The Lines That Divide Us

We have all been judged at one point. But if you have ever judged others, particularly if you feel your judgments — no matter how small — were inconsequential or meaningless, you have to watch this video.

My wife shared this video with me yesterday, and I had a hard time trying to stop myself from tearing up. Watch it. Notice how even the toughest and biggest bullies react. It’s quite amazing.

Press “play” to start watching. All I can say is, to all the people I’ve hurt with my words, I’m truly sorry.

About the Author

Michel Fortin is a direct response copywriter, author, speaker, consultant, and CEO of The Success Doctor, Inc. Visit his blog and signup free to get tested conversion strategies and response-boosting tips by email, along with blog updates, news, and more! Go now to http://www.michelfortin.com.

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43 Replies to “The Lines That Divide Us”

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From The Lines That Divide Us

[...] link to this video was passed to me by Michel Fortin. Thanks, [...]
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Source Website May 18th, 2008
From Personal Development That Crosses The Line

[...] Ok, I want to thank Michel Fortin for sending me this link: The Lines That Divide Us [...]
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Source Website May 18th, 2008
From Telling It Like It Is

The Lines That Divide Us: Surviving High School…

Words are powerful, and the words we choose will either be encouraging and positive, or they will be discouraging and negative. You are likely familiar with the old saying, “Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me…
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Source Website May 22nd, 2008
From Why Copywriting Skills Are Worth Thousands

[...] I came across an excellent video that was recommended by Michel Fortin, a famous we copywriter. The post I am talking about is here http://www.michelfortin.com/the-lines-that-divide-us/ [...]
Reply http://www.michelfortin.com\/the-lines-that-divide-us\/ […]’); return false;”>Quote

Source Website May 23rd, 2008
From Cruel World - The Power of Your Words

[...] Fields was the author of the particular blog post I found this video on, but he gives credit to Michel Fortin for the [...]
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Source Website May 31st, 2008
From Coaching4Lesbians » Blog Archive » The Lines That Divide Us

[...] I was catching up on some blog reading & happened to see this post. I don’t tend to take the time to watch a lot of video online. After all the vast amount to [...]
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Source Website June 10th, 2008

Comments

From Ray Edwards

Michel,

Thanks for posting this.

You’re an amazing person (and you’re married to an amazing person, too).

Ray
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Author's Website May 18th, 2008
From John

Michael,

Thank you for posting this video. It’s an amazing thing that we are constantly judging and filtering based on the prejudices we have developed over the years.

Judging can be one the most detrimental things we can do especially for the business people you have on your list.

How many missed opportunities have we experienced because of judging?

Not only from a business stand point but from a personal happiness stand point.

Again thank you for posting this video.

Here’s to Your LifetoSuccess,

John Clark
http://www.lifetosuccess.com
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Author's Website May 18th, 2008
From Jon Weston

How do I get it to play? Says video is no longer available?
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Author's Website May 18th, 2008
From Johan

Hi M. Marketing is all about relationships and the ability to say I am sorry. Thanks for sharing. Johan
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Author's Website May 18th, 2008
From Michel Fortin

@Jon:

Seems to work here. Perhaps you want to reload? Try reloading your browser…
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Author's Website May 18th, 2008
From Brett T. Smith

Michel,

Dang.. That is a powerful video…

WOW…

~Brett
http://www.FreeTrafficBigProfits.com
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Author's Website May 18th, 2008
From James Grandstaff

Thanks Michel.

I cried like a baby watching that video.

I will not judge.

James Grandstaff
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Author's Website May 18th, 2008
From Mark McCullagh

Thanks for that Michel. It was really moving, especially the part near the end when the adult shared her feelings about her son.

Unfortunately in today’s society, humility is not a popular attitude. When you realize your own iniquities, you cannot help but to ask for forgiveness.

We have all these wonderful teachings from Christ - “judge not lest you be judged”; “do unto others as you would have done”; “blessed are the poor in spirit[the humble]“, just to name a few.

And yet, still more sadly, following Christ’s teachings also is unpopular in society. For my part, I choose to be counter-culture. Thank you Lord.
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Author's Website May 18th, 2008
From Jay

Extremely Powerful, and Thank You
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Author's Website May 18th, 2008
From Jason Moffatt

Tough video to watch when it reminds me of how much of an asshole I was in high school.

Thanks for posting.

J-Mo
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Author's Website May 18th, 2008
From Lisa

I wish there was a way to have this distributed to every school administrator. often solution efforts are over complicated and the best solutions such as this video are powerful yet simple and do not see enough light of day for exposure where it would do the most good.
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Author's Website May 18th, 2008
From Chad

Michel, what an incredible video! Thanks for sharing it…

Really puts things in perspective!
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Author's Website May 18th, 2008
From Phil Spinelli

Low self esteem is a big problem in our society today.

When you feel bad about yourself, you feel bad about others and this creates a continuous cycle of destruction.

While there are many causes (we do live in a crazy world), IMO, I feel that parents can have the biggest impact on this.

When parents spend “a lot of time” with their children, their children seem to be more stable. A parents main job is to instill self confidence in their children, by encouraging them AND setting a good example.

A more confident person is not as affected by negative criticism by others.

Many times when a child does something wrong, they hear about it forever, when they do something good, they don’t get much attention for it.

