Senior Medlin: get to know a person before you judge

Lacy Stevens, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Stereotypes come in all shapes and sizes -- from jock to geek to punk. But what if one doesn’t fit in any group at all?

Travis Medlin, senior, classifies himself -- as well as everyone else -- as a person. He openly admitted he doesn’t stereotype people unless they’ve done something to prove him otherwise. For the most part, everyone is the same: just a person; no title, label, or classification.

Which is why he doesn’t stereotype. “You judge people before you know them, and you don’t fully know someone by their appearance,” Medlin said.

Judging someone by their appearance is different from first impressions. “You can usually tell if you’ll like a person through your first impression, but never judge a person’s character by the impression,” said Medlin.

“People follow the group of people who have the same interests, and because of this, they are placed in a stereotype by other groups with differences.” Medlin doesn’t stereotype for a very wise reason: “You lose the opportunity to truly know a person if you judge by appearance.”

These aren’t empty words for Medlin; by not stereotyping, he has learned such a lesson. “I know people from several different groups,” said Medlin, “and the way they appear rarely has anything to do with the person.” “I’ve learned that nothing positive can come out of judging someone by their appearances.

Medlin doesn’t deny some that some stereotype him; afterall, who isn’t stereotyped at least once? If Medlin were to be stereotyped, he said he would probably be classified as a prep and jock -- “because of the way I dress and the people I hang out with.”

However, Medlin said, “the people that someone hangs out with should not have any bearing on the way that person is seen. “The clothes in my closet should not put me into any group. They are only clothes.” But, the age-old question still exists: why do people stereotype? What’s the big deal?

Medlin explained, “People stereotype other people out of jealously or personal insecurities, and I’ve learned that nothing positive can come out of judging someone by their appearances.” And, while he’s wise beyond his years about stereotyping, he also has a sense of humor “I don’t stereotype people... but my brother is a redneck,” said Medlin jokingly.

Article prepared for the web by: Erin Connor

Home page | Archives | More December 2001 Articles