I.E. Obama, he has done some bad things (smoking) and has little expirience, but he is all about change and the things he will do

Discuss

Anyone can talk about what they can do. You should really only be judged by what you have done. Obama has done some decent things but like any politician, promises mean nothing until they are carried out.

Of course people will judge you on your past ... and as for this obama topic politicians are all talk wait till he does something he said he would.

Should people be judged for their past: No

Will people be judged for their past: Yes

Judging is something that everyone does. Even here on Sythe people judge each other about everyday. Which person will get the trade? The new person or the person with 120 vouches.

Judging may be unfair to some people. If you had a bad past and you apply for a job, you have a faltered chance at getting it, even if you swear to have changed. Because if the next person that comes along that has done better than he will get the job.

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What is wrong with judging by people's past? Surely at least some their actions reflect their character..?

I believe that every person can change, and that everyone deserves another chance.

One bad mistake in your past shouldn't ruin your future, especially if it was an accident. But it does.

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I agree with this in most cases, however I don't think that this follows for everyone. What about the offenders that repeatedly continue to cause you harm, what would make this chance any different from the next?

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History often repeats itself. Of course you get judged by how you've acted in the past.

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You know, you come from nothing, you're going back to nothing. What have you lost? Nothing!
- Monty Python

History only repeats itself if that period did not learn from the mistake that they had made.

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But are people judged on there past or more often present

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Do you mean present as in present or recent past? If you mean present then no, even the image you see of a person sitting in front of you is from the past. On the latter, it depends on which is more significant. My opinion is that events become less relevant if it's a long time ago, but a major event further in the past can't be corrected by a minor, more recent event.

Scale of event - time = relevance
Just because I like relative equations

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You know, you come from nothing, you're going back to nothing. What have you lost? Nothing!
- Monty Python

I think you can't be judged on things you have done a considerably long time ago. Obviously as adolescents, you tend to thing what is the "thing" to do during their own time. It's like saying I smoked weed when I was 17 and now I want to start a new league at 23. If you are willing to make drastic changes like, apply yourself, you shouldn't be judged about what you did back then, but what you are planning to do in your future.