I hear what you have written to be an astute view of what happens when we attempt to discount another person. This writing is serendipitously important to me right now and I am glad to have read your post here about this very prevalent human behavior. Thank you. ~~ Diana

Judging, even discrimination is hardly a negative activity. It is an essential faculty for survival. We judge the food we eat, the company we keep, the distance between our car and the pedestrian in the crosswalk. Problems arise, and are a detriment to our survival (as individuals and species) when we pre-judge, discriminate without evidence or on knee-jerk/fear responses. We carry a gun or book of scripture believing it is the arbiter and proof of our righteousness. We 'belong' to this or that group, assured that outsiders have already proven their worthlessness. These are not judgments, of course, but failure to examine, assess and conclude based upon the reality of a situation or a 'mandatory' response and sentence. We have grown quite careless in our use of language. Perhaps it is the way the question is phrased which occludes our 'judgment' ... Yes people can be harmed, even without remorse ... but not without consequence.

There are levels of judgment in almost everything. Constructive criticism requires a subtle balance between judging and encouraging, enabling the person receiving the criticism to understand that all options are not necessarily good.

Makes me recall a comment I made toward an author here who has written several books condemning our president for his supposedly future intentions. I could only conclude from what was written that the man was acting on his inner racist inclinations. He fired back that I shouldn't be calling anyone names. If racist describes a certain behavior, it may be judgmental, but certainly not name-calling. Sometimes we have to call a spade a spade. Even if someone does not like to hear it.

Ron

I agree with Sandie. Then add one more thing...let God be the judge. Amen

... And while you're writing this statement you are also judging others on how they should or should not judge others. It seems the cycle will never end. The fact is we are all individuals living separate lives, we do not need others' approvals in how we should live our lives, or what is right to say, and what's not to say. We don't live for others' approvals. Others may say a lot of things, because everyone has their own opinions...like you yourself are giving one now. If we all have to get upset at anything that others perceive as wrong, we will definitely live through hell that are created by others. The fact that if we understand that we all don't live by others' opinions of ourselves, that's when we will find our inner peace and happiness, because we are the ones who is living our own lives, and we have the ability to make ourselves happy, regardless of what everyone may say about us.

Lastly...if I may say... Giving one's opinion of another ISN'T about judging another. It is because we understand fully that it is only our own opinion, and others will have the rights to agree, or disagree with us.

Sandie :o)