Is your initial impression of someone usually correct?

[JDgreen227]

And for the sake of clarity, lets assume you get to know the person better after your initial meeting. My first impression of someone is mostly based on their appearance and how they conduct themselves, and to me the really important factor is what type of manners they exhibit.

Case in point: Last fall I drove a 100-mile round trip and devoted much of an afternoon to inspecting a house that my GF's daughter was planning to buy with her boyfriend, the purchase was dependent upon my inspection revealing nothing major wrong with the house. Well, the young man showed up fifteen minutes after the time he had asked me to meet him there, he was dressed like a slob, had a goofy haircut and garish tattoos, didn't know how to give a proper handshake, and perhaps worst of all, failed to introduce me to his father who had accompanied him. I offered to give him an idea of what I was looking at in the hopes he might learn something about his potential first home, but no, he was busy yakking on the phone most of the time.

This is REALLY funny...while I was checking over the electrical system, he was going from room to room with a big table lamp, plugging it in to see if the outlets worked....:laughing: if the guy hadn't given me such a lousy first impression, I would have handed him my little outlet tester to use. Later on he told me that he found outlets that did not work, and I told him to show me where...every one he located was switch controlled and I plugged in my outlet tester and flipped the switch....

Well, the guy didn't thank me for my time, nor did he offer to buy me lunch down the road, or whatever. Didn't surprise me, because my first impression of him was that he was a punk and a big time loser....and he has done nothing but reinforce my initial impression every since.

I have usually been reasonably accurate with my initial impression of people, I think it's something you gain experience with over time.

Any comments? Thanks.

 

[CalG]

100%! sometimes right, sometimes wrong, you don't get to decide....

Blink

A very good read!

 

[murphy1244]

Did the house pass?

 

[tcreeley]

I've learned to trust my first impressions. You can still be nice, but you avoid going out on a limb.

 

[k0ua]

I would say I am right more than I am wrong, maybe 70/30.. but I have made evaluations from first meeting, and was really wrong.

 

[/pine]

Some old words that still ring true..."don't judge a book by it's cover"

IMO..poor manners (i.e., not making proper introductions etc...) is more a reflections of a person's parents...The education you get at home (not talking about home schooling) is what helps develop social skill...but a person's character is not always as obvious as the first impression...JMO

 

[sixdogs]

There is actually a book out called The Gift of Fear in which the author states his belief that the ability to make a correct initial impression of a person or situation that causes some to be "survivors" in life. The ones who escape a fire or accident or maybe carjacking or telephone scam. It's an extra inner voice that says what to trust or avoid and that initial impressions are often the lone deciding factor. The book starts slow but is one of the best self-help books I have ever read.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

More often than not I find my intuition to be scary accurate. Is it perfect? Heck no. I call it like I see more often than not. I consider many factors when forming my initial impressions, be it someone or something.

 

[JDgreen227]

Did the house pass?

I gave the couple a very detailed summary:

Good points: Stable area, low traffic, wide streets, big lot, privacy, dry basement, no roof leaks, newer mechanicals with 200 amp service, no major structural problems...etc.

Bad points: Roof due for replacement in 10 years, windows only fair quality, lots of exterior wood to maintain, needs new gutters, and a REAL negative...horrible floor plan...a mid-70's 2 story that someone added a huge family room on a slab to, then a garage, then a sun porch, and the kitchen was 100% original and like a cave.

 

[Looking4new]

And for the sake of clarity, lets assume you get to know the person better after your initial meeting. My first impression of someone is mostly based on their appearance and how they conduct themselves, and to me the really important factor is what type of manners they exhibit.

Case in point: Last fall I drove a 100-mile round trip and devoted much of an afternoon to inspecting a house that my GF's daughter was planning to buy with her boyfriend, the purchase was dependent upon my inspection revealing nothing major wrong with the house. Well, the young man showed up fifteen minutes after the time he had asked me to meet him there, he was dressed like a slob, had a goofy haircut and garish tattoos, didn't know how to give a proper handshake, and perhaps worst of all, failed to introduce me to his father who had accompanied him. I offered to give him an idea of what I was looking at in the hopes he might learn something about his potential first home, but no, he was busy yakking on the phone most of the time.

The cover of the book is not a deal breaker in my eyes, but it will make me wary. Punctuality is a big thing with me as well as a good firm handshake. No introductions and yakking on a phone is a deal breaker.

Well, the guy didn't thank me for my time, nor did he offer to buy me lunch down the road, or whatever. Didn't surprise me, because my first impression of him was that he was a punk and a big time loser....and he has done nothing but reinforce my initial impression every since.

I think I would have to agree with you on this one. A genuine A-hole and not worth my time, nor effort.

I have usually been reasonably accurate with my initial impression of people, I think it's something you gain experience with over time.

You never get a second chance to make a first impression.