That NASAWatch Guy
Keith’s note: I still can’t stop laughing at this one. I am really rocking the gray hair, reader glasses, nonchalant slouching journalist slob thing! As for the other guy …
.@JimBridenstine meets @NASAWatch ? pic.twitter.com/UzO20KzTRW
— Michael Baylor (@nextspaceflight) November 29, 2018
Well, I have to give you some points for that. I’ve never trusted men in fancy suits and ties. Competence and how you dress are not correlated.
It’s true, of course, at least in theory. But ever notice how the offices of bankers and so-called “investment advisors” are replete with marble? Or lawyers with leather and dark wood?
The degree that how people appear is congruent with these studies isn’t clear, not at least to me, but there’s this: memes about “first impressions”, for instance.
Then again, down here in Florida I attend nearly all meetings wearing shorts. Nice shorts, to be sure, and nearly always a shirt with a collar. I’ll put on long pants meeting a large client the first time (a national homebuilder, for instance, like Lennar or Pulte). Shorts thereafter.
I have no idea where this line of reasoning is going…
On the one hand, there is a completely natural tendency for people to judge by appearances. But appearances can be deceiving and being superficial is often unfair. No matter how natural the tendency is, it’s a habit I think people ought to deliberately avoid. The same thing is true of discrimination. There are millions of years of evolution behind recognizing and favoring people who are “like me” (members of the same pack or tribe or whatever) and being hostile to people who are different. The fact that this is a natural tendency doesn’t make it a good thing.
The connection with discrimination is so obvious- but I didn’t think of it. Of course it’s true.
Just to make my opinion clear, I do think how someone looks and dresses has some importance. In your line of work, the customer doesn’t want sloppy, careless property development or landscaping. If you walked into a meeting with a dirty t-shirt and ragged jeans, with your ass hanging out, they might be right to think the quality of your work would be similar. But, as you said, you don’t do that.
My objections to people who wear and expect other people to wear fancy suits and ties is about the idea that that form of dress is the _only_ way to look professional. It isn’t. And being able to buy the fancy suit and tie a knot around your neck doesn’t demonstrate competency.
My Mom would have slapped the back of your head with a very firm “sit up straight!”
Which was, at the time, intensely irritating, now inexplicably bringing a smile.
LOL
Where’s that out of this world ugly Christmas sweater when you need it, Keith ?
Whoa, Keith! Is that an e-Stogie you’re toking off of? And how’d you sneak that into the room (w/o others asking for a share)?