From smaller-sized discussions (e.g., at the new senior center) to larger-sized discussions (at East-West Bookstore), people say they most enjoy conversation, interaction, learning of others' opinions, sharing, exchanging ideas and thoughts, etc. We urge you to continue this experience online. Many of you would probably enjoy seeing others' comments, but it seems people are reluctant to comment here.
Are any of you reading this that participated in an activity? We need a few people to start an example of sharing opinions online. Perhaps you observed others talking but didn't feel strongly enough to chime in, or maybe you're shy or not as assertive as others that were there, or maybe someone spoke again just when you were about to finally speak -- you have another opportunity online. Or maybe you're one of those who spoke a lot but even more thoughts have come to mind.
To comment, click on "comments" below the appropriate posting. For example, if you went to the police event, comment on the posting with the police photo. Under "Choose an identity," if you do not have a Blogger identity, we encourage you to choose "Other" and enter your name and neighborhood or zip code. For example, "Jane Smith, Monta Loma" or "Jane, 94043."
1 comment:
Yesterday we sat at a round table in the beautiful brand new Mountain View Senior Center, where the conversation revolved around reading the very last chapter in the book, Listening With Your Eyes. This clearly laid out how we form blink-of-an-eye impressions of people by how they look, dress, carry themselves, by their race, age, or gender, before we have any opportunity to assess them on their merits.
The chapter tells the story of how the world of symphony orchestras, strictly male in Europe, was turned upside down by the introduction of blind auditions, which gave entry for the first time to women musicians. Once (nearly by accident) a blind audition was held where the judges could only hear, and not see, the auditioner, a woman was selected to be principal trombone player of the Munich Philharmonic, and all hell broke loose. The tyrannical conductor of the Munich Philharmonic tried unsuccessfully for ten years to unseat Abbie Conant, but she persevered and won.
The result was a worldwide adoption of blind auditions, unionization of orchestras, and a five-fold increase in female membership of world-class symphony orchestras. In non-blind auditions, conductors and other judges were hearing with their eyes, eliminating women before they ever struck a note, and sincerely believing they were being absolutely fair in their assessments.
The lesson I took away was this: realize that you simply are not naturally unbiased, that you bring the sum total of your experience to drawing instant conclusions, and give your higher brain and your better self the opportunity to see through that to a more fair assessment. Seek to eliminate the problem, as the symphony orchestras did, of having snap impressions cloud your judgments.
Post a Comment