Do you prejudge people? Do you get prejudged?
By sisterjinx
@sisterjinx (1135)
United States
April 21, 2009 12:58pm CST
For instance, I have a 16 year old son. He has been homeschooled since 5th grade so he doesn't act like many of the other kids his age. Actually he is a little young for his age but I feel like I'd rather have him act too young than be rude, disrespectful, or trying to be too independent and arguing all the time.
However, here is this great kid who has a clever mind and a heart as big as the sun but because he is 16 people have prejudged and misjudged him. In the campground we currently live in the people have decided that because he is 16 that automatically means he must be trouble. They have spread rumors/lies about him. They have made accusations that I know are untrue because at the time he was with us. They get angry at him for stupid things that the other kids here do as well and really are not an issue, but because he is 16 that makes it an issue.
We are quiet people and I try not to judge others for how they look or how old they are or even for their beliefs. I beleive that you are not a sum of your parts but a person who deserves my attention and a chance.
Do you prejudge people based on looks, age, race, or any other factor? Have you ever been prejudged? How did you handle that?
7 responses
@denisedora (190)
• United States
22 Apr 09
honestly i think those people are stupid. really it's not fair to judge some one jus by the way they look. r because of ur sons age. I dnt pre judge ne one there are som many more important things in the world to worry about with out ignorant peope adding drama to something so petty. I am sure ur sone i a very well respected young man, since u urself seem very sweet. dont let those other insecure people bother you they are probly jus wishing there kids were so well behaved
1 person likes this
@yuguoli (83)
• China
22 Apr 09
To be straight with you, pal, I do prejudge people no matter how hard I tried not to. I just don't know what's going on my mind, but it turns out to be useless to make this turning. Don't know whether you understand me or not, it's just no use to change. Perhaps I just cannot control myself well. Personally, I guess each one should be treated not based on looks, age, race or whatever. So I just tried hard to know and understand a person I met according to his behaviors, thinkings like that but not binding to his/her looks, etc. Well up to now, I realize when I first saw other people, my mind just gives me an OVERVIEW or FIRST IMPRESSION, which is not easily thrown off. Sorry for myself, but I do think it is just common. In my opinion, most people would prejudge other people since the objective reality is decisive of the mind. We people, seeing things and things reflected on our mind so prejudgement displayed.
Okay, due to my thinking of such prejudgement, I seldom made myself focus on the handling. It's just normal for everyone. Here I want to remind each one of us that the prejudgement could be wrong sometimes. Good luck.
@rychelle314 (285)
•
22 Apr 09
I reckon we are all guilty of prejudice at varying degrees.
When Susan Boyle and Paul Potts(Britain's Got Talent) first went up the stage and told the judges that they're going to sing, so many people thought, "There goes another loser!"
However, after they have stunned everyone with their extraordinary singing voice, I guess you all know what happened next. :-)
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
21 Apr 09
I do tend to prejudge people, but I am a really good judge of character, and 99% of the time I'm right about my original conclusions. You can tell a lot about a person just based on the way they carry themselves, which includes posture, body language, and how they dress, their hygiene, etc. I'm not saying that dirty people are never given a chance... I'm dirty half the time myself, lol. But a young girl who's showing way too much skin will never be a friend of mine because she obviously has very low self esteem and is trying too hard to attract attention, only she hasn't figured out yet that she's attracting the wrong kind of attention.
As far as your son goes... just take a look at the people making the accusations. My guess is not a one of them has anything better to do with their time than to create drama. Tell them to go order cable to fullfill their dramatic entertainment needs!
@jlamela (4897)
• Philippines
22 Apr 09
I never pre-judged people because we can never tell what is his true personality unless we get to know him better.
You know I like the way you raise your son. I plan also to home school my children if ever I got married.It is the best upbringing because you can concentrate on the education of your children.
@cjforeverknight (427)
• United States
22 Apr 09
I have gotten prejudged all my life. And why people have treated me in this manor I have no idea? I am not the kind of person that they think I am, for if they got to know me better these people would figure it out that I am a very nice person. The human race can be so cruel. Even as a child my uncle (my mom's brother) lied on me all the time & why I have no idea. My brothers told my mom my uncle was lying & that when he said the things I was doing I was with my brothers. I got disciplined any way, so my brothers got angry & when my mom, dad & uncle was at work & went to my uncles house & smeared mud all over my uncles white car. My brothers said let's see who gets blamed for that now??? He never told my mom about his car. I guess he was afraid of what my brothers would do next. But my uncle really did hate me for some reason or another but I never did anything to him. Me & my brothers was never allowed outside of the house when our parents was not at home & we always obeyed. The only time my brothers disobeyed was when they put the mud on his car. It is a very sad thing when people really do hate you for no reason & that is all it really is....it is HATE!
@savypat (20216)
• United States
21 Apr 09
I have thought a lot about this and read a great deal also. I really think that this is a protective response in our prehistoric brains the fear of anything strange.
Many other animals have this. Of course that is not an excuse now for not overcoming a basic urge with more educated response.
