Do you think you can judge...

Topic: Do you think you can judge...
...a person's personal, professional, etc. life, based on what they portray themselves as online? Why or why not?

Sure, someone's online persona is only a fraction of who they are as a whole person. But if that online persona is in complete control of the person (i.e., we aren't talking about private photos or e-mail messages published online), then that is what the person is being asked to be judged on.

This idea that "judging" someone, being judgmental, etc. is bad or wrong is silly. We all judge. It's how we determine what is good, bad, what we like, whether to pursue interests, etc. It's how our brains work. We need to organize/compartmentalize in order to make sense of things. We make judgments every day, all day long. Judging is discerning. We confuse judging with condemnation.

So, to your specific original question, yes, I can "judge a person's personal, professional, etc. life based on what they portray themselves as online." That's assuming I am considering someone in a personal or professional context. Most people online don't get that far into my brain. But if I'm considering someone in a different context, I am going to rely on my previous experience with said person. That's judging. I try to remember that I could be wrong, and that I'm getting a glimpse of someone's true self. But yes, I (and everyone else) still judges. It's all we have to go by.

Is it possible what you are driving at is whether it's OK to condemn someone based on those judgments, or publicly call someone out based on those judgments? Different question.

I however, feel as though I cannot form an opinion of what someone is like in their home life, work life, etc. based on MFP or any other site. I don't see what one has to do with the other, but that's just my opinion.

This is my opinion - my judgment if you will - but I think you are kidding yourself. I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt that you aren't lying. I don't think you are a liar. But I think you are mistaken here. You may be telling yourself "this is only the online representation of Bob" but if you think of Bob in the context of his home or work life, the only thing you have to reference is your previous interactions with Bob. And if those interactions are only online MFP interactions, then that's what you'll use. I don't think that's bad. I think that how people's brains work.

For the record, I judge topics such as this as self-serving. Instead of posting your true intent up front, you drew people in to commit to an idea first, then posted what I've quoted above on page 4 of this topic. In my opinion, it comes across as you posted a very vague moral question without committing one way or another - as is you are simply curious. After lines have been drawn, you come in to state what I believe (judge) was your original intent: to demonstrate your belief/approach that seems better than other behavior on the forum.

I hope you don't take this as a personal attack. I am merely judging your own posts and what I believe to be your intentions.