WHAT is a stereotype? Positive or negative? The term stereotype comes from the Greek words stereos, "firm, solid" and typos, "impression," therefore "solid impression".
Humans are social creatures. Without any interaction at all they may as well reserve us a room in the loony bin. We may want to be welcomed into a "clique" and would like to be stereotyped with them to ensure us a place in their social group because we want to be a part of something, to make us feel wanted; needed even. So are all of them that bad? Or do we stereotype ourselves to "fit in". This is not wrong; we are "pack" animals. It's just in our nature.
Just being yourself can gain you friends and being stereotyped for being yourself can mean the clique you're welcomed into has people of the same interests and hobbies as you. You find yourself drawn to certain groups of people but don't change yourself to be accepted into their group.
On the other hand, it can mean being labelled to a bad extent. Just because someone dyes their hair black or wears that colour doesn't mean they self harm or can't be happy, they may just like the colour or are just happy with the basics. Just because someone's quiet or reserved doesn't mean they are antisocial or have no friends, they may be dealing with problems at home or in life.
Just because someone listens to rap doesn't make them a thug or a gangster. Don't make people "untouchable" – like saying "don't talk to him, he is a greb".
Everyone has their own opinion and taste, not everyone is the same as you. Please don't pressure them into being the same as you, as life would be boring if we were all the same, wouldn't it? People have both similarities and differences. Why call out on them? Just let them be who they are; get to know their personality not their stereotype. I am asking you.
If you say someone is something they're not for long enough they may just believe it. You can have an impact on the way they think. Say someone is an "emo" long enough, they may give up and let their worries get them down and start acting like that stereotype. "Don't judge a book by its cover" as people say.
Some people start acting like a stereotype thinking it will gain them friends, but in fact it can give you enemies as you are then the minority that create the stereotype. People think they are all like it, but really it's the small minority; does three people misbehaving in a class automatically make the whole class a nuisance? They can give the people who listen to metal a bad name of being suicidal, etc. However, some of these people are just attention seeking, not all as most will just want to feel a part of something and make friends. But there are some attention seekers in there, trying to get their name whispered around, "did you hear about her ..." or "did you know he ..." and then they will turn around saying, why are you all bullying me? But it's for attention, not for the amazing love for the music genre or passion for a colour.
I hope this puts things into perspective for some adults who think all teens are awful. You don't tell a child they're naughty everyday and expect them to grow up perfectly well behaved, do you? That was rhetorical, of course you don't! Or at least you shouldn't.
I think you should be yourself, let people stereotype you! Who cares? At least you can be yourself. I have friends in different social groups, through personality; I'm not acting like someone I'm not.