What do you think of these people?
By pumpkinjam
@pumpkinjam (8876)
United Kingdom
April 3, 2008 3:57am CST
I'm going to put two groups of information and I would like you to tell me which one you think you would like better, which you would pick for certain tasks and why?
Person 1:
Achieved good grades throughout school, finished at 16 with a "C" average in 11 subjects
Now runs a business
Often complimented on children's manners, intelligence and abilities
Has a multitude of skills from needlework to carpentry
Has a high IQ and excellent general knowledge
Lives in a suburban semi with partner of 5 years
Does not smoke and drinks rarely
Person 2:
Brought up on benefits on a council estate
Failed in college
Pregnant when finished college
Single mum aged 19 and again aged 24
Smoked pot for a time
Two children with different dads
"Stay at home" mum
No "proper" qualifications
Never kept a job for more than a few months at a time
I have something to add to this later but I would like some responses first.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@RieRie (820)
•
3 Apr 08
Well I think I know what you've done there. But I would be more likely to go with person one, because they seem quite average really,so if I asked that person to do something for me, I wouldn't expect them to do a bad job or an excellent job, just an average one that'll do. Person 2 seems like he/she most probably had a bad time of things and if I was to ask them to do something I would most probably expect them to fail the job or quit.
@pumpkinjam (8876)
• United Kingdom
4 Apr 08
Thank you RieRie. I think you know what I've done too. I have a feeling all my respondants know so far actually!
It's all a matter of perception. Which pieces of information you give (or which people notice) can make a big difference to how they feel about you.
@pumpkinjam (8876)
• United Kingdom
9 Apr 08
I believe your answers is the most honest! I thought I would get more responses to this one. In case anyone was wondering. The two descriptions were of the same person. I could say for example, I am a stay at home mum doing a part time job from home and done a couple of courses or I could say I am a business woman with qualifications in health and business as well as having brought up two children. They are both descriptions of the same person but the information we choose to divulge and the way in which we give it can make a difference to how some people see us.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
3 Apr 08
I am going to sit firmly on the fence with this one. They are both people and individuals in their own right. Neither is "better" than the other. They will both have skills and talents that the other doesn't. Who I would select to complete a task would be solely based on their ability to do the job, not the apparent differences in their backgrounds.
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8876)
• United Kingdom
3 Apr 08
Thank you very much. I agree with you although, as Dory said, some people would automatically prefer number 1, even if subconsciously.
I also meant to add that number one dreses smartly and number 2 wears jeans and shirts. I am sure it will not make any difference to your answer because you are a fair and open-minded person.
@dorypanda (1601)
•
3 Apr 08
I'd like to find out what those people are like now, it doesn't matter about when they were younger. The first one does sound a better person than the second one though to some people. If either of them were applying for a job with me I'd ask both to an interview, you can't really tell what someone's like just on paper.
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8876)
• United Kingdom
3 Apr 08
Thank you Dory. I think you might know what I am trying to do so thank you for not saying.
