There are two commonly known halachic concepts. "Marit Ayin", a bad impression, and "Dan Lekaf Zechut", "Judging favorably". Here is a nice article on the concept of Marit Ayin and it briefly talks about the contradiction between the two concepts.
In the article, it discussing the argument about whether you are allowed to create new situations of "marit Ayin" that were not previously recorded or used in the Talmud. As the use case of Non Dairy Ice cream makes clear, most people don't make new use cases.
However, for those who argue that you can make new use cases for this concept, aren't we violating one commandment to enact another?
To phrase the question more directly, if I assume that somebody will think that I am breaking a halacha by doing a certain action, aren't I also assuming that said person will be breaking a commandment to not judge me favorably? Aren't I commanded to judge the outside viewer favorably, and to believe that he will also follow the commandment and judge me favorably? (This is a different question than the one raised in the article, which is just discussing conflicting halachic principles.)
Answer
There is a third Halachic concept which answers the question. This is sort of like when we have 2 psukim which seem to contradict each other, until a third pasuk comes to resolve it.
The third halachic concept, and in this case a mitzvah, is "Lifni Iver", or not to put a stumbling block in front of the blind.
True, we should give our fellows the benefit of the doubt, that they too will act with the benefit of the doubt, but at the same time, we do not want to "tempt our brother to sin." By being careful with Marit Ayin, we are also being careful to remove any and all stumbling blocks from those who are blind to our motives, or situation.
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