Your child could be the next world leader with the right encouragement from their parents. We are all born with great potential.

thanks.
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Author's Website May 18th, 2008
From Derick

Thank You Michael for posting this video and reminding us about what is truly important in this life. The people around us and how we treat them.
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Author's Website May 18th, 2008
From Sandy Naidu

Simply touching…Thanks for posting this….
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Author's Website May 18th, 2008
From Michael Ehlert

Thanks Michel.
This needs more global exposure. It should be a seen/practiced in every school system in the world. My kids are growing up in here in Europe and I can tell you it certainly applies here as well..
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Author's Website May 19th, 2008
From Robert Woodring

I seem to always have a different viewpoint and can’t help wondering if a kid or two stayed where they were at. Would they have been judged?
I think in all probabilty they would have been.
My point is this is a type of social engineering and I don’t think much will come from it long term.In other words I think a lot of people were bullied into crossing.
My opinion.
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Author's Website May 19th, 2008
From rafael

Thanks Michel.

Thanks for sharing itâ€¦
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Author's Website May 19th, 2008
From Steven Schwartzman

Video reminded me that we as ADULTS need to be conscience of the effect our words and actions have on others.

Cool video Michael, thanks for sharing.
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Author's Website May 19th, 2008
From Lizabath

Wow - that hurts my heart.
I can still remember vividly the assholes that hurt me
and how I was an asshole that hurt others…
I now teach my kids everything I was not taught.

Bless you misseuir Michel (oui oui my spelling stinks)
~Lizabath
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Author's Website May 19th, 2008
From Lance

This is so powerful, thanks for sharing it. It really makes you think about the power our words can have. I will try to use my words in a more positive way.
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Author's Website May 20th, 2008
From steve

Yes, teens are probably the most sensitive to this kind of stuff, especially peer presure to conform to the herd.

Conforming to the herd is not so cool as they will eventually discover when they find themselves in a few years.

In the meantime, being fat, skinny, black, honky,4-eyes, homely, poor, unathletic, shy, etc. are us.
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Author's Website May 21st, 2008
From Barnabas Ng

thanks michel for sharing.

this video should be a yardstick for everyone when we deal with anyone.
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Author's Website May 21st, 2008
From Dori

That is a really powerful video and such a reminder of the labels we put upon each other in this life. Thanks for sharing this.
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Author's Website May 22nd, 2008
From Alan Cheng

I’m so glad I am across this video. I’m going to pass it on to everyone I know. My wife’s a teacher so I hope she can show it to the kids in the school.

I have kids and every parent dreads about their kids being bullied. Hurtful words last a life time, physical ones disappear (can’t remember who said that).

Thanks Michel for sharing this.
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Author's Website May 23rd, 2008
From Traian

Low self esteem is what pushes people beyond their boundaries. Good and bad are in the eye of the beholder. And to keep it in the context of moneymaking, I bet there are a lot of people who won’t make any real money in their lives just because they’re feeling “OK”.

Not that there’s anything wrong with not making any real money
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Author's Website May 24th, 2008
From Liz Hansel

This is a very powerful video clip that I wish everyone in the world could see and watch… profound. Thank you.
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Author's Website May 27th, 2008
From Amelia Brazell

M,thanks for sharing this video. And yes, I am in tears as I send along this thank you. So very impactful.

Amelia
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Author's Website May 28th, 2008
From Ken Calhoun

Thanks for sharing this, it’s very powerful… it’s rare for me to get emotional watching something online, but this did it. Thanks for a humanizing reminder of the lines, and how we should strive to be inclusive not exclusive. Super video, and thoughtful message.

-k
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Author's Website May 28th, 2008
From michael

when i saw the video, i’m beginning to think what my clients would think of me as a mentor for them…mike ..thanks for the post here…it’s really inspiring
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Author's Website May 30th, 2008
From Sabyasachi

Michel, look what you’ve done - here I am, a 37+ guy, and my eyes welling with uncontrollable tears… got your vid from Jonathan Fields’ blog.
It’s too good. Makes one feel the difference between humans and ‘lesser’ animals. Keep it up bro, the vid’s worth much more than money can buy or words can praise.
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Author's Website June 6th, 2008
From Mark Nolan

Wow, that was a powerful video. Thanks for sharing it. That would be a good one to show in school classrooms on the first day of class, to get everyone thinking together as a team.

Mark
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Author's Website June 6th, 2008
From Angela

This is an amazingly powerful video and it made me cry with tears streaming down my face.

I was teased badly in grade school by boys and it affected my self esteem for years. I never teased others but I can say I stopped being friends with a good friend because people were starting to tease her and I was afraid I’d get teased again (obviously I was not being a good friend). I agree that everyone should see this. I’m going to post it on my blog too.
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Author's Website June 11th, 2008
From erin

thank you.
e*
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Author's Website June 18th, 2008
From Barbara

I wish to God they had this program when I was in school. I was the scag, the ugly girl, hopeless, completely awkward from day one, from abusive and neglectful parents to the cruelty of students I had to endure.
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Author's Website June 25th, 2008
From Barbara

I am still coping with the anger and the pain, and trying to see myself as successful, and it is the biggest block in trying to get started in copywrite- sales, or successful in anything. If one person had ever had the humility to apologize…
I have heard too many people also say “that’s the past…” but it still needs to be healed and people ought to own up to the pain they have inflicted on others.
I’ve said my part, thank you for such a surprising human element on this site. I had just clicked into it for the first time for research into WPS work. I’m glad to see that others are receptive to this clipping, instead of the usual harsh too bad, get over it mentality.
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Author's Website June 25th, 2008
From WezeeMall-Know-It-All

Originally Posted By Mark McCullaghUnfortunately in today’s society, humility is not a popular attitude. When you realize your own iniquities, you cannot help but to ask for forgiveness.

We have all these wonderful teachings from Christ - “judge not lest you be judged”; “do unto others as you would have done”; “blessed are the poor in spirit[the humble]”, just to name a few…

Humility is definitely lacking and as a result we tend to become more haughty. And of course you know this usually comes right before a “great and dreadful fall” as the Bible puts it.
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Author's Website July 3rd, 2008

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