I was reading Rebecca's post " Forward Thinking or Not, you always have a Blind Spot".
What she had to say was True, but my perspective is a little different, soooo I would like to expand on her thoughts.
Let's start with how the woman was dressed, we automatically assume she is well off and wouldn't do the mundane things we do. That is the assumption! But what if she is not well off, maybe she was before the foreclosure, divorce or any of the unpleasant things that life brings. If we assume different circumstances it leads us to different ideas, maybe she is getting ready to move before the eviction and needs to have a new phone for her small apartment and is shopping in WalMart's because it's what she can afford. Maybe talking to her friend, about her hair tangling in the cord, is just nervous chatter.
What I am saying is Blind Spots, 1st. Impressions or Survival Skills, are PROFILING!
It walks and quacks like a duck... it's still profiling
Now I know profiling is politically incorrect, but I also know it is a Fact of Life.
Think about the last time you found yourself driving thru a strange, shabby area, or a dark unfamiliar place, saw someone unlike you and then checked to see if your car doors were locked. Now see yourself in the mall, someone stops you to ask directions, dressed nicely- like you and you answered with a smile. Just think about the Safety Seminars we all attend where the expert tells you to always be aware of your surroundings. My point is we all have these words and they are really profiling and we all do it -Everybody- it is known as Situational Awareness and we do it visually and with contextual circumstances. It doesn't make it wrong, just aware of the Life around us Good, Bad, Sad or Funny.
If we know this, we hopefully make judgments with more care, understanding that our perspective is not the only one and our profile may be wrong.
Thank you, Rebecca for making me think and the inspiration for this post.
and surrounding areas
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