We all do that. It's called "pre-judging".
I’m reminded of a story I was told when I was in college. (that was a long time ago so the story is a bit dated)
There once was a man who went into upscale bank to cash a check. Now the man's clothes were filthy and full of holes (this was before this was "in style") and his toes poked out of the holes in his shoes. The man's hair was uncombed and it was quite evident that a razor hadn't grazed his face in a very long time. The man walked up to the teller and politely asked if he could cash a small check. The teller gave him a scornful look and, in a haughty tone, told him that it wasn't the bank's policy to cash checks for non-customers. The man started to explain, but the teller cut him short and curtly told him to leave the premises or she’d have him removed. The man shrugged and left. The man then went down to a small, local bank and asked them to cash his check. The teller at that bank happily cashed his check for him.
The next day, the same man returned to the same upscale bank. However, this time he was wearing an Armani suit, creased slacks, and polished black shoes. His face was shaved, his short black hair neatly combed, and he was sporting a gold Rolex on his left wrist. The same teller smiled at him and pleasantly asked how she could help him. He politely asked her if he could see the bank manager.
Upon seeing the man, the bank manager thought he was a new customer who wanted to open up an account, so he eagerly greeted him and asked how he could be of service. The man didn’t shake the manager’s hand, but instead explained to him how he had been treated there on the previous day. He said that even though he had been a customer of the bank for over 20 years, it was evident that his business was unwanted. Therefore, he would be withdrawing all his money – all $8.8 billion of it – and depositing it in the small bank down the street.
*****
I have to admit that I’m guilty of prejudging people. I turn away from people who, in my eyes, look like vagrants, or are covered with tattoos. Big burly men with long beards on motorcycles make me very uncomfortable, as do teens in long black coats, or hoodies with their hands in their pockets. Yet I have found that, on the average, the “undesirable” looking people are more apt to help a person than those who look more “amiable”. I’ve seen teens pull their hands out of their pockets long enough to hold a door for an elderly person, while neat-looking business-type persons in suits simply ignore them. I try very hard to be nice to all people. It’s not easy!! Outward appearances can be deceptive.
Pre-judging is prejudice.
Shuhak 