On 18 Dec 2008, at 10:31, Alex Francis wrote: > then some magic > software wrote 20 pages about each of us. Spookily accurate stuff, > too.
Do you not think that this sort of thing is a bit prone to Horoscope techniques? e.g. It's generalised, but tending to flattery. You have a strong sense of personal values, which is nice, but I find it hard to think of anyone failing to identify with that. What values ? Of course, they're 'personal', you're unique and special. I find it hard to imagine anyone getting dealt the converse - 'you have a weak sense of personal values'. And then you might unkindly suggest the weaknesses are balanced in the form of the 'rainbow ruse' beloved of spiritualists and psychic quackery - you *may* become stubborn *if* pressured etc. You mitigate a vague negative with an flattering escape clause, and everyone will be able to identify their personality as having qualities from both sides at some point or another. I doubt any of this would fare well in formal double-blind tests for accuracy. This sort of thing bothers me slightly on a couple of levels. It's a bit of a worry if employers formalise this practice, and incorporate into staff assessment processes, or hiring decisions. I also fear that it plays up to the cult-of-personality and ego-driven individualism that I think is an all too prevalent, and unhelpful trope within programmer/spod culture in general. None of this is supposed to specifically apply to Mr. Alex Francis of course, who I don't really know, but assume to be an excellent fellow. -- Regards, Colin M. Strickland _______________________________________________ BristolBathPM mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.bristolbath.org/mailman/listinfo/bristolbathpm
