In this episode of the Lunchtime in Rome podcast, entitled “Why We Judge,” the guys sit down to peel back the layers of a struggle we all face: the tendency to pass judgment on others. From parking lot frustrations to professional incompetence, the conversation explores why certain behaviors trigger us more than others.
Snow Days and Fingerprinting Frustrations
The episode kicks off with the guys catching up on a week dominated by heavy snow and remote instruction in the Pittsburgh area. Chris shares a recent “red-zone” moment at a fingerprinting agency in Monroeville, where a combination of administrative incompetence and a fellow citizen’s lack of manners led him to deliver the now-iconic line: “Nice manners, sir”.
The Roots of Judgment
The heart of the discussion focuses on identifying the “why” behind our judgmental impulses. The guys break down three primary drivers that often fuel our internal (and external) critiques:
Emotional Needs Clashes: We often judge behaviors that directly conflict with our own highest emotional needs, such as respect or acceptance.
Past Hurts: Our reactions are often a microcosm of times we have been slighted or inconvenienced in the past.
Defense Mechanisms: It is often easier to point out the “sin” or flaws in others as a way to avoid looking inward at our own shortcomings.
Stadium Eats and Closing Thoughts
To lighten the mood, the guys wrap up with a round of their go-to stadium foods. The highlights include:
Chris: The classic footlong hot dog with onions and peppers.
Eric: A traditional Primanti’s sandwich at a Penguins game.
Jay: Stadium nachos topped with “miserably hot” jalapeños.
Brian: A buttery lobster roll—a favorite from a trip to a Mets game.
Ready to dive deeper? > Visit lunchtimeinrome.com to take the Relational Needs Questionnaire and discover what might be fueling your own perspectives at the table.
