Are you someone who tends to form opinions on people based on what others tell you about them, or do you normally have to talk to them yourself?

[Extraterrestrial1999]

• I think unless they are saying stuff like they SA'ed someone or harass people or have a record or are drug addicts, I usually will have to be around and talk to the person to make judgements

Normally have to talk to them myself

Tends to form based on what others say

[Syntosi]

Eh, either/or really. A basic part of empathy is the ability to translate what someone else's opinion of something means in reality. I can derive a very accurate view of someone based on even the most biased opinions from the people I know because I understand how they make their own judgement and what they value.

Honestly, having to be the judge yourself on every little thing because you can't trust the judgement of the people around you sounds exhausting. You dont have to all think the same but you should at the very least have a feel for their point of view. If someone who values honesty for example has a high opinion of someones character then that means something. Likewise I can separate out bias such as someone who does not like Asians or do not like people who work as butchers.

As long as you understand the source AKA your friends then it should not be a problem.

[exitseven]

I pay attention to what other people say , especially the people I know are reliable but I make up my own mind.

[exitseven]

Thanks for the MHO😎

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

It’s usually a combination of both. I know one guy I work with everyone seems to have the same opinion of - hard worker, reliable, a little too keen to show other guys pervy stuff on his phone, but a decent co-worker. We have all universally agreed that he should never work a shift alone with anyone else for too long after we found out he had domestic abuse charges pressed against him by his ex-wife. I like the guy well enough for polite conversation at work, but he and I would never be friends.

[Dongie]

I leave what's said unless it's verified. I give the person a chance to be cleared. And I my teens this happened with a couple of people who became good friends.

[Anonymous]

I never listen to others, I form my own opinions.