We all judge people based upon their appearance and behavior and upon the preconceived notions we have about people who look and act a certain way. It's human nature. Sometimes we need to make quick judgments about people or situations for our own safety. Yet, when does hasty judgment become discrimination? The answer is when it becomes a consistent pattern.

Recently, Joey and I decided to open a post office box together. So, we waited in the long line until we came to an angry looking woman. She informed us that each person must have two forms of identification then preceded to help the next person in line. Joey took out his drivers license and ID card, but she just ignored him. In the mean time, I pulled out my ID card and then went through various cards, including my social security card. She said that it didn't have to have a photo, but that it couldn't be a social security card. However, with anything I pulled out, she simply said "no, that won't work," without even looking at the card. As the man she was helping walked off, she let us know that, "a proof of apartment rental or ownership will do." A student ID, on the other hand, would not. Basically, she was refusing to help us. So, we left. We weren't in the mood to get back in line and wait until someone else was available. As we walked out the door, I turned to glance back and saw--to my amazement--every person in line staring at us. I immediately asked Joey and he had seen it too. It seemed so ridiculous that, under different circumstances, it would be comical. The look on one soccer mom's face said it all: "I'm glad you managed to get rid of them. They were obviously up to no good!"

Now, as an isolated event, I could say that it was "just her", but it isn't an isolated event. When we go into stores, clerks loom over us, constantly asking if we "need help." When I try to explain something, many people just smile with amusement and dismiss what I say as the words of a "kid". You see, especially with me (in part for another reason I'll get to), I am discriminated against. Men don't take me seriously and women often hate me. They both constantly think Joey and I are "up to no good." In fact, a while ago we were questioned by the police. I understand why they were suspicious of us. We were definitely in the wrong place at the wrong time. Unfortunately, we happened to be the wrong people in the wrong place at the wrong time.

With Baby Boomers especially, there is a great deal of age discrimination against anyone who looks remotely young. Although I'll be twenty in a couple months and no longer technically a "teenager", I still find that my thoughts and ideas are taken more seriously online, where people tend to see the words for what they are. It would be nice to be taken seriously more often, but that doesn't mean that I want to get older.

Typically, teenagers have higher hormone levels. Still, there's more to it than that. Even when I had an "innocent face", I was falsely accused. You see, people often look for rule-breakers and criminals in the wrong place. They look for the person who is the quietest and looks down the most. Shy people are discriminated against for the simple reason that most people are not shy. Therefor, they have difficulty understanding a person's quietness as part of his nature. They see it as abnormal and suspicious. Instead of looking at rowdy people or those looking around, they look for those they perceive as "lurking". In the same way, a parent may become suspicious if her children are "too quiet" and go in and check on them to make sure they aren't "up to something".

People discriminate based upon age, behavior, and just general overall appearance. Many of us are guilty of this without even realizing it, but knowing about it at least makes us stop and think. Are we really treating people fairly? The next time I see a woman and the next time you see someone you don't often like, we'll both be more aware of our own behavior toward them. And, perhaps, we can change for the better.