First Impressions

[lTraditional]

If this is the incorrect forum then feel free to move it.

I have recently been watching the auditions of Britains Got Talent and I have made myself post this to see what your thoughts are. It is when you see someone who is over weight, looks 'gay' or whatever and you think "they are never going to get anywhere in life" and this got to me when watching Jonathan and Charlotte's act on Britains Got Talent when Simon Cowell said "and you thought it couldn't get worst" as soon as they walked out. It also happened with Susan Boyle when they thought she wouldn't get anywhere. They both proved Simon and the audience wrong with their big voices.

The question I am basically asking is, do you think it is right to judge someone from what they look like? This isn't going in to relationships or anything but in general like on talent shows and such. What do you think?

Thread moved here by Martin (Forum Super Moderator): From 'Discuss Anything' as its more suited here.

[Catchy]

Well tbh it's part of our nature to judge and no matter how much you try not to judge someone, you will always always judge someone.

Answering your question though on talent shows I thought they'd of learnt their lesson by now and not judged a book by it's cover however in society it's a different story all together.

[Lee]

I absolutely do this, and a lot of the time when you judge somebody for looking different, they perform and they completely surprise you with their audition and then everyone loves them. I don't know if it is right to do it or not, I suppose if they are just dressed weird like most of them are then they have it coming...

[Empired]

I don't think it's right to judge someone because of the way they look but, like most people, I do it anyway. I think we all judge a little even if we don't mean to 'cause it's just part of life. Only human n all that

[dbgtz]

I judge everyone rather negatively as I'm quite defensive, so I'm always cautious around people who I do not really know.

[Jurv]

i try my best not to judge someone on their looks before getting to know them, but it's just human nature rly.

as for talent shows, i personally think you have to judge them before they preform. if they're performing an act in front of an audience then the way they look is bound to have a effect on how they come across. if anything they should be making an effort to look nice and dressed up, otherwise it just shows pure laziness. but yeah, that's just my opinion. i don't agree with people who judge them for their physical appearance though, i was mainly speaking about their clothes etc.

[lawrawrrr]

i just think its really difficult to not judge someone, even a little bit, on what they look like. i know it's all wrong, you shouldnt judge a book by it's cover, but in this day and age its so difficult to completely detach from looks.

however when it does come to relationships im deffo one for giving someone a chance, and i really feel that someones personality is much more important.

[Neversoft]

Beauty is only skin deep, but at the same time, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I can see why people judge others, we all have a difference sense of what is accepted or 'right' or within line to our tastes. I think it's a shame, but we're all individuals, and there is no way around it. But despite that, we're still all human beings, and I think it is unfair to completely discard someone or treat someone as less of a person based on how they look, their interests, their sexual orientation, and whatnot. Being shallow is probably one of the worst personality traits you could have as far as I'm concerned.

[Sharon]

So if you see someone that is more orange than a cheesy puff and is wearing really skimpy/trashy clothes would you not judge them? I would. I think it's just a natural part of life and most of the time how someone looks can say a lot about them.

[Empired]

I half agree with Shazzy; but everyone (even though some people may as well not be wearing clothes, for all the material they've wrapped around themselves) is still human and some tend to forget that. They think (example) that because you've got grey hairs and you're 30 that you're immediately either a liar or a freak when some people are just unlucky. I can't really say much 'cause I guess I think like this too, but at the same time, I think first impressions can be changed?? There are plenty of people I've marked down as something, got to know them and then found out that they're something totally different.

Your sig is very appropriate as well ;)

[buttons]

They think (example) that because you've got grey hairs and you're 30 that you're immediately either a liar or a freak when some people are just unlucky
LMAO WHAT

er do people read the question especially mods as it says THIS ISN'T ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS ITS ABOUT TALENT SHOWS IN GENERAL but you move it to relationships anyway lol ok im gonna answer based on relationships as everyone else is



YES WE JUDGE BY APPEARANCE even subconsciously and for good reason although our instincts may be a bit outdated. the way someone dresses or styles themselves can tell you the type of person they are and whether you wish to avoid them or judge them negatively or not. i mean, if someone has a nazi tattoo on their face... yes i'm going to judge them negatively. :S & usually people of a certain genre/style hang out together and you do form stereotypes of them. i think its natural but you don't need to look down on them or avoid them, i really hate narrow minded people who stick to 'their type' - you got a lot to learn from other people.


imo the way someone act still defines who they are. even though the first thing we do is judge appearance (its the first thing you see....) we still have our own free will where we can step out of that prejudice and not judge them on that only. i much prefer to judge someone negatively then be pleasantly surprised by them (ie on those talent shows) than to see someone who looks promising but completely disappoint you such as good looking people, you want them or believe them to be smart and kind too but often enough they're the complete opposite.

[dirrty]

LMAO WHAT

er do people read the question especially mods as it says THIS ISN'T ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS ITS ABOUT TALENT SHOWS IN GENERAL but you move it to relationships anyway lol ok im gonna answer based on relationships as everyone else is



YES WE JUDGE BY APPEARANCE even subconsciously and for good reason although our instincts may be a bit outdated. the way someone dresses or styles themselves can tell you the type of person they are and whether you wish to avoid them or judge them negatively or not. i mean, if someone has a nazi tattoo on their face... yes i'm going to judge them negatively. :S & usually people of a certain genre/style hang out together and you do form stereotypes of them. i think its natural but you don't need to look down on them or avoid them, i really hate narrow minded people who stick to 'their type' - you got a lot to learn from other people.


imo the way someone act still defines who they are. even though the first thing we do is judge appearance (its the first thing you see....) we still have our own free will where we can step out of that prejudice and not judge them on that only. i much prefer to judge someone negatively then be pleasantly surprised by them (ie on those talent shows) than to see someone who looks promising but completely disappoint you such as good looking people, you want them or believe them to be smart and kind too but often enough they're the complete opposite.
cba to write anything when this basically sums up what i was going to say lmao. anyone would be foolish to say they don't judge ppl based on first impressions, as we all do. don't be ashamed ppl, don't be ashamed!!

