Thursday, 7 June 2012

Reasonable Observation or Unwarranted Rudeness.

I was weighing up the options with regard to scotch in the supermarket yesterday, when a woman of around fifty approached and started to pluck quantities of alcopops from the shelves. I found myself observing her hair, her make up, her mode of dress and her general demeanour. In the process, I was coming to some tentative assessments as to the type of person she was, or at least the stereotype she appeared to represent.

I’ve no idea whether I was right or not, but that isn’t the point. The point is, I really shouldn’t do that sort of thing, should I? At least not at such close quarters. Or should I? Do we all have the right to observe and assess others, as long as we come to no fixed conclusion and cause no harm with what might be an inaccurate opinion, and as long as any exercise of judgement is understood to be subjective?

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I could do with lightening up. The fatigue is weighing a bit heavy today. And one of my neighbours is causing me a measure of consternation. And it won’t stop raining!

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