Is it open-minded to evaluate someone based on preconceived ideas or personal stereotypes based on experience, or is it narrow-minded? Is it open-minded to try to keep your personal perceptions in check as you evaluate someone, or is it narrow-minded and naive? The reason for this question is that I witnessed an interview (OK, I eavesdropped) in a restaurant yesterday where a young woman was talking to an older gentleman not of her same ethnic group. She hardly gave him any opportunities to talk, and jumped in and asked other questions before he had a chance to adequately respond. It seemed as though she had made up her mind about him not being a good candidate for whatever position she was interviewing for before he even had a chance to speak. When I related this story to my husband he said that I was the one who was being narrow minded and that the interviewer had it right on the money. Thoughts?
2006-12-09 04:30:35 · 11 answers · asked by oldyogi 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
First off, the answer to your question is a no-brainer. Forming an opinion about a person based on stereotypes is the definition of narrow-minded. Since there's absolutely no way to know if (1) preconceived notions really do apply on the average/in general, and (2) even if they did, if the preconceived notion would apply to this particular individual, then obviously the answer is it's narrow minded. And racists. And illegal.
Unless you married a moron, I imagine your husband was referring to your interpretation of the situation. It's entirely possible that the interviewer simply had zero listening skills and acted that way with everyone. It's very common that people completely incapable of leadership are put in positions of authority. My guess is that she may not have been racist, but instead incompetent. On the other hand, those people are exactly the type that hear what they want to hear and fit the conversation to match their expectations.
Either way, she was narrow minded and sounds like an idiot.
2006-12-09 07:34:39 · answer #1 · answered by ZenPenguin 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would not want to work for that woman. If someone interviewed me like that, and I felt I was not being listened to during the interview, I would not accept the job if it were offered. I would find somewhere else to take my talents. Imagine what the workplace culture is like?
A career has to be a good fit not only in content but in context. Bad mangers tend to hire bad employees, because they connect most with the same type of person. A good manager sees the value in all potential applicants, and chooses the one who fits best after careful listening. Even if you know immediately you will not hire the person, it is still common courtesy to complete the interview process respectfully.
2006-12-09 05:20:14 · answer #2 · answered by Hauntedfox 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stereotypes can be useful to our minds -- they help us to quickly categorize and make sense of the world around us. If we didn't have stereotypes it would be hard to learn from our past experiences; it would be like every situation was completely new. So they do perform a good function. It's just that we should be able to accept that a new experience might not be a good example of the stereotype that we associate with it. That is, if you have a stereotype about a group of people, what you've previously learned about this group can help you to interact with them. But you should also be aware that any one individual from that group might not fit what you've previously learned. As long as you are observant enough to pick up on this, you're fine.
2006-12-09 16:45:22 · answer #3 · answered by drshorty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a very open minded individual who will hear what is being said, think closely about what was asked and than will give my opinion or just an answer to the question.
2006-12-09 04:33:46 · answer #4 · answered by Louisa R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it happened just as you described it, then I'm with you, Yogi. From what you wrote, my feeling was that the interviewer hurried through the questions just so that she could say that she asked him all the questions, whether he had a chance to answer them or not. :)
2006-12-09 04:39:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I loved it! Why ? Because it was very interesting and to the point. Do you know what I like more ? It shows that you have freed your talent from the ordinary ties such as rhyming, and the line : "I do not apologize for the length,,, if you have a short attention span,,, just pass on by."...... is a sing of such freedom, IMHO. Thanks for sharing!
2016-05-22 23:02:13 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're right, of course. It is naive, because she might have just lost her company a potential winner! We've got to pity the poor lady - she's myopic to the point of being blind!
2006-12-09 04:41:17 · answer #7 · answered by Maverick 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Eavesdropped on someone's conversation. I think that's the crux of your story. So I would have to say neither open minded, short-sighted or profoundly thought, it's more like it was his business and her business.
2006-12-09 05:35:07 · answer #8 · answered by mac 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the interviewer had the right but it ian't any point working for such a person.
2006-12-09 05:43:58 · answer #9 · answered by Karthik 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think you are in the right on this one.
2006-12-09 04:32:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