[FlyingJesus]

Being shallow is probably one of the worst personality traits you could have as far as I'm concerned.

Why's that? Looks are an important part of our being, and quite often relate to how the person sees themselves, which in turn is often a decent enough indicator of the overall personality. If I see someone wearing a band tshirt and a giant hammer&sickle badge, I know that I'm not likely to get on with them however nice they might be. Same goes for someone 30-stone with food stains all over them. It's entirely logical to judge people, and how one presents oneself says a lot more than effortless personality traits that can be faked by anyone

[lTraditional]

By the way, I am not going to lie, I do it at times as well when it comes to people in general however it is mostly when someone comes on BGT and you think "they are going to be ****" and you find out they aren't so I am just wanting your opinions on that judgement. I have done it once or twice but after being fooled many times, I just give up lmao.

[dirrty]

By the way, I am not going to lie, I do it at times as well when it comes to people in general however it is mostly when someone comes on BGT and you think "they are going to be ****" and you find out they aren't so I am just wanting your opinions on that judgement. I have done it once or twice but after being fooled many times, I just give up lmao.
i believe that they do that on purpose to recreate a 'susan boyle' moment. because the producers know that everyone judges based upon appearances, so we automatically assume that someone whose not 'conventionally attractive' will be terrible at singing (even though physical appearance don't dictate talent). plus, i wouldn't be surprised if the judges have an inclining of how good/bad an act will be; especially considering the acts have already performed infront of the producers (before the lives auditions). that's why i rarely take things at face value when it comes to all aspects of the media tbf.

[Inseriousity.]

First impressions are important but I would certainly not be so closed minded that no-one has the chance to prove negative labels wrong. I always go 'uh oh' when I see a bunch of chavs walking towards me but 9 times out of 10, they just walk past and do nothing so often the negative label comes from a small minority which I think is just human nature to then apply to the majority. The reason I like coming online is that it is often personality first, looks second (or never if you choose not to show who you are) and it's a nice change from the looks first, personality second which while natural can be a bit depressing if your looks arent any good!

As for talent shows, it's all edited and stuff to make you think negative things. Simon knew exactly what he was saying when he said 'it can't get any worse.' As for Susan Boyle, never had that moment because the newspapers ruined the surprise anyway!

[Neversoft]

Why's that? Looks are an important part of our being, and quite often relate to how the person sees themselves, which in turn is often a decent enough indicator of the overall personality. If I see someone wearing a band tshirt and a giant hammer&sickle badge, I know that I'm not likely to get on with them however nice they might be. Same goes for someone 30-stone with food stains all over them. It's entirely logical to judge people, and how one presents oneself says a lot more than effortless personality traits that can be faked by anyone

Looks aren't everything, Tom. The key part in what you said is the word often. Certainly, often appearance can be a good indicator, but never always. When I had long hair, everyone would immediately assume I was into metal, but apart from like two bands, I didn't listen to metal at all and had near to no interest in the genre. If you see someone with uncombed hair, looking fairly scruffy, are they a slob? Do they not care about their appearance? Or did they simply wake up late and have to rush that morning? You say personality can be faked by anyone as though how you present yourself can't be. I already said there's no way around judging others, but to be completely shallow and to base so much on appearance, that's just not in line with what I perceive to be 'right'. The only way you'll get to genuinely know someone is by having a conversation with them, and it's a shame how many people are reluctant to do that as a result of looks or appearance.

[FlyingJesus]

Personality isn't everything, Chirs. The key part in what you said is the word genuinely. Certainly, often interests can be a good indicator, but never always. When I was abusive to people, everyone would immediately assume I was a bully victim with something to prove, but apart from 5 minutes one break time I have never been socially victimised by my peers. If you talk to someone who's abrasive, sounding like they have no time for you, are they a bad person? Do they not care about mankind? Or did they simply wake up in anguish and not feel chatty that morning? You say beauty is only skin deep as though we aren't conditioned to have overlaying skins of personality according to what's deemed acceptable. I already said that people can be nice, but to be completely gullible and base so much on what people pretend to be, that's just not in line with what I perceive to be clever. The only way you'll get to genuinely know someone is by being them, and it's a shame that it's entirely impossible for that to ever happen.

[Neversoft]

You're being awkward and completely twisting what I'm saying. I'm not denying that personality can't be faked, I didn't even insinuate that personality was everything. I agree with you, looks are important, and it is logical to judge people based on perhaps what they wear just as much as what they say. But looks and personality are two different things, one isn't necessarily reflective of the other, and when it comes to really getting to know someone, how are you supposed to even attempt that without talking to them. Some people simply look at others and take what they see as cold, hard fact, when in actuality appearance can be just as much a false projection as personality. Not being shallow doesn't mean in the slightest you're gullible or in any way not clever. Sometimes it's good to give people the benefit of the doubt, you know.

[e5]

It's not right but we as humans, naturally judge. Whether you choose to voice it or not is a different matter.