Making a judgement call VS making judgements

[Princess Arabia]

I've noticed this confusion many times here on the forum and I'd like to make the distinction between the two. One is to understand something to the degree one can make an informed decision based on that judgement, aka judgement call. The ability to come to a sensible conclusion about something. E.g. I looked at both students' grades and made the judgment call that one exceeded the other by far and deserved the promotion being considered for Class President.

The other is to criticize condemn and judge. To bash, to belittle. Forming a negative opinion of or expressing a negative statement about someone or something. E,g. That girl is very promiscuous, that guy thinks he's the shit and he's not all that, lawyers are some conniving full of shit assholes that should be put on trial themselves, those people in the backyard are so dirty and nasty and never pick up after themselves. Those are judgements also. Making judgmental statements about a person, place or thing.

There's a difference between the two and I just thought I'd point out the difference. We don't have to make harsh judgements about people but we often times do need to make a judgement call about a decision we need to make.

One can observe without making judgements, but to make a judgement call one needs to observe - Princess Arabia (yes, I'm a philosopher now).

[Princess Arabia]

1 minute ago, Spirituality said:

I'm curious, in your opinion, where is the line between a necessary judgment call and a harsh judgment?

A judgment based on a decision made or that needs to be made, imo, is one that's usually personal/private/made to oneself internally. E.g making a call as to whether to quote your whole response or just the piece I quoted. It's usually a matter of discernment and decision-making. 

There are really no lines between the two, as they are two completely different things. You're either judging something or making a judgement call.

[Princess Arabia]

7 minutes ago, Spirituality said:

instead of saying 'X is clearly wrong,' we could say 'Based on Y and Z, I'm wondering if X might be leading to unintended consequences?' 

Saying 'X is clearly wrong' is not a judgement, but merely an opinion. There's also differences there too. I actually should have mentioned that in the original post because that also gets confused with judgements - opinions i,e.

[Hojo]

Please expand on how they are different as I looked up the definitions and one just seems to the other minus sensible conclusions.

judgement

the ability to make considered decisions or come to sensible conclusions.

judgment call

is a decision made based on personal opinion and experience when there is no clear rule or correct answer.

Normally with words if you take the original word and add another to change the meaning they can't be totally different as you are borrowing the meaning of the original word to connect the two concepts together. So the two concepts are not totally different but totally similar and probably the same thing. Just a language/logic tip.

 

Edited January 30 by Hojo

[Princess Arabia]

2 hours ago, Hojo said:

Please expand on how they are different as I looked up the definitions and one just seems to the other minus sensible conclusions.

judgement

the ability to make considered decisions or come to sensible conclusions.

judgment call

is a decision made based on personal opinion and experience when there is no clear rule or correct answer.

Normally with words if you take the original word and add another to change the meaning they can't be totally different as you are borrowing the meaning of the original word to connect the two concepts together. So the two concepts are not totally different but totally similar and probably the same thing. Just a language/logic tip.

 

Yes, the dictionary's definition is in regards to the first definition. The second definition is in the category of "to pass judgement on", for which there is a definition for if you type in those words and that's where the second definition comes in. So search "to pass judgement on" and you'll see a different meaning than the first. 

[Hojo]

@Princess Arabia quote from Google.

the original meaning of pass judgment is a courtroom judge making a legal decision, or — literally — judging. The source of this term is judgment, originally "action of trying at law," from the Latin iudicare, "to examine officially."

Key differences:

Connotation:

"Pass judgement" often carries a negative connotation, implying disapproval or condemnation, while "judgement call" is more neutral, simply indicating a decision made based on one's assessment. 

The differences in these words is relative and ambiguous. They break objectivity and are created at the individual level. Similar to saying the smell of lilacs is gross or the smell of lilacs is good.

Edited January 30 by Hojo

[Princess Arabia]

1 minute ago, Hojo said:

"Pass judgement" often carries a negative connotation, implying disapproval or condemnation, while "judgement call" is more neutral, simply indicating a decision made based on one's assessment. 

Ok, this is the difference and what I'm referring to. The difference in the words and meanings aren't relative. What's relative is how they get applied and used and in what context.

[Hojo]

@Princess Arabia You cant use the words without an individual experience they are made up based on wether the individual thinks they are good or bad. 

One person can say that the statement was passing judgement and another could say its a judgement call. Who can say who is right?

Without an assigned mediator the words don't have seperate meaning. Because one is this is good the other is this is bad.

If you feel attacked by the judgement you will automatically think its passing judgement when it could be a judgment call.

Edited January 30 by Hojo

[Princess Arabia]

49 minutes ago, Hojo said:

@Princess Arabia You cant use the words without an individual experience they are made up based on wether the individual thinks they are good or bad. 

One person can say that the statement was passing judgement and another could say its a judgement call. Who can say who is right?

Without an assigned mediator the words don't have seperate meaning. Because one is this is good the other is this is bad.

If you feel attacked by the judgement you will automatically think its passing judgement when it could be a judgment call.

This is why I gave examples of both. They are two separate things and not about mistaking one for the other. You're missing that point. I understand what you're trying to say but one cannot mistake needing to make a judgement call on a decision and bashing someone upside the head with a harsh judgement or criticism. They are just simply two different things.