Ok.
Say that the TV did a documentary on a couple of families that lived in your street. Maybe they stole cars, mistreated their dogs, whatever.
Now say that all the TV viewers assumed that everyone in your street did the things they did. That means you. And giant posters started appearing reading 'Thieving, animal bashing residents of Sairygamp Street' - back to entertain you some more with their unpleasant habits.
And the people in the local shops, the schools, etc assumed you behave like this and made comments to your children to that effect.
That's how it feels.