I just now stumbled upon this. All I can say is...wow. You really have summed it up quite well and said it in a very polite manner (whereas I, on the contrary, would start ranting ). Great blog!
@ clitorectomy It honestly wasn't directed at you. This is something that's ALWAYS driven me nuts, because the phrase "You have no right to judge" often carries a lot of condescension and, unsurprisingly, judgment.
I'll be honest, though, I saw the blog you're referring to, too, and I do share frustration with people who use government aid and then spend their own money on unnecessary things. Now, I don't know the full background story of the person the blog was about, which is why I didn't say anything. I didn't see with my own eyes to know enough to know if it's something I personally would have made the same judgment on. But I've been in similar situations where I did make judgment. Does it mean I hate the person, or that I would verbally assault them or treat them badly? Of course not. But I've walked away thinking, "Man, SERIOUSLY?" and then gone and vented about it to someone because, from my perspective, it seems unnecessary and it bugged me, especially as someone who's dealt with poverty and whose family has been on the same programs. I don't think that's something that should warrant being cussed out at all, because it's an understandable frustration. It doesn't mean that I'm treating the person like a "criminal."
@ AmorarEsDeVivir K I agree. I just felt like this was directed at me because I told someone that it wasn't their place to judge and they referred me to this. But I still believe that in the circumstance that I used it, it really wasn't her place to judge. Of course, everyone always has the right to judge and think whatever they want, but sometimes it is completely unfair to.
@ clitorectomy You seem to have missed a pretty good chunk of what I've said here. I said multiple times that, regardless of our first impression judgments, we should still treat others with dignity and respect. I may see something someone else does and think, wow, this is idiotic. But that doesn't mean I'm going to sit there and chew them out or treat them like trash over it.
My whole point was that just because you don't agree with someone else's judgments or just because you personally think those judgments are unfair, that doesn't mean that you can treat that person poorly. Just like the judgments that other person makes, while they may be understandable conclusions to reach, don't give them the right to treat the people they're making judgments about poorly.
No. You can't just assume shit about people that you can't confirm and shouldn't even be worried about, and then treat them like a criminal and tell other people that they are a criminal. That's totally unfair.
I know I'm guilty of saying from time to time "You have no right to judge." I think the intent with what I am saying though, because in most cases when I have had said it, is that "It's not right for you to judge (so and so) because you don't even know this person and to slam them so hard is utterly foolish and ridiculous to me."
Sure, it's hypocritical, but if it's to the point they are getting me to say that, I really could care less.