Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Judgement

There are judges (as in, "Your Honor" judges). Judgment calls. Using your best judgment. And a theme that I've seen brought up in more than one forum that I frequent...people who judge others. AKA Judgy Mc Judgersons. Now, don't tell me you NEVER judge others about anything. That's a load of BS and we all know it. We judge based on superficial, "outside" characteristics-hair, clothing, weight, car, where someone lives, what we read, etc. We judge based on more personal, "inside" characteristics-political/religious beliefs (though for some religions, this could also be considered an outside characteristic based on required clothing items), sexual orientation, what childrearing decisions people make (aka the Mommy Wars), where we grew up, etc. Some judge others within the same "group" as them-people at church, or the gym, or school, or work, or who share the same hobby as you (running is the example I'm going to use). I fully admit to people watching at the gym and raising my eyebrows at certain things-usually either the guys who think they're hot shit because they drop their weights on the ground after a deadlife and make a noise that causes half the gym to jump out of their skin, or girls that come in clearly to be seen and not to work out. (Please note-yes, I go to the gym after work and do not wash my makeup off beforehand. Those who do something similar are not who I'm talking about. Those who clearly have not come straight from work but rather put on a bunch of makeup just to work out at 9am are who I'm talking about.). From a running standpoint, I've encountered those who have very specific criteria for who and who is not a "real runner" and judge the hell out of anyone they deem NOT a "real runner". (Views on what makes/doesn't make a "real runner" and whatthefuck a "real runner" is anyway will be a topic for another day). For example, you're not a "real runner" if you: haven't completed a marathon (without walking), or can't maintain a certain pace, or don't own a Garmin or other GPS watch, or prefer to wear cotton t shirts to "tech" shirts. Some may find this ridiculous (personally, I do), and some may agree. The more I think about it, the more I find myself asking "Why?" Why do we feel the need to judge others? To feel better about ourselves? To feel like we understand someone better, even when that someone is a perfect stranger? Because we were raised with preconceived notions about certain groups of people? Human nature? I don't know, but I don't like it. Ideas, anyone? And OMFG what is UP with this formatting issue?! I swear, this was not one long paragraph when I started it! Sorry :(

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Great post Lori, but sadly I think it's part of human nature to judge for whatever reason. I'm guilty - I may judge for a lot of the same reasons you mentioned (I find myself doing it more and more at the gym...), but I try to not hold my judgments against someone as a human being. Does that make sense?

Oh and don't get me going on the "real runner" thing. I was told that by my father-in-law of all people because we ran 10 minute miles. I was fuming...

Allison said...

I think a lot of it tends to be for self-validation. I'm looking at what you (not you, Lori...the other "you's" out there :) ) do and think and say and wear and then comparing to myself. And then I judge what you're doing to make myself feel better about the choices that I've made. So those people who are trying to judge people who aren't "real runners" just want to feel better about BEING a "real runner", whatever that means...

I'm not saying it's right--just that I think we all do it.

I agree with Colleen--I try to keep in mind that any one choice typically doesn't have anything to do with their place as a human being (being a terrorist is one story, wearing pants that don't fit right is another), but even that is really difficult sometimes.

Great post!

Sarah Dee said...

Great words. More to do w/ all of life than just running. I like how you tell the story w/ running though.