Are people too quick to judge others and why do we make fast judgments?
By Centregeek
@Centregeek (500)
United States
December 8, 2006 9:59am CST
Have you ever had someone try to put you into a neat little category and thought, "that's not who I am, it just doesn't fit"? I sometimes encounter people who make fast judgments about me without really trying to get to know me and I find it annoying. Why do we try to place people into categories? Is it out of fear? Do we want to try to create some sense of control in a situation with new people? Are we in too big of a hurry to get to know someone else? Do we just not care? Have you ever thought about this and have you ever felt that someone judged you way too quickly?
42 responses
@chiquita1977 (1706)
• United States
9 Dec 06
I know exactly what you are talking about.people judge people on the way they look or dress without even knowing the person.I think it is just horrible.I am not one to judge someone I think it is very cruel afterall didnt god create everyone equal.I definatly hate people who judge people by their skin color.I have talked to several people who think they are better than a black person because their white which it is totally wrong of them and i do not know why people are like this it makes me so mad.i am constantly being judged because i am quiet which is wrong.
@Centregeek (500)
• United States
9 Dec 06
I agree that there is so much more to people than what you see on the surface and we miss out on so much when we don't try go past the surface.
@coolcatzz (1587)
• Canada
9 Dec 06
I think we are all guilty of doing this. I know that many people say they don't but that is simply not true. People judge people on their race, religion, size, economic status, etc.... It is sad but true and I can't see that anything is going to change.
@cheenlly (3476)
• Philippines
9 Dec 06
yes i did experience that many times. It's very upsetting and i hate such kind. They look others peoples lives while they dont look at their own. That's explain how some people are fake. I pity such kind. I had this words of wisdom that i kept in mind whenever i encounter such one. "Consider difficult people as SANDPAPER. They may scratch you and hurt you. But in the end you will be smooth while they are worn out!" Tell yourself that those people are the SANDPAPER of your life... Just kept on smiling
@plumwish07 (4057)
• Indonesia
9 Dec 06
its natural if people quickly to make judgement to others. The first thing that make them quickly is from the performance. Coz we can avoid the performance someone can make us easily to judge how is she or he. And second thing it because we dont know better about the person. The third is we cant control our emotion so we judge someone easily and quickly
@deidraisrad (71)
• United States
9 Dec 06
yeah it's sad that we actually do it naturally.
but that doesn't make your judgement right.
i agree with what you said.
@AlmightyBigfoot888 (553)
• United States
9 Dec 06
yes, people are WAY too quick to judge others, and i will even admit i am guilty of this.
as for why we do that, i don't know, it's got to do with what we do mentally.
@Centregeek (500)
• United States
9 Dec 06
Thanks for the response. Maybe it is part of our programming.
@rosey2006 (945)
• United States
9 Dec 06
That is something that I have learned by being on these questiona and answer sites. Is not to judge people when you really don't know there situation. This has also come in handy in my day to day life.
@Centregeek (500)
• United States
9 Dec 06
You are right. This site does help you to get to know a lot of different people from a lot of different situations and it is not always easy to make the perfect choices in life. If we judge others for making mistakes we should look in the mirror and ask what we too have done that wasn't perfect.
@mbs730 (2147)
• Canada
9 Dec 06
I know myself I have been judged a lot before someone had even gotten to know me! The thing is with me, I NEVER place judgement on anyone UNLESS someone has judged me first. I know that 2 wrongs don't make a right but it's so hard NOT to pass judgement on someone who has judged you or betrayed you!!
@Centregeek (500)
• United States
9 Dec 06
I too sometimes respond in kind to bad treatment. This is not something that I am proud of and I'm working to change it or at least do far less of it. I don't like to be judged too quickly and I don't like to treat others worse than I like to be treated.
@margieanneart (26423)
• United States
9 Dec 06
It is my opinion that people that do this,do it to lift their own esteem up. It is a fault that humans have. We should not, as nobody is perfect, and it should be left to God to judge only.
@Centregeek (500)
• United States
9 Dec 06
Your right we shouldn't judge others for their mistakes or faults.
