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Old Mar 25, 2011, 12:36 PM
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Perna Perna is offline
Pandita-in-training
 
Member Since: Sep 2006
Location: Maryland
Posts: 27,289
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheByzantine View Post
Quote:
We make judgments constantly. “He’s good-looking.” “She dresses well.” “He seems to lack a good sense of humor.” “She’s overweight.”

In forming opinions or making judgments, there is no moral overtone, no further conclusions are drawn, no inferences are made about the person’s character. We just have the observation or the perception.
I don't entirely agree; sometimes just forming a particular opinion or making a particular judgment has to imply some further, unstated conclusion/inference or why make the observation out loud?

To me, "She's overweight" is only needed when a doctor/nutritionist/dietitian/cook is asked why another person is on a diet? "He's good-looking" implies one likes the person's looks, "She dresses well" that the person stating that likes the other person's style. That no added on conclusions are added, that I don't state that I'm going to jump the good-looking guy's bones (or am telling you because I think you might like to) doesn't mean I'm not being judgmental.

I may be being judgmental about this particular word but I think judgmental is usually perceived as a negative judgment. If I say, "She's overweight and that's good; all women should be slightly overweight", people might agree or disagree with my judgment but I don't think they would find me judgmental?
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