Today evening, I was taking up geography in Std. IV. Since it was the very first time they would be writing a worksheet in my class, I was spending a lot of time going over instructions. “Write your names on your worksheets, today’s date", etc.. When I reached the point where I was instructing them to write the answers neatly, one of my students stood up and mouthed the old adage, “The first impression is the last impression” Obviously the kid has been getting a lot of gyaan from well-meaning adults around her.
That got me thinking about first impressions. Do they really count? I mean I have been taken in by people who have made a very ‘good’ impression on me, only to be disappointed later on.. and there have been other times when while meeting a person I have brushed off the unmistakable ringing of warning bells in my head...only to regret later on...
Now I’m really confused... what’s your take on this?
it kinda depends on what the subject's intentions are: If the intention is to leave a good impression on you, then, mostly you have to have a longer assessment period; if the subject gives a damn about you, then, the first impression is the true impression..!
ReplyDeletefirst impressions can be deceiving. thou' first vibes do matter to me a lot.the unsaid speaks louder than the said.
ReplyDeleteTwo ways of looking at it -
ReplyDelete1. First impression is the best impression when it comes to you. So always be at your best behavior, even when no one's watching.
2. With other people, be a little forgiving.
Howzzat?
I guess it's human tendency to consider the first impression while judging anyone, but with time, people realize and unravel more facts about the people they meet and make better judgements.
ReplyDeleteI think the first impression does matter, and can be lasting or be for a very short time, depending upon the way the 'impressioner' moulds him/herself and maintains it.
We should, however, never judge people only from the first meeting. A truth I learnt the hard way. :(
As far as assessing people is concerned, it is almost impossible to really get a total impression in a long long time. But then the first impression is not something i rely on coz initially everyone is very nice but as you go along you will get to knw the true colors, this is were the disappointment you mentioned arises.
ReplyDeleteFirst impression is the last impression, until you get the next impression ;-)
ReplyDeleteFirst impression is surely not the lasting impression :)
In one case, first impression had played a major role.....It was a case when I was new to a work environment.....When I was introduced, there was only one out of close to 10 people who vibed well....and she has been one of the best friends I have made so far !!
ReplyDeleteBTW I hated my geography teacher.....Wonder if it wld ahve been betterif I had a sensible teacher like you or am I wrong *wink* I meant thesensible part :-p
ReplyDeleteHmmm..first impression matters a LOT.
ReplyDeletePlz dont judge me by the way I look...they tell me I am ugly. Plz dont judge me by the way i talk... They tell me I Lisp
ReplyDeleteJudge me by my heart... I am ready for being judged that way...for once you get in to my shell... I am confident that it is only love that you will find there.
WILL you be able to judge me the first time we meet?
Hi
ReplyDeleteU will never get a secong chance for a good first impression. but this willl not apply when people are pretending.....It got to come from ur heart....then onlu it counts....
Prakash
if it aint an interview...first impression shouldnt be the last impression!
ReplyDeleteIn fact, i read this quote somewhere... 'sometimes, u need to know a person really well to realise that u are complete strangers'...and i think its very true.
This is an issue I have given a lot of thought to and I'll be hard put to, to confine it in a few words. If you are going on a date or it's a matter of occasional and chancy meetings, then yes, first impression will go a long way in your interactions with the subject. But in all other cases, more so when you want to know a person as a person rather than his outward appearances, you'd rather put aside the first impression and set about learning that person's true identity, for there's a new attribute to learn every single moment if you choose to look at it. This applies specially for friends, spouses, kids and siblings. Impressions are but impressions, not necessarily the truth. 'hm' has already written all that was to the issue and for me it is kind of a final word in this regard. A very thought provoking post nevertheless. Keep going...
ReplyDeletei would say it matters ..when u meet a person for the first time your sixth sense tells u something bout this person..and it turns out right later
ReplyDeletePersonally I think first impressions can be rather unfair on the person who is making the impression.
ReplyDeleteSimply because the first impression is obviously based on the more tangible aspects of the personality.
I guess if we just hold our horses and be patient with people there is so much we can discover about people
I suppose first impressions do matter, but as everyone as has already said before it shouldn't be the last
ReplyDeleteHI Sangeeta,
ReplyDeleteChecked ur comments at BHIMs blog abt u having the HItchhickers guide's e-version. Kimdly mail me that if possible at sandyatleisure@gmail.com
Thanx apriori
Sandy
There are very few people in the world who doesnt form an opinion based on first impression. So your first impression on others matters a lot. However to be succesful, one needs to learn the art of not jumping to conclusions.......
ReplyDeleteSangeeta, I like the new pic. It looks so innocent and warm
ReplyDeleteYes, I second Venky on the pic :-)
ReplyDeleteYes sometimes the first impression does count - like you see a new player - or a new actor - immediately U know this person's gonna hit bigtime. But otherwise U should be wise enuf to study n' analyze a person b4 jumping to conclusions.
ReplyDeleteHi,Sangeeta,my first visit here.And,I must say,ur blog is an interesting one.Reg.first impressions, I'm all for them,but,I club first impressions with instinct,when judging people.Touchwood, 99% of the time, judgement does not fail me.Will be back later to read some of the archives.Cheers.(My main blog:http://amitsmusings.rediffblogs.com)
ReplyDeletei feel we do need the first impression to go to a person and talk.. after tht based on how he/she responds over a period of time, we'd decide how the person is..
ReplyDeleteFirst impression on most occassions is definitely the best impression
ReplyDeleteu sed, "I have been taken in by people who have made a very ‘good’ impression on me, only to be disappointed later on."
Isnt it an ideal example...u think he/she is good...how can he under perform like this....
Y do u think he is good? cos tat was the FIRST impression
first impression does have some weightage initially. But what you are is most imporatn than what you show in the initial moments.
ReplyDeleteNo matter how disastrous the initial impression might be if you have the stuff and the worth it shouldn't be tough for you to make a mark.
some first impressions are though misleading but they do open up once we get to know.and in any case they are not the last impressions...red
ReplyDeletesumtmes it takes a while to latch on to the right frequency. as simple as that...:)
ReplyDeleteIf the person is a real soulmate, impressions only grow better .. so there is no 'best' impression :)
ReplyDeletefirst impression is definitely not the last impression.. what were yor first impressions about me.. I bet they must have 'diluted'atleast a little...
ReplyDeletesome people like myself have a facade which you would have to penetrate to know the real person within.... so you cant say that first impression is the last impression...
I am jealous of you, and pity you...both for same reason. You have so many comments.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I agree with the first comment here...whoever it is from.
By the way, congrats on the DC thingy.
Hmm..i'm pretty wary of people initially, but yes, there have been lot of times when first impressions matter. ..as in, I'd be pretty impressed with people who came across as smart when I first meet them..Maybe it can be put this way- first impressions matter in situations where we have very little time to make an impression :)
ReplyDeleteAcc to me,
ReplyDeleteMany ppl judge u by the first impression(partly due to the statement itself!), so u better give a good first impression.
But if u r judging someone, better not stick to the saying (for precisely the reasons u mentioned!)
Always first impressions do count.. its better not to screw up on it...!!!
ReplyDeleteSame here. Sometimes the first impression is awesome and then as you get to know the person you suddenly wonder how you even had that first impression on her/him (and vice versa of course).
ReplyDelete