COMPATIBILITY, IN-CROWD, FITTING IN
Compatibility is a big deal. It’s bigger than I thought it was. It’s the way of the world. Ultimately, it’s bigger than knowledge, skill, aptitude, and experience. We tend to think and say that it should not be, but it is. We profess our approval of merit, then turn around and hire the guy we like rather than the guy who is best qualified to do the job. We perform the mental trick of believing that the guy we like is best qualified, regardless of evidence to the contrary. People want to be with people similar to themselves. It’s human nature. We see it all the time. We see it all around us. Is it a bad thing? Not for those who benefit from social familiarity and acceptance. It might be bad for those who get left out, and someone always gets left out. It’s no fun to be left out. We all want to belong somewhere, but we don’t all succeed at finding a group or a place to belong to. We don’t all get accepted by a secure social arrangement. We don’t all get to be in with the in-crowd. And, those of us who are left out just have to do the best we can. Poor schlubs!
Photo retrieved January 10, 2015, from http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6pb5vDOls1qetik7o1_1280.jpg
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