Judgy McFirstimpression

[thepiffer]

I've been told not to judge a book by its cover.  However, I'm not really sure how else to judge a book when initially making a purchase.  I mean, the synopsis is usually on the back cover.  I read it, and if it sounds interesting, I'll buy it, read it, and decide if the cover was true to what was inside.  If the illistrations are interesting, or

Comments

[cynthtastic]

It's impossible not to make some assumptions in life. If you didn't, you'd be rude and/or freaky! For example, if I come knock on your door, you'll probably get up, see who it is, open the door (or maybe not -- ha ha!); that's what you assume knocking means. You don't shout from wherever you are, "Do you want me to come to the door?" That'd be weird.

We all make assumptions, and we all trust our gut reactions to varying degrees. We all draw our line different places. For example, I don't think it's OK to not talk to someone who's fat or black or short just because you don't think your thin, Hispanic, tall interests will mesh with theirs. But knowing you're not likely to find much to say to the emo kid probably falls in a different category.

I believe you and I have different thresholds for these things, but I also believe we're both "right" in our own ways.

[thepiffer]

I'm Hispanic?! Shit, I might have been able to get some extra school grants had I know. Way to wait until not to tell me!

And I agree with MOST everything you are saying. I think that judging people by things they cannot control is unacceptable. But choices that people make on how they present themselves are fair game.

Also, not saying that you have to run up to a person and point and laugh, but when chosing the people we wish to associate with (friends, lovers, etc), polite indifference is acceptable.

[cynthtastic]

One of my favorite assumptions-you-don't-know-you-make moments was an old episode of Roseanne. Dan asked a black friend if black guys would mind ... I don't know, something. The guy said something like, "Why would you assume I can speak for an entire race? Do you know how all white people would take some kind of remark?"

I loved that! It's totally ignorant and totally something I would have done before I saw that episode of Roseanne. Who says TV isn't educational?? LOL

[cynthtastic]

(I don't mean this AT you; it's just a conclusion I drew that ended up in the second person. Sorry.)

Oh, and I'd also like to point out that it cuts both ways: you're allowed to judge anyone you want based on appearance or anything else you want, but they're also allowed to think you're small-minded for doing so. Nobody likes to be judged, whether they've brought it upon themselves or not. If you're saying they deserve, they could argue you deserve their disdain just as much.

I intend to be pissed off about having to remove my piercings to be a lawyer. I'm going to do it; I understand it's a common prejudice. I'm just going to hate it at the same time because this nose ring does nothing to my effectiveness as a lawyer or a janitor or a diplomat.