@Centregeek (500)
• United States
9 Dec 06
It hurts to be misjudged doesn't it. Thanks for the response.
@pinklilly (3443)
• Australia
9 Dec 06
I think it is in our Nature to judge people one first impressions.. I know I have felt judged by people and felt I was treated differently because of their judgement..
@Centregeek (500)
• United States
9 Dec 06
Thanks for the response. I think that sometimes people judge to quickly and miss out on a good opportunity to get to know a good person.
@janet069 (663)
• United States
8 Dec 06
Most people don't want to devote the time needed to develop new relationships, expecially if they aren't immediately drawn to a person. I am one of those people that gets judged wrongly at first glance. After you get to know me the picture is different but it has caused me a lot of problems my whole life. We really aren't supposed to judge anyone, it is not our place. Just be yourself and you'll be happier in the long run.
@Centregeek (500)
• United States
8 Dec 06
You are so right. We just need to be ourselves. Thanks for the response.
@volschenkh (1043)
• South Africa
8 Dec 06
I think we live in a society that has at its roots too much judgement. Its in the way we are brought up, the religion we belong to and just plain short sightedness by most people, because they do not allow themselves to spend a dew seconds thinking about another person and why they are different.
Its especially annoying, when you are yourself being caught out as being judgemental, it really is part of human nature, we do not allow other people their legitimate place in society!
@Devinarun (387)
• United States
9 Dec 06
im really quick in judging someone's character.one loook followed by a conversation is enough to find out the type of person he or she is.but the most important thing of all is that this does not have to be right at all.
@Centregeek (500)
• United States
9 Dec 06
Do you think that your quick judgments are right most of the time? Have you ever regreted mking a fast judgment of someone?
@jhonge101 (93)
• Philippines
9 Dec 06
I think for me its a normal reaction because of our physical appearance or how we act. Many people they say what their feelings right away but some are they only keep in their mind and thats a right thing to do because you don't want to hurt their feelings. Judging people for me is important because you have an idea what to be aware of that person until such time you will know that you're right or wrong about that person.
@Centregeek (500)
• United States
9 Dec 06
By physical appearance do you mean you judge others diffently by how attractive they are to you?
@mcbota (2125)
• Romania
9 Dec 06
somebody says that u will never had the second opportunity to change the firt impression that u made in front of others.So I think the main reason we judge others very fast is because we dont know the other person very well and maybe dont accept that this person can make mistakes.The vers from bible :dont judge to not be judge was translated by a kid in:dont judge coz u dont judge!
@epizzahut (2078)
• China
9 Dec 06
It is common thing i think.pepole make judgments in any where and any time, include to judge a person whom we first meet. many judgments is from our experience.just those experence limite our gift.
@rakinitin (685)
• Canada
9 Dec 06
Narrow mindedness, jealousy, guilt, fear of the unknown and how we were reared are all factors to people who judge and why. None of us have a right to judge to begin with.
There was a time and day where people wore black when they were in mourning so others could visually see and understand what they were going through. Nowadays we don't do that and we would never know when someone is suffering or hurting and why they act the way they do.
@TerryZ (22076)
• United States
9 Dec 06
I know exactly what you are saying. Ithink it is all about controll. You cant let it happen to you you must stand your ground let them know you will not except these kind of people in your life.
@yarntales (639)
• United States
9 Dec 06
I don't know how others see me.
One thing people tend to tell me a lot is, "Oh, you're so funny!" Oddly enough, I don't see myself as funny.
But anyhow, a real relationship does take a lot of work.
I will usually put forth more effort in the beginning of a friendship. But if the other doesn't recipricate, then I will often just let the relationship go.
I will try, but if the other isn't helping the relationship continue, I usually don't bother.
@raghav_1987 (89)
• India
9 Dec 06
i think judging people too early is not good....
i have judged one of my friends very early once and then i came to know i was wrong...
i never came across anyone who have judged me quickly though,...
and i think u just get clear with person who have judged u qiuckly
