People And Their Assumptions
Judy Ramsook
April 27, 2006
There are many qualities, traits, functions, and characteristics that link us humans together. Though some of our ways of thinking might be different, we all share what is known as assumptions. This crosses cultural, social and race barriers.
For example, a person could find him or herself in an unexpected encounter with an old friend or friend of a friend or relative. Suddenly, some one whom both individuals know spots the two persons together having lunch or just having a catch up conversation.
It is at this time such a person will assume the obvious; that maybe, those two people are engaged in something more. Next thing you realise is somewhere down the road, some one has accused one of those persons in the chance encounter of having an affair or something of that nature, when no such thing was taking place at all.
Some one’s niece or nephew has just received his or her driver’s license. Just for fun, an uncle or aunt of that relative decides to ride along as a passenger with that person to the nearest mall or café.
Upon arriving at one of those places, people turn to look and stare, already assuming you and your younger relative are either a mother/daughter/son or father/son/daughter combination, until the cell phone of that younger relative rings. When your niece or nephew says hi mom or dad into it, those same people who were assuming otherwise turn to look at you, the older member of the party as if to say they thought you were that teen’s mother or father.
Most people tend to judge or assume things about others according to their own life experiences. If they once had secret meetings with some one, they might think you are doing the same if they spot you in some remote or far flung location with some one else.
Some of those persons reach the obvious conclusions, then some again assume so much, that they tend to be wrong about some things or a few of their assumptions.
What may seem obvious to them might not even be taking place with whatever situation they are busy drawing up assumptions about. Of course, there are some cases that are quite clear to anyone viewing a particular scene, but there are others that may not always seem that obvious.
Nevertheless, whether we like it or not, no matter who or where you are, people are making assumptions about you just as you are about them. It's that one thing from which there is no escape, it’s the humane thing to do, it seems.
On the other hand, I once had a college professor who said, sometimes, when people assume too much is when they tend to make an a** out of u and me, by making the wrong assumption. It all adds up to the spelling of the word, assume.
For example, a person could find him or herself in an unexpected encounter with an old friend or friend of a friend or relative. Suddenly, some one whom both individuals know spots the two persons together having lunch or just having a catch up conversation.
It is at this time such a person will assume the obvious; that maybe, those two people are engaged in something more. Next thing you realise is somewhere down the road, some one has accused one of those persons in the chance encounter of having an affair or something of that nature, when no such thing was taking place at all.
Some one’s niece or nephew has just received his or her driver’s license. Just for fun, an uncle or aunt of that relative decides to ride along as a passenger with that person to the nearest mall or café.
Upon arriving at one of those places, people turn to look and stare, already assuming you and your younger relative are either a mother/daughter/son or father/son/daughter combination, until the cell phone of that younger relative rings. When your niece or nephew says hi mom or dad into it, those same people who were assuming otherwise turn to look at you, the older member of the party as if to say they thought you were that teen’s mother or father.
Most people tend to judge or assume things about others according to their own life experiences. If they once had secret meetings with some one, they might think you are doing the same if they spot you in some remote or far flung location with some one else.
Some of those persons reach the obvious conclusions, then some again assume so much, that they tend to be wrong about some things or a few of their assumptions.
What may seem obvious to them might not even be taking place with whatever situation they are busy drawing up assumptions about. Of course, there are some cases that are quite clear to anyone viewing a particular scene, but there are others that may not always seem that obvious.
Nevertheless, whether we like it or not, no matter who or where you are, people are making assumptions about you just as you are about them. It's that one thing from which there is no escape, it’s the humane thing to do, it seems.
On the other hand, I once had a college professor who said, sometimes, when people assume too much is when they tend to make an a** out of u and me, by making the wrong assumption. It all adds up to the spelling of the word, assume.
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