Judging People by Their Cover
Today, a strange guy walked into the office. Never saw him before. He had the scruffy look of a loner on the roads, the sort that would make you bow your head and walk by as quickly as possible if he were to ever cross you on the streets. He was dressed relatively fine, but was unshaved, dark, intense yellowish eyes that made you want to hide under your desk just to get away from his gaze. The only reason I didn't, was because he walked in with a manager of ours. I figured he was an accountant or driver who got into trouble. But surprise surprise they walked up to our communications department and the guy ended up talking to two of our leading ladies in the department.Now, they're sitting right across me, the scruffy guy and the two good looking girls, and I'm trying not to think, man...he must be enjoying this. Every now and then I'd look up over my monitor to see what was going on. And through these sly observations of mine I started to notice a kind of glow enter the guys face, and he slowly started to look a little less scruffy.
So now I was really curious as to who this fellow was (no longer was he just some other 'guy' I would've liked to avoid). I started thinking, is he some simpleton donor or a volunteer or something else? Finally one of the girls came to ask me for a camera, so I HAD to know who is he?? Turned out, he was a student of our system, a product of our work, the fruit of our labor. He was being interviewed and being featured in one of our newsletters, showing how through the school system lives have been changed for the better. He actually is currently doing his B.Com. and has been hired as an accounts assistant in one of our own schools.
After knowing all this information I kept looking over my monitor again, only this time I didn't see the scary guy, instead I saw a person, an ex-student, someone for all of us to be proud of. And I realized, the change in his appearance was due to two reasons:
1. Having a chance to talk to someone in a positive manner
2. The clearing in my mind about the baised thoughts I immediately assumed when seeing him
And then I realized the hypocrisy of my own thinking. Out on the streets I see people, and a great deal of them who looked like this fellow who causeed a warning signal to go off in my head. I never stop to realize that they might be of a similar nature, background, or have similar achievements. I'm not saying I'd now like to go and smile to all the men out there, if I did, we'd have a very happy male population ;), however halo effects and stereotyping tend to cloud all our judgments in some fashion or another. With the world spirling downwards with the various riots, wars, and racism, It may just be the time that restoration in the faith for humanity is required. Though one must play it safe for themselves, one should also consider giving the other the benefit of the doubt.
posted by Sarah @ 3:30 PM
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