On Judging Tiger Woods by Andre Harden

Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised that Tiger Woods televised apology was followed up by a string of commentators crassly judging the validity and intent of his apology. But I was surprised, and it wasn't just because the critics' baseless speculation was so obviously baseless speculation; but that such critical judgment could plainly have no meaning or purpose beyond the critics attempt to publicly put themselves forward as morally superior to Mr. Woods. I wonder how many of these critics will look in the mirror tonight and realize that they have condemned themselves. 

Their criticism did not possibly stem from observable fact. Those judging the sincerity of Mr. Woods apology do not know him and, given that his apology had just been broadcast live, demonstrate their disinterest in scientifically evaluating Mr. Woods apology by his actual post-apology behavior. If their rampant criticism and mockery does not stem from Mr. Woods actual behavior (which is what it would take to prove or even to suggest insincerity) we are forced to acknowledge that it stems from the commentator's own understanding of How The World Works. In other words, the impulse to mistrust and belittle was already present and waiting to express, and Mr. Woods triggered it by suggesting a story of repentance and forgiveness.

The tragedy of this type of criticism is that the critic dismisses a story that might well be sincere, not because it is proven insincere, but because the critic can imagine and put forward an alternate story, which seems, based on their own values and experience, more plausible to them. When a critic puts forward an alternate story which projects the target in the worst light, the critic truly is judging himself because his accusations arise from his own imagination and essentially present a picture of how the critic imagines he would behave in the target's situation. The motives he attributes to the target are not factual, but simply represent the behavior that makes the most sense to the critic.

This is why it is said, "As you have judged others, so will you yourself be judged". It's not actually a two stage process - the act of speculatively condemning another is, necessarily, an act of self-condemnation. 

But we don't have to imagine alternate stories which are negative.

If we believe in love, acceptance and forgiveness; if we believe in spiritual revelation, growth and maturity; if we believe that We're All In This Together -- and those beliefs represent the values and experiences we have gained while shaping our sense of How The World Works -- then it will seem more and more natural for us to imagine stories that invite our neighbors into their best light, even if they are neighbors we don't really know.

Comments

[jan]

even though i did not follow this story, it could not be escaped.

i find that your comments, the most positive and USEFUL i have come across relating to it.

thank you. sincerely!