Let's set the scene. It’s an ordinary school day, you’re on your way to class just like everyone else, and as you’re walking past the library you see this girl. She’s sitting on a bench minding her own business. “EW,” you think in your head. “Look at that girl on the bench right there. I’m sorry but she should not be wearing that, is she kidding?” you whisper to your friend. Now, before you make any more snarky remarks about how you hate the outfit she has on and maybe she should hit the gym, stop and think about a few things:

That girl right there, the one that you're mocking in your head or giggling about to your friend has emotions just like you—she’s human.

That girl right there is someone's daughter, sister, cousin, and friend.

That girl right there has gone through things in life. She has a past filled with endless stories that you know nothing about.

Most importantly, that girl right there has my phone number on speed dial just so she can call me in hysterics. That girl right there begs me to explain why people keep judging her on her weight. That girl right there, the one that is beginning to give up on herself—that’s my best friend.

Do you know what it’s like to try to prove to your best friend that she is beautiful when all these idiots around her are telling her otherwise? What boggles my mind the most is that people actually think that their judgmental views on someone else matter. As if their opinions are so superior to other peoples that they find it not only necessary, but CRITICAL, to go up to that girl on the bench and give her a piece of their mind.

I have three words for those people: take a seat. We seem to forget that we all have something in common with the people around us. We smile, we laugh, we cry; we have feelings. Words are such a powerful thing yet they are used so carelessly sometimes and without much thought. People like to defend their judgments by saying they are “just being honest.” Honesty isn’t always what we want to hear, I’ll give you that. What I do know, however, is that honesty is meant to be helpful and comes with good intentions. Calling someone fat or telling someone they are ugly doesn’t exactly fall under that category, it’s just plain mean. Hurtful comments like that isn’t doing any good for anyone, so I suggest you close your mouth.

With that being said, if you're one of those egotistical snobs my advice to you would be to get off that high horse you’re sitting on and come back down to reality. As the saying goes, if you don’t have anything nice to say, just don’t say anything at all. You tell me how funny it is when that girl sitting on the bench is your best friend.