How quick we are to judge
By savypat
@savypat (20216)
United States
February 22, 2012 2:21pm CST
No matter what you think you know about a situation and/or a person, we are all quick to judge. It's part of our basic personalities that comes from our need to make instant judgements in order to survive. After all when we were cavemen and that wolf came up to us wagging it's tail, we had to judge was it really friend or
foe, with the rest of the pack just out of sight. Most of us think we are a pretty good judge of people we just met, or we saw on the TV or heard about over the news,
but I think is we are honest what we judge is just what we hear or see, which is a very small part of any person. I remember being a teenager and feeling sure taht I could sense a bad person, well now in hind sight I know I was just terribly lucky
and made it through the teen years relatively free from harm. What brought this up was the death of a 14 year old girl who was at a party and inhailed helium gas and died from lack of oxygin. I'm sure she went to that party and believed nothing bad could happen after all the helium only gives you a funny sounding voice doesn't it?
Maybe that is all the Adult involved thought would happen also. But the young girl trusted the adult at the cost of her life. WE all make snape judgements but we need to take time and be more aware.
1 person likes this
8 responses
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
24 Feb 12
The thing about that is it could have happened to any of us. We were all trusting teens at one point and who better to trust than a friend or an adult? I thank my lucky stars for riding through the storm of youth the way I did. I suppose I am as thankful in my adulthood that I have not made any life threatening choices...knock on wood.
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@megamatt (14292)
• United States
23 Feb 12
We all tend to make rather stupid decisions. Where our senses really do take a leave of us. Of course, some of the time, those stupid decisions are something that we can laugh about in hindsight. And there are other times, where those stupid decisions are going to be the thing that we are going to live regret. Providing that we even live at all. And that really is the scariest thing of them all. You never know when your next decision might be kind of fatal.
I think that in the end, even the most mature of us will take leave of our senses. It is rather easy to look at the situation at hindsight and say "well that's kind of stupid." Why yes it is, when we have a clear head and a full view of what the consequences were. But before all of the information, it might have turned out better or worse or just embarrassing. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but it does cause us to judge more and judge often.
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@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
22 Feb 12
Hi savypat, Oh if Christians only followed the teachings of Christ! I know I've heard you say that you aren't a Christian, but I'm sure you have respect for Christ himself. He is certainly one of the great masters - probably the greatest, but as Gandhi once said, "Christians are so unlike their Christ". Jesus made it clear that we were not to judge. I agree with you that we make snap judgements all the timem yet, even when we think we have all the facts, we probably know less than half about what's really happening in another persons life, probably no more than ten percent. Blessings.
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@yanzalong (18984)
• Indonesia
23 Feb 12
Judgement should be made based on facts not on your feeling or information which sometimes is not reliable.
@Genericbe (1376)
• Philippines
23 Feb 12
Usually,a person is quick to judge same as when a person is in anger stage. The mode of judging rely on how the person view and think the situation,. Only to find out after taking that time to think and be aware that he had maybe a right or wrong judgement..
Judging a person usually comes in quick responses, some to rely on their impressions, inner instincts and some on the acts done of the person who may be misinterpreted or not.. People are judged because of his acts and whatever the effect of this acts will be judged.. that is an open thing because people do have their own personal views about the matter even not well information are given as long there is an action and effect of that situation..
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@almightybong (186)
• Philippines
23 Feb 12
I think instant judgment is something that can't be helped. It is innate, something that we ourselves have trained our mind to do subconsciously. It really is hard to keep a level-headed mind about people you just met, and you will always have a prejudgment about whether you decide to like or dislike a person at the onset. However, what makes it bad is that if you can't keep your mouth shut about it, even if you haven't had any facts at hand yet. I think that is something we have control of. If we can't train our mind to stop prejudgment, then we can at least control our mouths to speak about something that could potentially be wrong.
However, personally, I think that I have at least allowed myself to interact with people before I jump to any conclusions. Of course, I will have prejudgments, but I always give the benefit of the doubt. I think this has something to do with faith in people as well. It is hard to trust, but if you leave a room at least to be open to trusting someone you don't know yet, then it could result to a really good relationship, if the person shows you the same. But it doesn't go without saying that we need to be cautious. Have faith in people but always be ready with your guard.
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@inertia4 (27961)
• United States
28 Feb 12
Judging people is something I believe no one should do in an open forum. Look, I do consider myself a good judge of character. But that does not give me the right to judge that person. What I sense and perceive is for my protection, no anyone else. I know the type of people to stay away from and the people I can trust. But on that note, I am not a trusting person to begin with. Read between the lines. And there is a saying I was told growing up and I live by it. Believe half of what you see and none on what you hear.
@PhillyDreamer (3039)
• United States
22 Feb 12
That is a horrible way to go. A lot of people think inhaling helium is funny, but oxygen is the only gas our body needs to survive. If we breathe in too much of any other gas it can have fatal consequences. I can't say that the parent involves in this situation was a bad person, but they did act irresponsibly. As far as judging a situation, life is a gamble. You can play it safe your whole life and still make one bad move which can cost you your life. Granted some things seem like common sense like not jumping off cliffs and keeping indoors while there is a shootout, but even the safest places can be dangerous in certain situations.
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