Depends on the context.
Wikiville:
Yes, one seemingly nice guy in Alabama being a supplier to halal butchers doesn't mean that no other such people exist. But it wouldn't be news if he were in the majority, would it? ;-)
To be clear, there are lots of nice people in the South. But there are lots of backwards, hateful people there too (as there are everywhere).
FWIW.
Cheers,
Scott.
“The exception [that] proves the rule” also means that the presence of an exception applying to a specific case establishes (“proves”) that a general rule exists. For example, a sign that says “parking prohibited on Sundays” (the exception) “proves” that parking is allowed on the other six days of the week (the rule). A more explicit phrasing might be “the exception that proves the existence of the rule.”
Yes, one seemingly nice guy in Alabama being a supplier to halal butchers doesn't mean that no other such people exist. But it wouldn't be news if he were in the majority, would it? ;-)
To be clear, there are lots of nice people in the South. But there are lots of backwards, hateful people there too (as there are everywhere).
FWIW.
Cheers,
Scott.