
Without any intention of doing so, I rate everyone new under the categories of compatibility, intelligence, whether they're positive or not, and how interesting they are. I know I shouldn't judge people, and I can accept people the way they are, knowing life has probably caused many of their outer characteristics. Discernment rather than judgement kicks in and shows me compassion. In that way, I decide what is right for me without condemning the person for that behaviour.
However, I might not want to be in their company.
The holistic approach suggests that you can never know what motivates other people. But you can understand what you accept or judge in yourself when you see the behaviour in others.
Reactions and judgements can help you achieve greater self-understanding—and accordingly, greater happiness and success, rather than indulging in the ego gratification of judging others.
But a new company has launched an app called "Peeple", which focusses on judging whoever you meet with a rating system similar to a restaurant, or a business guide.
Anyone with a Facebook account and cell phone can rate another person and assign them a star rating out of five in one of three categories: personal, professional and romantic. You must be 21, have a Facebook account at least six months old, and make reviews under your real name. In addition, you must affirm that you know the person you're reviewing and input their cellphone number if they're not in the database. Negative ratings for people won't show unless they've registered for the site. Website: Peeple.
Although the instigators' aim is to help others judge a rated person's integrity, this offers a huge potential for bullying. What is society coming to? Gossipmongering, catty, rumormongering, vindictive and vengeful people will delight in this app.
I think the concept will prey on the natural inner voice that warns of harm when we meet someone new.
What do you think of judging people by means of a star rating?