Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Blink Discussion: Social Agenda
In his afterword, Gladwell stated that Blink was originally meant to be a "journey into the wonders of our unconscious" (p. 273). After time has passed, Gladwell feels there may be a call to action after all. Similar to the blind auditions in symphonies, Gladwell suggests removing race, gender, and age pointers from the courtroom to discourage discrimination of defendants. How well do you think this would work and how in favor would you be? I am personally very much in favor with this idea and would fight for it. What are other social applications to Gladwell's theories? Ahem, Ron Paul vs. Mitt Romney. Discuss.
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I'm hoping we can get some discussion on this point in particular. What you're talking about here fascinates me.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about the courtroom idea... but, I don't know, I just can't envision it. In theory, it makes sense; it's a good thing, right? And yet... I don't know. Why am I hesitating? I'm not even 100% sure myself.
Maybe I can't imagine the courtroom without thin-slicing because I just can't imagine life without thin-slicing. It's part of being human.
I'm a believer in making thin-slicing work for you. Years ago I worked with kids who were in the process of being expelled from our school district. I worked as their home-study teacher and I met with them weekly. It's not likely to surprise you that plenty of these kids came from rough neighborhoods, uncertain or unstable home lives and that most of them struggled academically especially in a traditional classroom setting. But one one one... they thrived. And it was exhilarating to get to know them. Students with mostly failing grades were suddenly reliable and conscientious about their schooling, rarely missing appointments and assignments. But one of my biggest frustrations with these students is how they looked! I would flat out ask them, "You aren't a hoodlum. Why are you dressed like one?" Not judging a book by a cover is a wonderful sentiment. I believe in it! But sometimes an author should do everything possible to use that cover to say, "I won't likely rob you." Accept the thin-slicing. Work the thin-slicing.
And, maybe... Here's the thing (that I think) about defendants. It doesn't take all that long to figure someone out regardless of what he or she is wearing. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that in the course of a trial, the jury is going to be capable of moving beyond those initial judgments and they're going to have the time and information to do so. It didn't take me long to move beyond it with my students. Even though I still wanted them to pull their pants up. And turn their caps around.
So, I'm wondering... in the courtroom, would it make a difference? Convince me. (Hint: I'm easily persuaded.)
First of all, Melissa, what a great service you did for those students--to give them credit like that as you worked with them.
ReplyDeleteI think race is different for certain people and they truly can't move past it, unfortunately. I have heard things from people's mouths that were quite shocking. I think it would be a strong start to a trial to attempt to cover up race and would love to see it done.