Have you ever had your beliefs about something or someone smashed by reality? When has a stereotype in your mind been smashed an encounter with the real thing?

This week we spoke to Donald Kraybill, author of Amish Grace. The Amish are often the subjects of ridicule, stereotyped as those 'funny people' who get around on horse and buggy, wear 17th-century clothing and isolate themselves from the world. Yet, as Donald described, the Amish do use technology, love humour, have friendships with the community, and extended radical grace to the killer who took ten of the children's lives back in October 2006 becasue of their Christian faith. 

I want to hear about a time when your mind has been changed about something or someone through a personal encounter.

• Maybe you used to think church was boring and daggy…until you actually decided to visit one day
• Maybe you’ve made judgements about cultural groups that you now realize were wrong
• Maybe an encounter with a public figure changed your mind about them
• Maybe you’ve always associated particular qualities with people who work in particular professions…for example the ‘boring accountant’ stereotype….maybe that changed the day you went skydiving with one..! hmm…

Tell us about a cliché that got challenged and a stereotype that got smashed after an encounter with the real thing.