Should we be judged by what we do in our ordinary lives or by what we do or might do in extreme circumstances?

Question

And Why?

While it might at first seem valid to say that we do SHOULD judge others, but we do make judgements all the time. Is it honest to say that we don't or that we SHOULD NOT? Isn't that also making a judgement?

Made a bit of a muddle of this -- The truth is no matter how much we would like not to, we are forced to make daily judgements about our own behaviour (even if not that of others). How do we best judge our actions? Should we judge them by how we treat people under ordinary circumstances or how we behave when we are under extreme stress. Isn't to say that we shouldn't make such judgements just a way of saying that what we do in the world doesn't really matter?

Answer 1

By what we do in our "ordinary lives", since it is in our everyday actions that our true character and nature are best revealed.
Conrad wrote a great book on this very theme: "Lord Jim"

"Even more tortured is the analysis of idealism and heroism that lies at the center of Lord Jim. Jim is a young man who enters the world motivated primarily by fantasies of daring and noble deeds lifted from cheap novels. His ideals break down, however, in the face of real danger; they are, in fact, untenable when applied to any form of reality. This naïve idealism seems absurd when it leads to Jim's refusal to forget the Patna incident, but it leads to real tragedy when he allows it to guide his conduct when Patusan is threatened. What is honorable behavior in this world? Captain Brierly, who is presented as the prime example of success both professionally and in terms of character, can't live with himself and commits suicide. Gentleman Brown, one of the most self-possessed and self-scrutinizing of men, is nothing but a petty bandit. All these men are connected by being what Marlow calls "one of us," but what does that term mean? Ideals are a troublesome burden, and each character reveals to some degree a fear that he will be confronted with a situation in which he must choose between ideals of conduct and a happy outcome."

Lord Jim is the story of a young ship's officer who makes an incomprehensible mistake. Jim was the first mate on a pilgrim ship on its way to Mecca. After the ship collides with an unseen object, it becomes in danger of sinking. Jim abandons the ship, leaving the human cargo to fend for themselves. Jim was branded a coward and stripped of his license as a sailor, and was unable to bear the disgrace attached to his life for a brief moment of cowardice. He is dogged by the guilt of what he did and spends years drifting around the East trying to find a way to redeem himself. Eventually, he ends up in the forests of Malaysia where he becomes a god-like protector of the natives and is given the label of Lord. Even though he was given this title and he his followers consider him a success, he is not able to forget his moment of weakness. Jim's egocentricity stops him from going on with his life and condemns him to a life of voluntary exile, the whole time believing that he is not good enough to live in the outside world. He is willing to risk any future happiness and fortune to be able to face his demons once again without losing his nerves. Ironically, it is Jim's last heroic act that destroyed all the good that Jim had built up, essentially bringing chaos to his world. Lord Jim's tale is presented as a lesson to everyone. Just because an individual does something wrong doesn't mean that they can run away from their problems. After a life of torturing himself, for his perceived cowardice and shortcomings, Jim receives a chance at redemption. For his lonely display of honor and bravery, he receives a bullet in the chest. Yet, did he have another option? He could run away from his predicament again and choose life. The reward for this action, another start somewhere else where he would torture himself the rest of his life or until he failed again. In the end, there was no other choice for Jim. He was compelled to act because the alternative of escape that he had been living was already worse than the death his actions would bring on. Unable to live with the guilt any longer, Jim chooses suicide. It seems that Conrad suggests to us that reaching perfection is less important than learn to accept ourselves as we are."

Answer 2

pfft. none of this makes your religion true. lack of answers indicates a boring non relevant question, not lack of an articulate answer. no one really cares, but since you went there... court records show ct russell to be a fraudster. when asked to identify some hebrew characters, he couldn't, even tho he previously claimed he could. his wife also said he was pedo. there were 9 child sex abuse cases settled secretly in 2007 by the watchtower. i'm not even american, but when i think of free speech there, i think founding fathers, probably washington, and people like martin luthor king and malcolm x, willing to put their lives on the line for others. you present the watchtower pursuing their own interests. hitler would have changed that 1st amendment thing. did the jws go to stop him? or were you all running around saying the sky is falling and a wolf attacked the sheep. yet now the children of those who did stand up and guaranteed your 1st amendment rights, you try to turn into cripples too. shameful persecution? are you trying to claim a monopoly on persecution? you know over 100 000 "real" christians were martyred in the 1st 2 centuries after jesus? not much room left for a modern anointed class. nyway, already given too much time to this one.

Answer 3

By what we do in our ordinary lives. The reason being there really is no way to tell how a person would behave in extraordinary circumstances, except by observing how they act now. If they show kindness and consideration in their day to day lives, chances are they would have more of a tendency to do the same under extraordinary circumstances. If they show cowardliness, cruelty and anger in their daily lives, ditto.

Answer 4

well. providing judgement exists, then we have to be considered in our wholeness. Probably the most common thing is what we do everyday and sometimes we have the chance of being placed in extraordinary situations, good or bad,who knows, and then our acting might depend on so many things, not only our ethic values but also what the bet is.

Answer 5

Some ordinary people become great people under extreme circumstances.

No one should have to endure being judged by other people, based upon their biased criteria.

You should recognize that being "ordinary" or being "great" is completely a subjective perspective.

Answer 6

I think the day to day kindness and caring count even more than what you might do under special circumstances. It's hard to be a good role model, good mother, good employee day after day but this is what effects peoples lives.

Answer 7

we shouldn't be judged for anything, whether ordinary or extraordinary life we live.Who is a judge here? Not just being judged, but stop to judge ourselves and others. That is a huge task to be solved for any individual. Christian teaching, and not only Christian, states, "Judge Not" and there is no conditions or exceptions (which is conditions) in that statement can be found.

Answer 8

And just whom is going to be the judge? The human race? I think not! Honored for an heroic deed maybe, but, not judged on face value alone. God will hand down any judgment I require at the appropriate time, thank you. Noone should judge me cause I would drive them crazy!!!!!!

Answer 9

Judgement is a meaningless verdict passed by a powerless judge.
Everything is one, Mother Theresa and Adolf Hitler are different sides of the same coin, and the only answer is to love the criminal and the victim.

Answer 10

have you noticed that a car thief always locks his/her car up or that house burglars have their houses belled up and big big locks.. we all judge each other by our own standards and someones ordinary might be the defining moment in anothers life etc.. 'the law can not be thought of in a context of logic' is one of the first precepts learnt at law school if by your question you mean to infer a legal reference but it works in real life quite well. unless of course your real is my dream, subjective objectivity!!!