When you form an opinion or reach a conclusion about a set of data you are judging.  The process may include both active or passive fact gathering as well as consultation with others.

Danger, Will Robinson, Danger

In the late 1960’s, “Lost in Space” was  a popular TV series modeled after the childrens novel “A Swiss Family Robinson” . The TV show was about a family lost in space (in the book they were lost at sea).

The TV family had a robot cleverly called Robbie (Robbie the robot).  The young adolescent member of the family (Will Robinson) often made decisions based on questionable judgements at best.

The flawed judgements were regularly identified by Robbie (the young masters protector)  who would ejaculate the catch phrase “Danger, Will Robinson, Danger”

This became a very popular catch phrase of the time, as sound bites from popular television shows often do.   Of course the audience recognized this as a clue Will was about to suffer the consequences of a bad judgement.

Judging

The act of judging represents a mixing of the objective (facts) and the subjective (assumptions and conclusions).  While we cannot live without making judgements, caution is advised.

Like Will, the  fictional intrepid space traveller, we all run the risk of adverse consequences resulting from our behavioural decisions, which are based on our judgements.

Unlike Will we do not have Robbie the robot around to warn us.  My advise is to think through the potential impacts associated with your judgements.

Consider the worst potential result and be ready to accept it before acting.  If it is unacceptable, reconsider the judgement and your approach.  This could save you some grief.