Topic 121

121. Some people trust their first impressions about a person's character because they believe these judgments are generally correct. Other people do not judge a person's character quickly because they believe first impressions are often wrong. Compare these two attitudes. Which attitude do you agree with? Support your choice with specific examples.

FIRST IMPRESSION CANNOT BE ALWAYS JUDGED AS CORRECT

Some people hold that a person's characters can be judged from the first meet with him or her. However, still other folks believe that only over long period can they get to understand a certain person. In my opinion, first impressions, usually, cannot reflect true essence of an individual. Sometimes, we form a false feeling of others when we know them at first glance.

As a threshold matter, we judge a person through his or her appearance, which is mere way possible to adopt under limited situation -- the first time we meet him or her. Nevertheless, this judgment often misleads us to a wrong sensation. For instance, we sometimes consider an individual as ugly simply because complexion of he or she is ugly to some extent. After getting along with that person for a long time, we may be amazed to find that he or she is beautiful kind person with sagacious wisdom. Thus, we made a false judgment under this scenario.

Secondly, specific circumstances under which we get to know others may cause wrong appreciation as well. Consider, for example, a formal occasion when people are dressed up. Folks there may all behavior gently, courteously, and seriously, which is understandable because any one who laughs aloud is reckoned as an idiot or an impolite person at least. Nonetheless, if we think they are men and women of polite, we are wrong. They might be quite crazy and neglect all proper restrictions -- which is their natural trait.

Thirdly, to the contrary of what majority might think, individuals who seem affable, somber, and polite when we talk to them for the first time may be gainful, narrow-minded in effect. I have experienced such a thing by myself. When I walked in campus one day, a young guy came to me and asked if I lost a watch. I had no idea of his intended action and said no. Later, I found my purse stolen when I get back to dorm. Therefore, we cannot judge that man as a gentleman.

In summary, first impression about a person's timbre cannot be always correct. Sometimes results turn out to make us feel devastated. Consequently, in the final analysis, we ought to spend a long time in communicating with others, make judgment about his or her personality through daily activities. Then, such judgment may be true.