think a certain "group" inculcates certain values is nonsense, meanwhile a group is an open system of millions of individuums.
An example:
The germans are making good lenses? Which Germans?
The Germans of today are people from all over the world, they are from all cultural, racial and religous groups you can imagine. From the 75% of People with a German Passport which are living in my town more than half of them have foreign roots. I love my country for being a melting pot now.
(Out of German history I think everbody can also understand the sensibility of certain groups)