From a young age, children are taught to never judge a book by its cover. The range of high school students’ ages is from 14 to 18; we are not children anymore. We seem to judge “books” by their “covers” all the time. Someone taught you how to read and write, and you still do that. So why ignore this lesson? People judge each other so much that it almost seems like a daily job. Why do we need to judge?
Judging others is arguably in our nature. Even though we may not want to judge, it happens. However, it is important to remember that it can’t be used as an excuse. At first glance, whether it be in class or in a store, there is an incredulous amount of things we don’t know about someone. His or her clothes may be dirty and worn, hair may be messed up or look greasy and he or she may even have a angered facial expression.
If this situation presents itself, judgment isn’t the answer. If the person is alone, simply saying “hi” could be satisfactory and make him or her feel important. If a greeting isn’t the answer, you could always offer up some of your time to talk. There are many things people have to consider on first impressions, like:
This person could be having a bad day. Haven’t you ever had a bad day?
He or she could be dealing with a huge personal problem.
Maybe this person has a mental disorder or is suffering with depression.
Sometimes people don’t have enough money to pay for electric or water, so that explains their untidy appearance. Give them a break; they could be trying their hardest.
Some people aren’t fortunate enough to have friends – this is where you could offer a simple greeting.
Another part of judging isn’t based just off of first impressions, but through by first impressions, but also by stories. A rumor can make people hate one another. How fair is that? Rumors can ruin someone’s reputation. Let’s say a peer dislikes you. Is that a reason to spread rumors or judge them? Fighting fire with fire never has a positive outcome. Be the bigger person.
Before going out and judging others, think about all of these possibilities. Consider saying a hello and looking past people’s faults. We’ve all been at our lowest, and it’s possible that the “weird” person sitting next to you is in that place now. Not a single person has been through the same hardships, and it is important to remember that there are many aspects of people’s lives that bother them, and occasionally the friendless need friends.