How many of these judgmental thoughts do we each think daily? Do you believe we could stop these thoughts from occurring?
Monday, August 2, 2010
Thoughts
While reading Amusing Ourselves to Death, I could not help but to think about how much we judge based on image. Whether it is someone walking down the street or our favorite character on television, we always judge based on their image. Our opinion on certain individuals vary from time to time, but there is no doubt that these judgments are always present. As I ponder about this, television never fails to emerge as an example. If someone were to turn on the television and see a character whose image did not please, they would most likely change the channel. I do not believe that most of us do this to be hostile,rude, or judgmental towards the character. I truly believe it is done subconsciously. We know that the television offers us many choices and we just want to watch what pleases us the most. I saw the perfect example of this today. My cousin was watching television, and she began to complain about a soap opera. She was annoyed and disturbed by the story line which consist of a handsome young man falling in love with an overweight less attractive women. To be exact she said, " Ewwww. Who wants to see a cute guy kiss a fat ugly girl?" This was a rude comment, but it simply shows how she felt and how many other viewers must feel as well.
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Desiree, you say "Do you believe we could stop these thoughts from occurring?" And like you said, It's done subconsciously, I agree. I think it's almost okay to think those things (because sometimes it just happens) but to say it out loud is deliberate, and we can definatley change that. You also say that We always judge based on their image. but that's not always a bad thing, sometimes judging based on image can save your life. If you are walking down the street at night and you see a man in a hoodie with a big thick beard and mustache and he keeps staring at you, this is NOT the time to be polite and stop judging, it's the perfect, almost acceptable time to judge. (Stranger Danger, hahaha.) You don't know what this man is capable of and you should make a snap judgment by crossing the street. But in unnecessary times like if you are at a restaurant and you see an overweight woman ordering a lot of food, you do not judge here bluntly and OUT LOUD, this is rude and by you saying it out loud makes you an unpleasant person. So I know from personal experience I judge people often but I don't think this will ever change. But nice topic to bring up!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. We know what we like to watch, and sometimes it's not "ugly" people or things like that. We think tons of these thoughts everyday and we don't even realize it. We do it when we're walking down the street, in a line at the store, and at school EVERYDAY. If there is someone that we think won't fit in with us, we ignore them or are sometimes scared to be seen with them.
ReplyDeleteI don't think we could stop these thoughts. They say it's instinct to judge on first site, but it doesn't mean we could be mean about it. We could judge the person, but we shouldn't keep that in our minds because usually the things we think are not true. Everyone has more feelings and more to them than the way they look. Plus, no one really tells us anything when they know we think that. Not many people tell us it's wrong to judge.
I agree with Breahna, too. It's true that we should never say the things we think out loud if they are rude. Of course, we may think it but I think we should be ashamed to think it. Unless of course, like Breahna said, if there is someone that looks dangerous around you. But still, you wouldn't say it out loud because... That stranger may take action even faster. Scary thought.
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ReplyDeleteI, too, agree with Breahna there are appropriate and inappropriate times to make judgments about people based on their appearance.
ReplyDeleteI personally have tried to stop judging people, but sometimes it happens subconsciously and we can't do anything about it. When I do catch myself, however, I have to remind myself that I know nothing about this person's personal issues or financial situation. For example, I once saw a woman with a let's say "less than conservative" shirt on, and I was about to judge her for flaunting like that but then I stopped myself because I noticed she had her probably seven-year-old son with her. I realized that her clothes may just be reflecting how she was struggling to support her son, and she was just trying to save money for her him.
So we just have to be careful with what we think because we can never know everyone's backstory.
Breahna, you're so insightful. Your comment reminded me of the time I met Breanne. I thought she was... well... I don't want to say fat, but dense. She was dense. I think I've mentioned this to you before.
ReplyDeleteI remember making fun of her in my mind. But as it turned out... well you know the rest of the story. My point is I agree, we shouldn't judge a person based solely on looks.
It is not that we judge but how we judge. Ignorance is a big motivator for poor judgement, and it is what puts a bad wrap on the concept of judging. Of course we judge; and like Brittany said, it is an instinct. How else would we stop ourselves from eating something poisonous or any other example that has to do with survival?
ReplyDeleteIn social situations, it has more to do with knowledge than instinct. For this reason, i do believe judgement can be silenced, though only in social instances at least. The more you know you ought to know, the more skilled you are at silencing bad/poor judgement. And also, to point out, this is all on the individual. You can point out that a friend has made a wrong judgement of a person they see, but it is up to that individual to actually use what you have to offer or throw it away as a burden on their conscience.
I completely agree.
ReplyDeleteEvery single day, we are bombarded with stereotypes and images of what people should or shouldn't look like, or what they should or shouldn't do.
Because of this, as hard as we try not to "judge a book by its cover", we still do it. We just can't help it. Even if you are not the type of person to consciously judge someone, it stil happens. It's how we've been programmed over the years.
Yes, it sounds bad to admit that we do in fact judge apon looks. But perhaps it is not always a terrible thing. Maybe avioding a certain person on the street because they looked "dangerous" actually saved a life?
I have to agree with everyone, especially Breahna and Madeleine. Breahna said that we often think things about others, and sometimes say what we think out loud. THAT CAN BE BAD! We shouldn't do this. Madeleine also made a good point. A first impression CAN be helpful in deciphering whether or not someone will be nice and trustworthy. Not always, but sometimes.
ReplyDeleteLooks aren't everything. I think Disney movies have presented this theme in very creative ways: "Beauty and the Beast", "The Hunchback of Notre Dame "and "Pocahontas". In each of these movies, the hero/heroine finds out that the 'strange' being isn't so mean or harmful as they thought. In "Beauty and the Beast", Belle finds the Prince trapped in the Beast. In "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", the hideous bell ringer reveals to be the hero who saves Paris. And in "Pocahontas", the Indians and the English settlers end upon getting along because of Pocahontas' heroic acts.
It is not what is on the outside, but what is within- a saying so old, yet so true.