by Trent Greguhn

Created on: April 21, 2009

I'm wearing a screen printed t-shirt, black skinny jeans, all black shoes and a white newsboy cap. Though I only bought these clothes because they were simple and comfortable not only will I be judged by what brands I'm wearing but I will also be labeled and categorized and put away with all the others in my genre. I wish it weren't the case but it happens. I wish I didn't do it to others, but I do.

I'd like to say that I don't judge someone by their appearance. I really would like to think that I treat everyone with the same level of respect, but I don't. I really don't. I don't know what it is, a person's gait, their eyes, their clothes, their hair color, their make-up- all determining factors on how I feel and how I interact with someone.

I'm reminded of John Lennon's paper bag interview. It would have been a good idea if we hadn't already known what he looked like and how he acted but he had a point. Would we act differently if we all walked around wearing paper bags? It wouldn't take long for someone to come up with designer paper bags with decorative designs, and even though no one could see their Armani paper bag they'd still feel better and superior to everyone else in their hand me down bags.

So now that we've ruled out paper bags, what if everyone were blind; if we were unable to judge by appearance? Would people stop being judged entirely? Well, I'm sure the sound of their voice, the choice of their diction and the level of their charisma would take place of their make up and designer clothes.

I think what this really regresses down to, is the question on whether human beings possess the ability to judge or not. Should people be judged by their appearance? Of course not. I think we can all agree to that to one degree or another, but can we? Can we stop judging people by their haircuts, skin color and designer clothes? I really don't think so. Let's all be honest with each other, there is a certain visual aesthetic that we all are drawn to, one that's specific to each and every one of us. Human beings have the ability to appreciate difference in appearance, appreciate the beauty it can garner.

So while we probably shouldn't judge by appearance, after all a human being is as good as their core, we do. We should learn to live with the fact that we will always judge by appearance, but take little steps as not to be so critical, withholding true judgment until we spend a little time with them.

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