If you don't want people to know your age...

[Dick Margulis]

Beth Agnew wrote:
> Along the same lines, if you're attending a conference or even an STC 
> chapter meeting, don't forget that the people you are schmoozing with 
> may be in a position to hire you at some point, so any impression you 
> make could be important. I attended a wine and cheese night at our large 
> local chapter a few years ago, and ended up talking to a fellow who was 
> quite argumentative about a few subjects, not just with me but with 
> everyone in the conversations. I recognized his name when his resume 
> showed up a few days later. No interview for him.
> 

Beth,

You and I are generally well aligned on most subjects. I think I have to 
part company with you on this point, though.

On the one hand, if the position you are trying to fill has as a job 
requirement following instructions and never thinking for oneself, then, 
yes, I can understand why you would reject someone you know to have a 
contentious streak in him.

On the other hand, I don't understand the point of public gatherings--or 
even private gatherings--if etiquette demands that everyone agrees with 
everyone else all the time. How are we to exchange ideas and move 
society forward if it is universally considered rude to engage in 
persuasive argument. Further, if you are looking for a creative person, 
an independent thinker, for the value he or she can bring to your 
organization, perhaps you need to accept the personality baggage that 
may go along with those qualities.

Or maybe I'm just jumping to the guy's defense because I'm a contentious 
SOB myself. Who knows?

Dick
http://ampersandvirgule.blogspot.com/