This. Wheter they realise or not that's a diferent matter...but it's impossible not to judge to some extent :shrug:

I have been guilty before of judging people on their appearance. I try my best not to do that any more, but sometimes I can't help it. It's one of my numerous character flaws.

I'm sick of the idea that people aren't supposed to judge one another, that everybody is supposed to be perfectly neutral and objective in their opinions of people. This comes up all the time when people complain about things like racial profiling and affirmative action, and it's so annoying to discuss. We're just more open about our opinions now than we were back in the 1950s, but going around telling children (and I've seen this in my school district) that they're "not normal" for being perfectly neutral and objective towards everybody is just about as contrived as when we used to tell people that homosixuality was a psychological disorder. You should get to know people on their terms and shouldn't act on your prejudices, but for the OP, it would definitely be wrong to say that I, or anybody else, doesn't judge people now and then.

Anyway, I overestimate people all of the time. If you get one of my obscure pop culture references or are a girl with the slightest interest in gaming or graphic design, god help you. I'll never leave you alone.

I don't think it's an unreasonable metric: I mean we need some basis to assess people, but as has already been said, I think the key point is whether or not we're prepared to reassess that initial opinion. I've found that not doing so is often to my own cost: a potential friend lost, or possibly worse still placing trust in the wrong person. But we need to start somewhere, so I guess that's why we tend to form fairly strong opinions based on first impressions.

umm, yes of course, some I can judge quite harsh as well.

I try not to.

Yes, everybody judges everyone else they come into contact with. The real question is, do we do it fairly or unfairly? :shrug:

I judge people, it is impossible not to.

In cases where it might affect your safety, it's fine to judge people. Also, as others have said, you will always "judge" people immediately upon seeing them. The thing is, is to remain open-minded and not restrict yourself to believing they are what you think they are. Having been judged unfairly for most of my life, I've made it a point to get to know people that I have any significant amount of interaction with, and not restrict myself to my initial impression of them. Never put someone in a box and keep them there without good reason.

:laugh:

I would just like to add, that I am glad we judge each other based on first impressions (or seconds etc) of how we look and/or act, and not sniff each others butts like dogs. :unsure:

For me it's more of a ..what am I doing at the time...am I willing to take the time atm to interact. I might do the same thing to a suit, a pretty girl, an elderly person. The real question is if it's a child...how would one behave? I mean by child a minor up to young teen. What am I about? Not what are they about. Posting this does show you have a conscience. I work with a guy that totally hates and is disgusted with homeless persons. He believes their condition is their fault. I don't believe what he says on this matter I think it is more of fear and self pride for him. Homeless have nothing to loose but their life, in health and mind. Who has more to fear? I think we all have fears ....homeless or not.

Mmmmm I don't get it. is it meant to be ironic

:facepalm:

Dogs meet, and sniff each others butts. I'm glad that we don't do that when we meet someone. Where would the irony be?

All the time.

Judge, jury, and executioner.

I'm the full package, babe.

ditto.

and OP. i think you do need to be more open minded towards possibility that not all homeless people are maniacs out to hurt you. actions of one is not an indication that the the whole is like that. in a way it'd be like bundling all video games people under nut cases who can't tell real from virtual and should be expected to try what they did in GTA try that in real life.

I try not to judge people. I try to take the plank out of my own eye before I point out the splinters in another's and all that. But I admit I don't do the best job at it. Human nature, I guess.

It's this bit , and then the last one in particular, which started giving me serious troubles with getting to sleep at night.

Agreed. I've judged people alot, and for all the wrong reasons. Yeah, I'm a bad person, but I try not to judge anymore. I guess it's wrong to judge someone and put yourself above them, point out every wrong they do and not look at your own, just as you (Broken) have said. Perhaps the OP was just being cautious, not judgemental.

Yes, I suppose it would. Its different when people can judge others as much as they want with no consequences, but others make judgement calls every day that affect whether people live or die.

That's a decision I hope I never have to make.

It's not judging. It's being intuitive.

I think we've all judged somebody at least once or twice in our lives if we didn't we wouldn't be human. Why is it that as humans we judge people we need to have an opinion of somebody. Sure I've judged people is it right? Is it wrong? Who knows I'm more of a gray thinker. I think its wrong to judge people by stereotypes or by their race. I think judging should be done on an individual level. How would we feel about ourselves if we didn't judge other people, in a way we need to judge people to feel better about ourselves. And it also makes us feel like crap when we get judged by people. Judging isn't always accurate I mean how do we know the people we don't judge and think of as good people are actually murders or screw people out their hard earned cash while the people we judge as scum could actually be the nicest and most giving person in the world. Asking if its alright to judge people and to ask why we judge in a way is as trivial as asking the meaning of life its all a matter of own perception.

This.

Everyone has at least some broad judgmental concepts and stereotypes floating about in their head. We're deluged with them day after day, from everything and everyone, how can we not develop/have them even we try hard not to. It's what you do after that very first impression that matters.

I didn't say I judge on first impressions......I smell people's butts. The extent of the smell and the flavour tells you A LOT about the person (such as: Did he/she eat curry yesterday?).