Judgment in Haste

Sohmer | September 27, 2013

I did something yesterday that I’m not proud of, something I pride myself in not doing. But, I did it, and should therefore own up to it.

Yesterday afternoon, a couple people in the office were talking about the head of Barilla pasta, who had apparently said some horrible things about the gay community, and gay marriage in specific. My gut reaction to this, like usual, was ‘this guy’s a fucking idiot.’

And, because I believe the hardest way to hurt a company is with your wallet, I decided no more Barilla pasta in my house.

With that, it was out of my head.

Hours later, as my wife and I were telling each other about our battles of the day (me with Nerf, and her with the babies), I made small mention of the Barilla thing and asked if she had heard of it.

She had not, so I told her what I knew.

That’s when I realized, I knew nothing. My entire basis from which I developed an opinion from, was a half-assed conversation overheard in the hall. I didn’t know what he said, I didn’t know where he said, I didn’t know what the context was and I didn’t even know his name. I hadn’t read one damn story about it, but had somehow passed judgment on a situation with nothing to base it on.

And to me, that’s one of the worst things we can do.

Whatever my opinion became of the Barilla guy, that doesn’t matter. I judged without information.

I won’t do that again, and I hope my ignorance can serve as an example of what not to do.

-Because I Can.

Quote of the Day

“When the rich wage war, it’s the poor who die.”

– Jean-Paul Sartre