Even though some people think they are open-minded or enlightened, are they truthfully prejudiced?

I pre-judge just about everyone I meet, and I’ll admit that. It’s human nature to make assumptions about people based on their appearance and/or behavior. But I don’t dislike because they’re black or gay, nor do I feel like people of any race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. should not be allowed rights that I have. I don’t treat people differently based on my pre-judgement of them. I’ve got my own thoughts about people at first sight – sometimes I’m wrong and sometimes I’m right. I’m pretty judgemental, I’m just not hateful or discriminatory.

We are all human, so no one is perfect. Yet there are people who own up to their own human impressions and instead of acting or deciding upon them, seek out information about the other. Those people do not judge, rather they accept the humanity in each person. It’s called love.

There have been many people who come close, and many are considered almost holy, as close to saints as possible. Among them Amma, the Dalai Lama, Mother Theresa. People have remarked that being in their presence is unlike being around anyone else.

What?

Everyone has prejudices. It is the human condition. Being aware of them is helpful.

It’s all but impossible to ever be neutral about anything, and when it comes to people the task is hopeless. It’s the way we’re wired to categorize everything. I suppose I can’t speak for others, but merely walking down the street, there is constant chatter in my head regarding anyone on which my eyes focus. “pretty girl, nice shirt, weird haircut, so many freckles….” It’s a constant drone, and I assume this is the case with others. We are usually unaware of it, but real effort is required not to judge a man by his shirt or the mole on his nose when that’s all you have to go on, and your mind is demanding that you “place” him

We all have prejudices. It’s what humans do.

Judgement is part being human. We tend to prejudge all situations, racial or otherwise, using conscious and unconscious clues.

@tinyfaery We all have prejudices. It’s what humans do.
@Yetanotheruser Judgement is part being human. We tend to prejudge all situations, racial or otherwise, using conscious and unconscious clues.
Then how can anyone actually call someone shallow because they won’t date so-and-so from class/work because she is too fat, or he doesn’t find Blondes attractive when said person will not date so-and-so from the back office because they are attracted to men with nice teeth and so-and-so has a janky smile with crooked teeth and a few missing? If they will not go out on a date with him, if he should ask, and not go looking to find the personality behind the crooked smile, and not to be polite or out of mercy, they are a pot calling the skillet black.