Let's go stereotyping!

Stereotype . . . what does that word mean? According to dictionary.com, the word stereotype means, "a set form; convention." Then it has "sociology : a simplified and standardized conception or image invested with special meaning and held in common by members of a group: The cowboy and Indian are American stereotypes." Ok so basically, if you are stereotyped by someone, then you are put into a certain group, actually labeled. That takes me back to high school where there were preps, jocks, stoners, and so on. It didn't matter if someone was actually a stoner, if they were put in the group, stereotyped as a stoner, then that was where they would stay for most of high school. Most of the time, people don't want to be stereotyped. But why? It's just a word. If someone stereotypes you, that is just their opinion of you. There really isn't that much to worry about. People are going to think what they want of you. So what if you met someone who was determined not to be stereotyped? So much so that he doesn't like listening to any popular band for the sole reason that they are popular. It's not that he doesn't like the music, it's because the band is liked by the majority of people. Then his attitude was, "I'm trying to be different." He even began talking about stereotypes and not wanting to be stereotyped. Basically, he just didn't want to be put into a group, catagorized, so he tried really hard to be different. Really? Is it that horrible to be stereotyped?