Sad story today about a beating murder in Oak Park the other day. Let’s just all agree that the residents of this storied old neighborhood deserve better.
That being the case, do you think Bee writer Cameron Jahn could have maybe found a different quote to describe the victim?
“He was sort of a sketchy guy, but at some level, he was kind of a cool person, like a ghetto archetype,” said Chris Ganson, who lives a few doors down.
‘Scuse me? I was thinking more along the lines of “he was a good man who did not deserve to be mercilessly beaten to death by a group of thugs.” How does that quote help me understand the story any better? Also I think the quote has a typo… in my dictionary that word starts with “stereo-” not “arche-” (thanks RonTopofIt).
The Sac Rag 
It’s not a typo if someone who is quoted uses an incorrect word. It’s just misuse of the language. Also, I don’t think it’s necessarily wrong. Calling someone an archetype is less derogatory than a stereotype. This person may have been complimenting the man, though his quote could have been better.
LikeLike
ar·che·type-An original model or type after which other similar things are patterned
ster·e·o·type-A conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image.
Kinda looks like the speaker meant to say stereotype, but maybe felt bad stereotyping the guy.
LikeLike
Ian: You’re right, I rechecked my dictionary and sonofabitch if “archetype” isn’t spelled correctly in that piece. However I did also notice that “Ian” is Latin for “misses the point entirely”
LikeLike