Never judge a book by it’s cover
I shared this link on facebook and really thought I should share it here as well because it is quite a feel good story. Quite inspirational and a good wake up call as well. I shared this with V and she was moved to tears (at least I think she was). She’s been hooked since and have been following the fan site. :P
I can’t embed the video here because embedding has been disabled by YouTube so I’ll just paste the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY
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So when she went out on stage, she got the same cynical reaction. She struggled a bit with a question Simon_Cowell asked her about where she’s from. The studio audience whistled, sneered, rolled their eyes - the usual stuff they do when they don’t think highly of someone.
But then Miss Boyle sang and the rest is history. She became an overnight sensation, topping UK’s most searched for person online.
The audience gave her a standing ovation. The judges were shell shocked and moved to tears. Simon was feeling so ‘lum’ that he is in the process of organising a record deal for her.
Now it got me thinking. Why do so many viewers get teary eyed by watching her sing? Even a macho macho man like me, almost got teary eyed. Akcerli no lah! Where got!? :P
I think the answer is quite simple. What Miss Boyle did, smacked me right in the face. It was a wake up call. A reminder of how judgemental society have become. We only take notice of outer beauty, what we see on the outside is given such high regards - a beautiful face, a sexy body, cool and hip clothes, etc.
We treat people with respect when they are beautiful on the outside. It’s easier to be friends with pleasantly looking people. We strike up a conversation with that beautiful young woman (or person) while waiting in line but ignore that other person who live one floor above us when we bump into each other in the same lift.
When I was young, I only took interest in the pretty ones and didn’t even notice their friends. Some of who I realize now, had a much interesting personality than their pleasantly looking friends.
Although I’ve vastly improved at my age now than when I was younger, sometimes we tend to forget. I offer to take some clients out to lunch but make up excuses to some others when they offer me instead because in my mind, I am already subconsciously judging them. I listen to the cool guy in front of me talk about football but ignore that uncool guy sitting right beside me who’s trying to do the same. I stop to chat with some parents of my dotter’s friend but walk past some others. I greet some neighbours and others I ignore.
All these I’m still guilty. Even though I remind myself to treat everyone the same.
So the next time I see that lady in the lift, I’m going to strike up a conversation about her grandchildren instead of just turning around to face the door. The next time the guy sits beside me again, I’m going to take an interest in what he has to say about Man United (even though I hate MU).
That’s what Miss Boyle does to me. Reminds me to never judge a book by it’s cover.
Exactly my sentiment! And what a coincidence, I also blogged about the same thing! Hahaha!
But it is going to be hard not to judge because that judging habit is in us since young. However, a smile is a great step to start a conversation with that lady in the lift :D
Reply : Eh! Dun tiru me leh! :P
Ur rite. That is more so in todays world where even children are exposed to such judgement.
But when I smile I look very horny wan wor…. kakakaakakaka. :P :P :P
Comment by Clare — 16 April 2009 @ 9:47 am
You better not be tokking to my mudder in the lift ah…she got robbed there once (in the curve) and she just might whack you repeatedly!
WAKAKAKAKAAKAKAKAKAAKAKAKAKAKAKAAKAK! (but i’m serious abt the being robbed part - be careful, they did it to my dad, also). :(
Reply : I remember reading about it on ur blog. It was on the way to the basement carpark if I’m not mistaken. The lift near Fitness 1st.
But ur dad kena rob on a different day or the same case?
Comment by mott — 16 April 2009 @ 11:54 am
oh forgot to add,
you know what’s gonna happen right? They’re just gonna do a makeover on her…becoz when it comes down to the crunch, ppl still look at your outer beauty. Now..tell me, isn’t that like finding a new pristine island and then raping it by bulldozing it and building hotels/cafes, so that people can ‘enjoy’ it..?
Reply : Looking at the past BGT winner, I doubt there will me a total makeover but they will make her more ‘presentable’. :P
Comment by mott — 16 April 2009 @ 12:00 pm
i agree with mott. they will work on her outer beauty to make her more marketable.
over here she has been highlighted by the news media. even the hongkies are talking abt her.
Reply : Hongkies will talk about anyone.
So have u met a nice hongkie girl yet? :P
Comment by justin — 16 April 2009 @ 12:12 pm
oh another thing, even now u r still only interested in the pretty ones and ignore their friends. thats what i’ve heard. =P
Reply : KNN! Where got!?
Comment by justin — 16 April 2009 @ 12:15 pm
hahaha… everyone likes beautiful things, what to do .. haizh, i m a victim too !
Reply : Victim meaning? U like beautiful things too.
Comment by janice — 16 April 2009 @ 1:46 pm
Exactly!
Reply : Yeah.
Comment by Irene — 16 April 2009 @ 5:11 pm
I must be feeling extremely uncharitable at the moment. Moe feel geh..
Must be becos I am feeling very disillusioned with the kwailos here - the politicking that is going on just to secure their place in the company in view of the change in management, the office is practically flooded with blood from all the backstabbing, aitelyu!! Cis $!^&@#&@#!!^#@%$@*%#!! bedebah!!
Reply : Get a bigger knife. Stab back.
Comment by kat — 16 April 2009 @ 6:55 pm
Haha…i’ll be lying if I say i dun judge a book by it’s cover.
Reply : So honest arh u…. :P
Comment by Pookyma — 17 April 2009 @ 4:12 am
ooh.. i just read abt her in today’s papers…
it’s impossible not to judge ppl because whether we like it or not, i think we judge ppl and things in our subconscious mind all the time.. it’s impossible not to judge.. it’s inside our system, no?
the diff we can make is our actions.. we do not have to ‘follow’ or ‘act’ upon our judgments, right? am i conpiusing? yeah i am.. ;p
Reply : Yeah but by judging someone, u oledi formed an opinion or dislike that person or even try to distance urself from them. Even if u dun ‘act’.
Comment by a n g e l e s — 17 April 2009 @ 6:12 pm
If I were given a choice, Susan’s talent or looks, ……… I will still take looks.
Yeah, I’m superficial, sue me. lol
Reply : Hahahaha… true also.
Comment by helen — 17 April 2009 @ 6:43 pm
i new it from the moment ppl forwarding all these clips to me… that she is going to sing in an extra-ordinary way…. :P :P :P
Reply : Sure or not? :P
Comment by zewt — 19 April 2009 @ 10:19 pm
come on, everyone judges someone one way or other. u see a video of an abusive maid, some judge the maid, some judge the parents, but none experience or understand the hardship/life that the maid or parents go through except those ppl themselves. but the type i most kenot tahan are the ones who condemn judgemental ppl…like as if they very adil or un-judgemental liddat. condemning judgemental ppl is actually a judgemental act by itself, hor?
Reply : If a maid kicks and stomps a young child around, she shouldn’t be judged. She should be condemned and stoned to death. Dun care how hard a life she has had it. :P
Comment by jjmm — 19 April 2009 @ 11:10 pm
She really can sing. I read about that in news also. The judges are impressed by her so much.
Reply : Yes she can.
Comment by CK — 20 April 2009 @ 9:25 am
I need my fix. Adrian’s-take-on-the-world fix. Fai tit!
And kenot use bigger knife. Small fry how to hold big knife? Afturds cut myself.. :P :P :P
Reply : Buy a small gun. :P
Comment by kat — 20 April 2009 @ 9:10 pm
eh, in the olden days, that’s wat they did to cheating spouses too :b
Reply : Dats why u should always tell the truth. :P
Comment by jjmm — 20 April 2009 @ 11:36 pm