(Image is mine)
Hey everyone on qc community!
I'm diving into this week's contest topic from [
My initial thoughts when meeting someone new are rarely fixed; they often shift, sometimes surprisingly, based on their appearance or what they're doing in that moment. There's usually a default, polite curiosity – a simple "nice to meet a new face" or "who is this person?" that floats through my mind.
But then, things can take a different turn. If someone's staring intently, my internal monologue might jump to "why are you looking at me like I'm a TV?" It’s an almost comical, immediate reaction to intense gazes. On a more serious note, If I encounter, say, kids hawking goods on the street, my first thought is often a pang of sadness: "Why can't I help these kids and their families?" And almost immediately, that thought shifts to frustration, with a blame game directed at the government or societal issues.
Ultimately, my very first read on a person is a blend of their appearance and their current actions. It's often accompanied by an immediate gut feeling – sometimes a pull to get to know them, other times a perspective that sets the tone for our interaction right from the start.
How First Impressions Shape Interactions (and Can They Change?)
Absolutely, that initial perception, that "first impression," undeniably shapes how I interact with someone from that moment on. It's almost like I'm subconsciously deciding on the blueprint for our conversation. Sometimes, if that initial feeling is one of intrigue, I might enter the conversation with a subtle goal: to gather information about them, perhaps without revealing too much about myself. It's not about being secretive, but more about observing and understanding – I tend to keep things to myself unless I consciously decide to share. If I sense someone will be a long-term presence in my life, I might even take a step back and simply "study" them for a while.
Funnily enough, some of my most meaningful friendships have blossomed from this very approach, even though I'm not always the best at keeping a conversation going once the main topic runs dry. I remember vividly meeting a friend years ago who was constantly sketching robots. My very first thought was, "I need to learn how to draw from this guy!" That strong initial interest directly led to us becoming friends. We'd hang out, and I'd try to pick up tips. Over time, my initial "goal" of learning to draw from him faded because I realized he wasn't exactly a drawing guru. But that didn't matter. My opinion of him shifted from "drawing mentor" to simply appreciating him for who he was – a genuinely good person. The initial reason for interaction changed, but the positive impression of his character only deepened.
Evolving Perspectives
This experience highlights that, for me, first impressions are rarely set in stone. While they definitely kickstart how I approach a new person, my opinion is almost always open to change as I get to know them more. People are far too complex to be judged solely on a fleeting moment.
My opinion of a person almost always changes as I get to know them better, and that change can swing either in a more positive or a more challenging direction. But trust me, if you’re the type that makes a really bad initial impression or puts up a difficult scene at first, it's going to take a significant amount of effort from your end to truly shift my opinion. Even so, I'm generally not one to jump to conclusions or completely shut someone out without at least hearing their story or understanding the context. I believe in giving people a chance, even if that first glance was tough.
Thanks for reading my thoughts on first impressions! ❤️❤️
