First impression is the best impression...Is it always so?

@abroji (3247)
India
July 24, 2007 5:43am CST
It is a very popular saying that the first impression is the best impression. Personally I have experienced this several times. But it is not always true. I have several other experiences in which my first assessment of individuals or events turned faulty. I think every body would have experienced such contradictions. Still the saying sustains as a meaningfull one. How far this saying has been true in your life? Was it allways true for you? Please respond.
3 people like this
8 responses
@sukumar794 (5040)
• Thiruvananthapuram, India
26 Jul 07
i WOULD NOT SAY THAT THE FIRST IMPRESSION IS ALWAYS THE BEST ONE, FOR IN SO MANY OCCASIONS I HAVE LEARNED FOR MYSELF THAT PEOPLE WHOM I THOUGHT ARE REGARDLESS OF OTHERS ARE QUITE KIND AND LOVING TO OTHERS. SO IF YOU TAKE FOR GRANTED WHAT THE FIRST APPEARANCE IS, YOU ARE SOMETIMES MISTAKEN.
@abroji (3247)
• India
27 Jul 07
You are right sukumar. Not everytime the statement proves true. Almost everyone participated in this discussion opines the same way. One friend from the US corrected the statement as "First impression longs". I think that makes sense. Thank you my friend for the response.
• Thiruvananthapuram, India
26 Jul 07
Sorry for the block capitals. the caps lock was'on'unawares.
@dopey22girl (3319)
• United States
25 Jul 07
I believe this is true often enough, but not 100% of the time. My first impression of my boyfriend was that he was gay and kind of a jerk. Well turns out he's not gay lol, which is why he's dating me, and he's the sweetest guy I've ever met! So first impressions are definitely not always the best impressions.
1 person likes this
@abroji (3247)
• India
26 Jul 07
So, your experience with your boy friend made you to say, that our saying under discussion is not always true. Most of the respondents are of the same opinion, and me too. I am glad that your boy friend is not a gay as you expected him to be. Thank you very much dopey22girl
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
24 Jul 07
You are ahead of the game and most people do not realize that you cannot judge someone by how they look or what initially comes out of their mouths. Perceptions being what they are we each have the responsibility to give people the benefit of the doubt before jumping to a probably incorrect conclusion. We never know when the next best friend, benefactor, teacher or whoever enters into our lives. Will be interesting to see what others have to say.
1 person likes this
@abroji (3247)
• India
25 Jul 07
Comming to hasty conclusions from the first impressions will mostly be proven faulty later. Your view is acknowledged. Thank you willowlady.
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
24 Jul 07
Personally I do not agree that the first impression is the best impression. In my opinion, the first impression leaves the deepest and most lasting impression only if one is at the extremes. Take myself for instance, I do not strive to leave an impression on another. In my natural self, I am just like any ordinary plain individual which no one will take notice. So what if I carve an image and leave an imprint in the person's head? Can I repeat it the next time I see the same person again? What about the third time, fourth time? Very likely the pretendence will be discovered. On the other hand, if first impression is the best impression, where does this lead me to? Will I be written off immediately because I fail to impress at the first attempt? It would be so unfair. Indeed life is unfair in most instances. Since knowing that first impression should not be the last impression, I do not acknowledge the truth in this statement.
1 person likes this
@abroji (3247)
• India
25 Jul 07
I agree with you whyaskq, there should not be any pretention for the sake of making our impression better. But we can be at our best. I don't think this statement is true. As I commented on an earlier response this statement is more an advice than a rule. Thank you friend for the response.
@senthil2k (1500)
• India
25 Jul 07
No.. No.. Thats not true. I definitely cant agree with that and most of my personal experiences are not true to this statement, unfortunately. There are many such phrases, which sounds to be good, but practically there are not true. This is more unfortunate. You need more time for judging anyone and should not be decided by the first view itself.
1 person likes this
@abroji (3247)
• India
25 Jul 07
That is true, and that is my opinion too. Thank you senthil.
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
25 Jul 07
While I would say that first impressions are very important and the first impression may be lasting...it is not fair to firmly form an opinion on a person based on that only. I have been wrong enough...caught someone on a bad day enough to know that first opinion is not always the most accurate impression.
1 person likes this
@abroji (3247)
• India
25 Jul 07
Yes I agree. Thank you.
@gberlin (3836)
24 Jul 07
No it is not always so. There is another saying that goes, "You can't judge a book by its cover." It is easy to judge a person on your first impression because that is what people do. However it is only when we get to know a person that we discover their true character.
@abroji (3247)
• India
24 Jul 07
Yes that is true. This saying is to be applied in some other situations like appearing for an interview or meeting a person on business etc. There we may keep this in mind and try to impress the other person possitively. Thank you gberlin for the response.
@eshaan (6188)
• India
24 Jul 07
Its true for a rough calculations. But some people contradict this rule.Like they have a very simple living and high thinking. In case of such people the saying stands faulty. When we discover such personalities,we find that hey,this man is far beyond what it looks like.And I always keep myself showing less, may it be money or knowledge or anything else. It should not happen that your first impression is good but when people really know you they under-rate you.
1 person likes this
@abroji (3247)
• India
24 Jul 07
Actualy this is more an advice than a rule. We should try to impress people in our first meeting, so that further dealings would be more smooth. If we give a negetive impression, it will take time to make the other person's attittude possitive towards you. Thank you eshaan for the response.