judgment.

hey there.

so, blogging is so much harder when you have nothing to blog about. and i know this may seem simple and obvious, but in all actuality, most people don't actually have things to blog about. not serious things anyway. so i figure my posts mean more when they're serious and sporadic. predictably unpredictable.

onto tonight's topic: judgment. and this is one i really wish for opinions on because it is a tough concept that i struggle with.

i definitely judge people. i have an innate need to evaluate and speak my opinions. chances are that if i do not like something, then i tend to make it known. but is that healthy? i'm not entirely sure. social psychology shows us that having judgments and preconceptions is evolutionary and helps us adapt to situations. implicit judgments are made quickly without much thought and can be awfully beneficial. but sometimes this is not the case.

i have friends i judge a lot. i observe their behaviors and how they act and decide whether i like them or not. now, not a single one of my friends is perfect. and i'm not either. but to me they are making mistakes. but are they only mistakes because i see them that way? because they're mistakes from my point-of-view?

i used to have a really good friend that i cared a lot about. we had dated before and still were nice and friendly and all that. but then her lifestyle went a different way and i didn't approve. her attitudes about people and herself changed from when we first met and i started to resent her. i didn't like how she was living her life and i didn't like that she wasn't the same person. so i stopped talking to her. i don't speak to her and i no longer even acknowledge her presence. but every time this happens, i feel bad for it. i ask myself if i need to be this harsh. is it right to judge people like this? especially at this age, people do a lot things just to do them. people try new things and showcase their freedom. can i hate her for this? but then how can i sit and let myself be around people who's lives are lived against my own standards? where do i draw the line between being understanding and tolerant of mistakes and being weak and lax in my own morals? am i really caring about them if i let them continue?

my friends, this is a tough topic. i'm assuming the healthy option is somewhere in the middle. but i know people who share my views exist and wonder whether or not i could save myself stress by having other friends instead.

i do not want to be known for excommunicating friends who i don't agree with. but friends who make poor decisions and don't see the consequences...i'm not sure how long i could sit by and watch them hurt themselves. but then again, i know it's their life. i can't exactly tell anyone what to do. nor can i be that guy that always tells people they're wrong.

i'm at a loss on this one, folks. maybe you'll have some ideas. goodnight all.