“You don't let them see you bleed.” – Dave Pelzer, best-selling author.

“All this Orkut and face book and stuff – they are people's happy pages. People share their lives here only when they are happy… It's just human – wanting to project perfection.” – from a story by Malavika T, blogger.

Nice insights.

All success
Dr.Mani

It's my first time posting here, I'm brand new. But I can definitely identify with your backgrounds and have been there when people believe I am “affluent” (at other times, some have thought I that I am “ghetto”). We can never truly know why people do things or what they have been through, but it is so easy to judge. I'm so happy I read this, because last semester I took a course in Social Psychology. It emphasized that first impressions are generally wrong, but all and all it doesn't matter to the person who is playing the judge if they are right or wrong about their assumptions. It is in our human nature to pass judgement, so it is very tough to move past that. I hope to work in substance abuse or domestic violence, so this is something I ponder about day in and day out.

It's my first time posting here, I'm brand new. But I can definitely identify with your backgrounds and have been there when people believe I am “affluent” (at other times, some have thought I that I am “ghetto”). We can never truly know why people do things or what they have been through, but it is so easy to judge. I'm so happy I read this, because last semester I took a course in Social Psychology. It emphasized that first impressions are generally wrong, but all and all it doesn't matter to the person who is playing the judge if they are right or wrong about their assumptions. It is in our human nature to pass judgement, so it is very tough to move past that. I hope to work in substance abuse or domestic violence, so this is something I ponder about day in and day out.

Anyways, you asked us to share a little with you about ourselves in relation to perceptions. I am a gainfully employed Administrative Associate for a College President, college graduate, happily married for 21 years with four beautiful children, part-time Associate Faculty member teaching computer applications, etc. BUT I am also a high-school dropout, teen mom that has been through both heaven and hell helping my hubby battle depression, drug addiction and a stint in jail for assault with a deadly weapon. People that meet us now would never even suspect that we have been through so much in our young lives. Putting it into perspective is the fact that I'm ONLY 37 years old! My oldest child is 21 and my youngest are 15 – the age I was when I was giving birth to my first child.

Having the life that I have had is always a good reminder to not judge people based on perceptions…but I don't think I have seen a reminder put so eloquently in quite some time! Thank you for sharing with us!!! I feel like I need to go hug someone now!

Oh, and I edited your comment to pull out your email address, which half snuck in somehow.

“Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.”