Everyone uses general claims. In fact, I just used one. I think people use general claims way too much. They're about as command as people using the word "like" or "uh" after every couple of words. Of course, the problem I have with people using general claims to much is that when they use them they tend to be making things up. For example, they say something like, "You don't like ice cream? but everyone loves ice cream!" the general claim they use is obviously a lie because it is contradicted by the previous statement. The idea of general claims actually reminds of made up statistics, except two things:
1) No specific percentages, only estimates like "some", "most", "at least x".
2) Most people (general claim!) tend to call you out less on general claims than on statistics, mainly because the general claims are so vague that it sounds like common knowledge from the way they're told.
I don't know why, but I have the irresistible urge to type this quote:
"Sixty percent of the time, it works every time"
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Hah I like the introductory recognition of using general claims. I've been doing it for my posts this week as well. I also agree that general claims are used constantly. It's basically because in our society, people tend to generalize based on their beliefs, or they use generalizations because of repetition. Many people hear the 'But everyone loves..." phrase many times for many different things, and it sticks to them. Even for us, people who are educated on the subject, we can't avoid using general claims in our posts. That's just the way we've learned our language and how our culture isn't completely accurate when it comes to what we say.
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