ABC News 20/20 Report: White and Black Names - Page 4

DSTCHAOS · #46 10-03-2006, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taualumna

Why is it perfectly acceptable for a person of east Asian descent to have a name like Jennifer (almost every Jen in my grad class in high school was Chinese) or Michael, while people of other ethnicities have to have a name that "reflects their culture" and that it's "wrong" not to do that?

Come again?

DSTCHAOS · #47 10-03-2006, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adpiucf

Good point-- I have seen a lot of ethnic minorities with Westernized nicknames at school, but their legal names are very different! But there's a difference when Ahn Ng is going by Ann, and Julie Chan is really just Julie!

True.

OtterXO · #48 10-03-2006, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Otter, I'm not sure what you're saying. If they're equal applicants, and the both speak well, present themselves well, etc...I have no idea who I'd choose. Probably whoever went to a college I don't hate.

I was trying to flush out what you were saying. You said that in your family experience you found that the well qualified minorities don't present themselves well. So I asked if you were presented with two equally qualified applicants (just the resumes) would you assume that the "Brad/Larry/etc" would present better than the equally qualified minority?

ETA: I was just curious. People's thought processes are interesting, especially in that situation. My boyfriend regularly receives resumes from people whose names he can't pronounce. (Often east indian people since he works in IT) They receive the same consideration as other applicants. The only problem would be if there's a severe language barrier.

shinerbock · #49 10-03-2006, 02:39 PM

What I was saying about my family was that some Atlanta minorities, despite being well educated and intelligent, don't see anything wrong with continuing to act and dress along the lines of popular black culture..thus my father has come across several qualified applicants who he simply can't hire because they don't come across in a professional way. That being said, he has several black employees who are very intelligent and professional.

TonyB06 · #50 10-03-2006, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Otter, I'm not sure what you're saying. If they're equal applicants, and the both speak well, present themselves well, etc...I have no idea who I'd choose. Probably whoever went to a college I don't hate.

SB,
I haven't seen any of your subsequent responses mention the "comfort level" you initially alleged was so critically important to clients. I looked for your answer to my hypothetical to offer some justification for what you'd said earlier, a showing that the "comfort level" would overcome the "name" issue as a reason for hiring the lesser qualified but "better-named" candidate.

Interestingly enough, you talked about requirements, (loosely) skill sets, all the things that are important. No judgements here, but it seems as though your rhetoric and and your reason were on different tracks.

Exquisite5 · #51 10-03-2006, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I'm really surprised some of you can figure out how to turn on a computer.

"people like you"--Are you kidding? I simply said businesses will likely hire people with safe names becase customers and partners are more comfortable with them. Simply because someone decides to name their child Letravious doesn't mean the rest of the world needs to rush to accept it as normal.

Who said "people like you?"

I looked and couldn't find it- so I guessed you were referring to my post- but I didn't say that. I merely said that you were an example of a person who couldn't get over a made up name-- which by your own admission is true.

What is so stupid about that that you are surprised I can turn a computer on?

shinerbock · #52 10-03-2006, 03:01 PM

I never said I can't get over a name, I said that businesses look after their own interests. Please stop claiming I said things I didn't.

shinerbock · #53 10-03-2006, 03:05 PM

Tony, but it depends on the field I'd imagine. If I was hiring someone to go out and pick up big corporate clientel (maybe advertising, who knows), I may have to consider how those people would deal with an employee with a non-traditional name. If I perceived it may be a problem, I would probably be forced to think twice about hiring them. That being said, I think such a situation would only come between two equally matched employees. I would never hire an unqualified person over a qualified one for something so trivial as a name.

DSTCHAOS · #54 10-03-2006, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I would never hire an unqualified person over a qualified one for something so trivial as a name.

Even if David Smith sounds better to your clients than Kendell Smith?

AlphaFrog · #55 10-03-2006, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Even if David Smith sounds better to your clients than Kendell Smith?

I've know 3 Kendells...2 white males, and one white female. I don't think I've ever met a black Kendell.

shinerbock · #56 10-03-2006, 03:15 PM

Yeah, I actually like the name Kendall for girls.

Exquisite5 · #57 10-03-2006, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Consider it from a business standpoint...Which sounds better, "hey this is our new Director of ______, David Smith" or "hey, this is Sen'Derrick..." Just do your kids a favor and give them a reasonable name...or don't, but they may pay for your decision.

I stand corrected, you didn't say you couldn't get over it, but it seemed implied from this post.

My apologies- if you can get over it, I applaud you. Nevertheless, all of your posts seem like it would be an issue to you/your family/whomever.

KSig RC · #58 10-03-2006, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I've know 3 Kendells...2 white males, and one white female. I don't think I've ever met a black Kendell.

If you post one more anecdotal bit in this thread, it will explode.

IT DOES NOT MATTER AT ALL, THAT'S ACTUALLY THE WHOLE POINT OF THE RESEARCH.

AlphaFrog · #59 10-03-2006, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exquisite5

I stand corrected, you didn't say you couldn't get over it, but it seemed implied from this post.

My apologies- if you can get over it, I applaud you. Nevertheless, all of your posts seem like it would be an issue to you/your family/whomever.

In all fairness, it's the topic of the thread, and therefore it's going to come across more stressed then it actually is.

DSTCHAOS · #60 10-03-2006, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSig RC

If you post one more anecdotal bit in this thread, it will explode.

IT DOES NOT MATTER AT ALL, THAT'S ACTUALLY THE WHOLE POINT OF THE RESEARCH.

...........