Look at at THAT guy!!
By letsee77
@letsee77 (224)
United States
August 23, 2009 12:00pm CST
Ok, yes I admit it. I have done it before, looked at someone I didn't know and judged them by their appearance. Over the years and the older I get, I've not done it as much as I did when I was younger. I don't mean making fun of someone because of their weight or anything like that, I mean the way they look. For example, a rather tall man with a long mustache and beard wearing a bandana, sun glasses, and biker attire. I feel scared being near somone like this, I think to myself this is not a nice guy. He's one of those tough guys in some biker gang and might hurt me if I look at him the wrong way. Then something happens. So this person is behind me in line at check out, I drop some change accidentally and, kind as anyone can be, "let me get that" and picks it up for me. He was actually sweet as pie.
I think alot of people do this though, look at someone and "first impressions" go by what they see. These days we really can't do that though as everyone is so much more individual then ever. AND labels, we too freely label others. A woman with short hair and a husky voice "HAS" to be a lesbian right? Of course not, and that's exactly what I'm trying to say. We're far to quick to judge others and place labels on them. I think before we do this, we should all take a long look at ourselves.
I know I'm not the only person that's looked at someone and read them the wrong way, assuming I knew by the way they looked. Share one of your stories.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@JAYMAR777 (840)
• Philippines
23 Aug 09
i have the same tendency as you do. I guess all people are, and that is juddging pweople by their appearance.
more often we think of the negative or poor assesment on people and yet they are the once that will surprise us.
As a teacher, i often am wrong with my first impressions. There was one student who i thought is very strict, the type who is hard to please because of the personality she first showed. It was all a fascade. She is the opposite of what i assume she is.
I hope i shared something letsee
1 person likes this
@letsee77 (224)
• United States
23 Aug 09
Hello Jaymar, thank you for sharing. You make another point here. Some people dress or act a certain way that they are not so they won't be judged. For example, someone might dress and act a certain way so that other might like them. Maybe because they feel that people judge them negativly when they are just being themselves, and so pretend to be something their not so they can avoid being judged in a negative way. Maybe this student was used to rejection and putting up a front, an I'm better then you/I don't care attitude, was a way for her to protect herself from getting hurt. We have to remember that everyone is different, and no one is better then the next person, but it seems to be a cycle. As we judge, there are people doing the same to us. Why not look for the positives we see, instead of picking out the negatives? Thanks again for your response.
@katsalot1 (1618)
•
23 Aug 09
You have made a good point. I've lived long enough to have learnt not to judge people by their appearance. When I was younger I did, but I have met so many different types of people that I now know that appearances can be very deceptive. Now I judge people by their actions.
1 person likes this
@letsee77 (224)
• United States
23 Aug 09
It's like my dad used to tell me "Never judge a book by it's cover" that rings true here also. As you might actually enjoy the book if you read it and didn't let the cover deter you from picking it up. Same thing if you judge someone by how they appear you'll never really know them for who they are, and might miss out on meeting someone really great.
@lologirl2021 (5542)
• United States
23 Aug 09
I went to the mall yesterday which is two hours south in Miami from where in live in south Florida and its so funny to go and laugh at all the different types of people and in Miami you have them all and its like you can just pick out the gay and lesbians from everyone and there were quit a few of them out yesterday. You kinda just know what type of person they are by just looking at them and you give them a label with out even knowing them, but so many people do this. I have done this for a while and in my family we call it people watching and even when you go on vacation this is a fun activity to do and even my little cousins do it and laugh at people with me so i don't feel all left alone at times. As long as the person doesn't know your talking about them then i feel fine doing it and enjoying it too.
@letsee77 (224)
• United States
23 Aug 09
I've heard of people watching before, but don't know anyone who's actually does it. I know people in the mall sitting on the benches are probably people watching. I know if I see someone wathcing me or staring it makes me uncomfotable. Though you are right, if they don't know it's not harmful. Though I would still feel bad, I know it would make me feel bad having someone do it to me.
