If I only had a dollar for every time the people who wanted to kill me became my best friends..... There'd probably be enough to buy me a car. It's true, the people closest to me have all said things along the line of "I hated you when we first met" or "I thought you were the biggest snob". Of course, I felt the same way towards them- without even knowing them. Why is it that we as people LOVE to judge everyone we don't know?
My mind is brought back to the typical homeless guy scenario. You know, that man who's always sitting on the corner holding a sign that says "God Bless" or "War Vet: Need Food". I remember going home in the car when I was only a little girl, my Happy Meal toy in my hand, and seeing one of these men in the parking lot. Seeing as I had just learned to read, I asked my dad why he needed food. His reply was "He's too lazy to go find a job."
And that's how life goes. We continue to live by stereotypes and assumptions: the girl with the designer clothes is always going to be stuck up, the MVP of the football team is always going to be a stupid jerk, and the kid in all of the honors classes is always going to be a know-it-all without any friends. Of course, after we meet these people we find out that these assumptions are not true, that the stereotypes weren't even close to how these people actally act and think.
Back when I was in middle school, driving anywhere would put you in the path of a person with tight-pants and a multi-colored mohawk. Back then, I'd giggle at the sight and my mom would roll her eyes.
"See what wanting a lot of attention will do to you?" She would observe, and I'd giggle more.
But since then I've become friends with a lot of "those types of people", along with many others. I've come to realize that no one is really all that different from anyone else. We all laugh at the same jokes, watch the same TV shows, and like to do the same things.
No one can completely shut-out stereotypes, assumptions, and first impressions. But what we all can do is give everyone a chance at friendship. Who knows, that person you're glaring at could end up being your kids' godparent.
I'm glad you didn't just buy your dad's assessment of the homeless person. Critical thinking will get you far!
I can't tell you how many times people have told me they thought I was scary when they first met me. I think I furrow my brow when I'm thinking, and I'm always thinking, so people think I'm grouchy or something. But all my friends have said they thought I was a bitch when they first met me, but after talking to me, they knew right away that I'm really quite awesome! (their words, not mine)
I wish I could see myself on video for a couple of days and see what it is that puts people off.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
I don't know... I don't think I'd like myself if I met me. I'm so loud and perky all the time... I'd get annoyed.
I pass judgment on myself, too, haha! ;-)
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Your Tongue is a Rudder; It Steers the Whole Ship, Sends Your Words Past Your Lips or Keeps Them Safe Behind Your Teeth... [Brand New]
I'm pretty comfortable being on my own, and I think that makes me a bit unapproachable. I think this because people don't often approach me. Of course, I don't often approach people, either. I'm kind of shy around new people, and I probably say really dumb things. So I'm stupid, I'm weird, I'm quiet, and I don't care about anyone - that's usually the impressions that people get of me. But I won't lie, I am similarly judgmental. As much as I try to look past the things that I immediately think, and although I do give people the benefit of the doubt and expect goodness from everyone, I still create little stories in my mind of what I think they are. Until they start talking, and then I just have no clue at all. :)
I think our judgmental tendencies as human beings (because it is a human trait) comes from a mix of our experiences with people and our own self-confidence, or lack thereof.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/kariskoett
"All things appear and disappear because of the concurrence of causes and conditions. Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everything else."
-Buddha
Dang all my people say I was tacky and tactless and mean and rude...I am still its just now they claim to understand that I am right.
Nice blog
~T
All truths are easy to understand once discovered; The point is to discover them ~Galileo
You know, I have no idea what people think of me after a first impression. I've never really asked, but now I am curious....
I would like to know what people think of me as well. I never hear anything bad, but that just makes me wonder if I'm so intimidating that they're scared to say so.
I love abortion. Read more here:
http://progressiveu.org/044921-i-love-abortion-even-if-it-murder
I absolutely hated my husband the first year I knew him. Literally loathed him. And he felt the same. I was too happy, talked and giggled way too much, routinely made him look like an idiot and was just generally intimidating. He was a total sarcastic ass. I still think he's an ass at times and he still swears I'm too happy, often intimidating and that I still take perverse pleasure in proving him wrong (which I willingly admit I often do), but we actually rather adore one another now. No clue how that happened.. but I'm rather pleased that it did. It definitely never gets boring around here, even after having been together for so long.
I'm with BurningExample though... I'd probably annoy myself too if I met me. I really do either talk and giggle too much or don't say anything at all. People of both extremes drive me insane.... but then again, I drive myself insane at times too, so I guess there's always that.
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Free books need new home.
~Fallon~
"If I fall asleep with a pen in my hand, don't remove it - I might be writing in my dreams."- Pace
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Your husband loathed himself too? J/k
My Husband and I are the same way...I guess that is why he loves me andI put up with him.
Complamenting each other is better then dressing on salad
~T
All truths are easy to understand once discovered; The point is to discover them ~Galileo
lol, I guess an "about me" would have been appropriate there huh? Complementing one another is a very good thing. Could you imagine being married to someone exactly like you? I'd go nuts!
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Free books need new home.
~Fallon~
"If I fall asleep with a pen in my hand, don't remove it - I might be writing in my dreams."- Pace
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Marriage to myself...is that legal???? I know the house would be cleaner but other then that I am pretty sure one of us would have murdered the other by now;)
~T
All truths are easy to understand once discovered; The point is to discover them ~Galileo
It won't be long...first polygamy, then people will marry their dogs, and before long, they'll be marrying themselves! ;)
Bah.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
Then murder will become an understandable survival tactic ;)All truths are easy to understand once discovered; The point is to discover them ~Galileo
Let's get off this slippery slope, before society goes to hell in a ham basket!
Uh oh! Too late! As California goes, so goes the nation.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
I am from CA originally..no wonder I am so starnge!!! I even thought we were going to hell in a hand basket this whole time. Ham makes so much more sense.
~T
All truths are easy to understand once discovered; The point is to discover them ~Galileo
I've never been sure which it is, actually. I just like ham.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
When I saw the title, I actually thought, "Oh! Someone's writing on 1984 by Georgo Orwell. I just finished that book, so this should be good" because the title is a statement the main character says. haha!
Regardless, good blog. We spend a lot of time coming up with sorry excuses so we don't have to face our limitations in views.