Do you make assumptions about people without knowing them?

Question

Quiz: Try and see if your assumptions are right or wrong. I will answer them later.Guess something about the following people.
1. Woman wearing long skirt, sleeves to elbows, dark head scarf covers head, simple and plainly dressed.
2. Dirty, messy and poorly dressed man walking around streets talking to no one and sleeping in park.
3.A rich young man suddenly stops wearing nice clothes, working at a great paying job and goes around wearing plain brown sack cloth for clothing. Has no interest in the fun things he liked before.
What do you think you KNOW about these 3 people?

Actually I am making no assumptions I know two of these personally and have recently learned of the third. I am curious what people who do not know them may decide without taking the time to learn.

1. most people presume in a Mennonite, but I dress this way and I am Catholic.
2. This man is usually presumed to be a drunk but he is really very sweet and mentally ill and the government will not take care of him.
3. Most people presume that this man is crazy. He is actually a young man in his 20's in India following in St. Francis footsteps and trying to live a life of sacrifice for the Lord.

Actually I am surprised and pleased to hear that none of you tried to assume you knew anything about these 3 people. I believe we should try to to assume to know so much about others without getting to know them.
Peace Be With You,
Debra

Answer 1

1. She's cold.
2. Dad, is that you???
3. Damn, tech stock......

Answer 2

1. Woman wearing long skirt, sleeves to elbows, dark head scarf covers head, simple and plainly dressed.
She wants to appear very odd. She likes attention but devises uncommon ways of doing so. She is wearing a dark head scarf over her whole head.

2. Dirty, messy and poorly dressed man walking around streets talking to no one and sleeping in park.
This matches a schizophrenic that is commonly seen in various parts of the United States. Other than that, I know nothing about him.

3.A rich young man suddenly stops wearing nice clothes, working at a great paying job and goes around wearing plain brown sack cloth for clothing. Has no interest in the fun things he liked before.
This man also might be schizo. But maybe he's just practicing for a part in his daughters play; I don't know. You said that he quit his job, you have to go home sometime. You didn't say that he intended to walk away from it for any period of time. Maybe it was time to go home and go to his daughters play. And maybe he want's to do so good that he is not caring about the RC airplane that he has been calling fun for the past three month. I DON'T KNOW!

Answer 3

1. This woman is a pious woman and lives simply and modestly without the desire for popular trends and frivolous lifestyles. This woman is possibly Christian, Jewish or Muslim.

2. Homeless man who either went down the wrong path and lost his way, or never had the chance at a 'normal' life to begin with. Had it rough, probably been spit on a few times. Would probably enjoy a Big Mac meal more than I. Could also possibly be one of those who fake it for the money (seen it done before).

3. Either depressed with his empty, lonely life or has taken on a new religion that teaches the bare simplicities of life are the most rewarding.

I really can't say I KNOW anything about them, it's just all assumptions, like you said.

Answer 4

1. The woman is very modest, probably related to faith, either of her own will or under the power of a man (husband or father) who enforces such modesty. Is she wearing a watch or jewelry? If not, she's likely Amish. If she is wearing jewelry, possibly conservative christian or jewish.

2. Doesn't mean much in particular unless you can see a bottle near him. At the least, he has lost everything, including self respect.

3. Suddenly became religious (or became serious about his existing faith).

I make assumptions all the time. We're taught to connect the dots from a very young age and we are taught to judge people based on attire and attitude. It's rooted in our culture. Nobody escapes being trained in these ways.

Additionally, I would assume you were recently hurt by someone who you feel has wrongfully judged you based on assumption.

And if I'm wrong, you can assume I'm ignorant, which wouldn't be so much of an assumption. Many assumptions are based on ignorance. Which is a pretty good reason to let go if someone has hurt you. They're just ignorant.

Answer 5

I try not to but I am not perfect and make mistakes too just like all of us do, and you can tell somethings about people by there situations. If I saw some one who had problems and I had a way to help I like to think that I would, but I am never really for sure! Being homeless is no fun and just shouldn't happen to people but some times circumstances are really bad I know I have been there and done that but in the end people who really care and help can get you throw and people can find a way if they believe that they can!

Answer 6

1. Traditional religion following women.
2. Homeless guy who might have lost his home and job and he is not talking to anyone because he also have the self respect and really ashamed of his present condition and situation.
3. Rich young man has grown up and realize that all these things have not importance.

Answer 7

I don't base on that sort of thing. What I base on is fo they seem to have the same frequency as I do, or are the close enough. I don't find many people like me, but when I do it's an instant attraction and we both feel it. Most people have a more common frequency, so they don't have to think about it but talking with someone from those frequencies is painful for me sometimes.

Answer 8

1.) I assume this woman has some reason for concealing her skin.

2.) I assume this man would be less prone to disease and infection if he cleans himself up.

3.) I assume that the sack cloth is itchy.

I KNOW none of these things, but I'd wager heavily on #2.

Answer 9

we constantly employ a 'provisional sense of expectation' based on past experience, learning and societal molding and we correct these (i would hope) as we progress into social discourse with the person.

interesting point vis-a-vis #2...we can no longer assume the guy is a homeless bum...i've seen many people like that who are just talking on those blackberry ear things whcih can't be seen from every angle. I thought they were bums but they were talking on a headset and wandering around because they treat the park like their office...

Answer 10

I don't know anything about them other than what you listed, but here's the stereotypes that are brought forth:

1. A religious woman; Muslim, Quaker, Nun, etc

2. A bum

3. Someone recently indoctrinated into a cult

Answer 11

None of them have been touched by his Holiness the Flying Spagetti Monster