Reducing the Rudeness

“'Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone,’ he told me, ‘just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.'"

This quote from The Great Gatsby is a piece of advice that much of society should consider. Many people are so quick to judge others, yet they are unfamiliar with the lives of those individuals. This is one thing that I have never understood. You cannot believe that somebody is “weird” or “gross” just based on the little background information that you have of them. I have witnessed this issue throughout elementary, middle and high school and I suspect that I will continue to see it in the future. I remember how in middle school, students would judge others because they thought that doing so would make them more popular. Now in high school, I’ve realized that some people still hold the same belief. This is ridiculous to me because what makes people agree with the fact that being rude increases one’s own self-esteem?

Now I am not saying that judging people is totally wrong because it is honestly done by the majority of society. As sweet as some may appear, they likely carry thoughts that are opposite of their friendly appearance. However, it is this specific decision to keep their judgements to themselves that is a much better option than sharing their thoughts and therefore risking them being spread among others. Nick, from The Great Gatsby, tries to “reserve all judgements,” which is beneficial in many ways. First, I feel like when you have a kind mindset, your overall mentality is empowered by the positivity, therefore improving it. And second, when you are considerate towards others, your reputation in society is superior to those who are judgemental without reason. I’d say people favor those who have thoughtful personalities over those who are disrespectful, thus more of society needs to start displaying their awareness of this simple concept.