This is true. But, some people believe themselves to be trying to help. For example, when my father took me an art exhibit as little girl, I looked up at a painting in which the eyes always seemed to follow you. I said, it my childish little way, that I was going to learn to paint eyes like that.

My father, believing what he was saying was well meaning, replied, "But honey, there are no lady artists."

In his mind, he was stating what he believed to be an unassailable truth.