Friday, September 19, 2025
What looks good from the outside isn’t worth what we think it is. We think a particular choice makes us look good in the eyes of others. That’s called “keeping up appearances.” We often gauge the quality of life based on feedback and reviews. That’s called an appraisal.
An appraisal is a professional assessment of the value of an asset, often real estate, but also personal property, to determine its fair market value. A former student recently asked me for an appraisal of him. He was genuinely interested in “improving” and was innocently asking for feedback, like a customer service satisfaction survey.
Were you pleased with my appearance? Was I courteous and helpful? Did I answer all your questions and meet your expectations? Was there anything I could have done to please you more? In a world obsessed with reviews, it’s time to review reviews and reviewers. Re – view. View again. You’re asking people to chew you up and tell you how you taste.
I can’t appraise, appease, appall, assess, or access you. How can I appraise what’s inherently invisible, and extrinsically subjective? What I experience of you, satisfactorily or not, doesn’t have anything to do with you. The appraiser appraises herself.
What if I undervalue you? Does that make you worthless? What if I overvalue you? Does that make you a winner? Appraisers assess property, stuff, and objects. Are you an object upon which my opinion can be grafted and my valuation affixed?
My appraisal is worthless. How’s that for a review! The appraisal of a human is called human trafficking or slavery. Are you property susceptible to the market? Then put a “For Sale” sign around your neck. If you care what people think of you, you’re for sale. Itemized property. You’ve got a price, and you’ll sell yourself to the highest bidder. I’m not for sale.