Yes, You Can Judge Others for Their Decisions
I just read a story about the anti-social behavior of adults who forgo having children. By the tone of responders’ comments, you would have thought the author suggested that everyone revive the Third Reich. Comment after comment declared that no one can judge another person for deciding to remain child-free, meanwhile spewing vitriol at the writer for suggesting our society is becoming materialistic and selfish.
Ironically, commenters were consistently saying that those who do have children are the ones who are selfish—not seeing their own comments as judgments but as facts of life. Backing up their statements with their evidence and then carrying on their merry way to offer their morally superior opinions on some other corner of the internet.
But this idea that no one can judge another person for their decisions is not only wrong- it’s not even adhered to by those touting it.
Liberalism has spawned a new era of individualism built on the premise that every man, woman, and child can live according to their whims at all times with little thought of how it affects anyone else. Part of this new system means no one can judge or comment on someone else’s decisions. It’s not your place to point out something that may be harmful to society or even the person themselves. It’s driven by the underlying idea that people are not responsible for each other- every man for himself outside of paying taxes and not committing murder (usually).
I am not advocating that people look down on others or sneer at them for being different. As someone who has often been on the receiving end of judgment for choosing unique roads, this kind of criticism can be obnoxious at best and painful at worst.
But the idea that no one can examine people’s choices and their effects on themselves and the larger world around them is silly. We all do it in various big or small ways every day. Discernment is our barometer that measures our values and creates a semblance of order and social cohesion in our chaotic world.
Having a differing opinion does not automatically equate judgment in the negative sense, especially if it’s presented thoughtfully and not as a direct attack. As with all things, balance is key.
