It seems that we humans are hard-wired to judge. Think about how pervasive our language is regarding “winners and losers,” the “haves and have-nots,” “right or wrong.”
Another way of framing these distinctions is “same as me (or us)” and “different than me (or us).” In a blinding flash of the obvious, the “winners,” “haves,” and “right” people are those that see the world the same we way do.
The question for the day is, “What does that judging do for us?” How does it serve us?” Those pronouncements clearly have value – why else would we do them so often? One could argue that they help with a Darwinian “survival of the fittest” – may the best ideas win. Another perspective is that they help form communities – people who are like us are easier to talk and relate to. A third benefit is that it justifies (rationalizes?) the reasons we do not choose to associate with someone else. It’s much easier to claim it is about them than about us.
There are some downsides to judging. We lose out on the ability to learn from others different than ourselves. We lose the quality of thinking and discerning that comes from rationale, deep conversations that cause us to question our own beliefs, values, and assumptions. We lose out on “the other half” of the world out there.
So the next time you find yourself uttering a holier-than-thou pronouncement of right and wrong; of “naughty or nice” – pause for a minute. What have you gained? What have you lost?