tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19105683.post6362583395095690760..comments2023-11-05T05:58:51.073-05:00Comments on Inside Andre's head ©: Fighting perceptionsAndrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018331496569382238noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19105683.post-42569171915024363692007-10-05T16:53:00.000-04:002007-10-05T16:53:00.000-04:00Joanne, "improvements" isn't exactly the term I ha...Joanne, "improvements" isn't exactly the term I had in mind. I see it as more of a facelift.<BR/><BR/>But I did make some major changes. My furniture is pretty much intact, but most of my personal "trinkets" have been done away with it.<BR/><BR/>It was a difficult separation, but necessary all the same.Andrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01018331496569382238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19105683.post-39058563086583412922007-10-04T16:54:00.000-04:002007-10-04T16:54:00.000-04:00Andre, I'm curious to see an "after" shot of your ...Andre, I'm curious to see an "after" shot of your office. Did you make any improvements?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19105683.post-25933979405601133822007-09-25T10:30:00.000-04:002007-09-25T10:30:00.000-04:00@ J.Alex: As far as I can tell, nobody's complaine...@ J.Alex: As far as I can tell, nobody's complained about my office. One of my closest University colleagues teased me about it, but I know it was in jest.<BR/><BR/>Still, that doesn't mean people haven't thought about it and not said anything.Andrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01018331496569382238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19105683.post-51154022129388208942007-09-24T15:58:00.000-04:002007-09-24T15:58:00.000-04:00Honestly dude, I don't see what's so bad about you...Honestly dude, I don't see what's so bad about your spot. It looks pretty organized and festive. Have any of your colleagues ever complained about it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19105683.post-76489209706793505242007-09-24T09:21:00.000-04:002007-09-24T09:21:00.000-04:00@ Joanne: "Personally, I don't think I need to rel...@ Joanne: "<I>Personally, I don't think I need to rely on personal artifacts to tell me who I am. I'm a strong, proud, Black woman who loves God. I don't have to wear daishikis, crosses, or afros to be who I am. I think you'll be better served by just letting this go. THIS is not worth the fight.</I>"<BR/><BR/>Dag! You just <I>love</I> to beat me over the head with truth, don't you?! :)<BR/><BR/>@ Sylv: Good point. I just that at the end of the day, I'm still a unique me even if I don't have a rubber bat hanging from my ceiling and a <A HREF="http://www.bundyology.com/nomaam.html" REL="nofollow">No Ma'Am shirt</A> on my wall.<BR/><BR/>@ Jos: As I mentioned before, I don't think there are any policies in place dictating office space. But you're right in that the space, equipment, etc. DOES belong to U of M. Home is for home; which is why I cleaned house. Interestingly, though, the University prides itself on the diversity and the 'uniqueness' of community. There are some faculty on campus who have done some REAL off the wall stuff adn get praised for it. It's strange.Andrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01018331496569382238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19105683.post-86385356199696063972007-09-24T09:14:00.000-04:002007-09-24T09:14:00.000-04:00@ KC: "OJ...he kept hurting himself by doing even ...@ KC: "<I>OJ...he kept hurting himself by doing even more stupid junk above and beyond the stuff he got away with</I>"<BR/><BR/>Good point. I guess sometimes we can be our own worst enemies when it comes to other people's perceptions.<BR/><BR/>"<I>...if sacrificing a few 'personal' things is a step in the right direction for positively shaping your image, the ends justify the means</I>"<BR/><BR/>Sadly, I agree. Which is why the picture is a "before" shot. I boxed most of the toys, trinkets, and knick knacks. I'm suffering from withdrawal now. Urgh.<BR/><BR/>@ anonymous: "<I>...couldn't just having an office in the FIRST PLACE be considered professional?</I><BR/><BR/>Not necessarily. I've ran into people with meticulous office spaces and were crappy at their jobs. Likewise, I've seen people in cubicles do incredible work. I curious to see how work environment is tied to productivity. Or not.<BR/><BR/>@ Cyn: Most of the time, I'd agree with doing what makes you feel good. But I'm not so sure if that attitude is expected a place where you earn a living. Unless, of course, it's your own company.<BR/><BR/>@ Megan: "<I>Just make sure it's something YOU want to do.<BR/><BR/>If your supervisor or your school have specific rules that need to be followed, that's another story altogether.</I>"<BR/><BR/>As far as I can, we don't have such rules in place. One of the benefits with working at a liberal arts college is that they're aren't too many restrictions in place. Still, too much openness could possibly be a deterrent. Case in point.Andrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01018331496569382238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19105683.post-36787296685482461712007-09-24T06:18:00.000-04:002007-09-24T06:18:00.000-04:00You can "do you" at your own home in which you pay...You can "do you" at your own home in which you pay to live. To me the answer is simple: It's the property of the University so they shoule be able to set the guldelines of how their offices should look. In the event that they conduct tours or decide to take pictures for a booklet, the have the right to do so and should be able to determine what's considered professional in their eyes. <BR/><BR/>*shrugs shoulders*Joslynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02711905649652270677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19105683.post-45011154955178523312007-09-22T20:42:00.000-04:002007-09-22T20:42:00.000-04:00my blog profile reads that "i like to be the uniqu...my blog profile reads that "i like to be the unique me that God created me to be."heiresschildhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02769921885594197625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19105683.post-81568789844483081052007-09-22T15:41:00.000-04:002007-09-22T15:41:00.000-04:00Personally, I don't think I need to rely on person...Personally, I don't think I need to rely on personal artifacts to tell me who I am. I'm a strong, proud, Black woman who loves God. I don't have to wear daishikis, crosses, or afros to be who I am. I think you'll be better served by just letting this go. THIS is not worth the fight.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19105683.post-41744656647419024642007-09-22T15:37:00.000-04:002007-09-22T15:37:00.000-04:00Andre, it is indeed sad that people form such base...Andre, it is indeed sad that people form such baseless perceptions of others. But you're right in one sense; this IS reality. Knowing that, the stereotypes won't be going away anytime soon. I tend to be the type who isn't affected by what others think so I disregard them. But if it bothers you (it sounds like it does) you may have to just throw in the towel and give in. It's all up to you. Just make sure it's something YOU want to do.<BR/><BR/>If your supervisor or your school have specific rules that need to be followed, that's another story altogether.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19105683.post-26502908289376137252007-09-21T18:27:00.000-04:002007-09-21T18:27:00.000-04:00Andre, I'm not trying to be a pacifist here, but d...Andre, I'm not trying to be a pacifist here, but do whatever makes you feel good. Stereotypes against you are going to exist no matter what.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19105683.post-59276608160699013802007-09-21T17:36:00.000-04:002007-09-21T17:36:00.000-04:00It's sad that we've gotten to the point where simp...It's sad that we've gotten to the point where simple things like office appearance dictate the way we respond to others. Frankly, if appearance is tied to professionalism (which I don't believe it is), couldn't just having an office in the FIRST PLACE be considered professional?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19105683.post-74538829443720917242007-09-21T15:24:00.000-04:002007-09-21T15:24:00.000-04:00Interesting post, Dre. When I read this my mind au...Interesting post, Dre. When I read this my mind automatically went to OJ. Since his acquittal over ten years ago, he's become number one on White America's hate list. That wasn't gonna change. But he kept hurting himself by doing even more stupid junk above and beyond the stuff he got away with (That's right. I said it. Black people, we need to admit that this dude is guilty as sin).<BR/><BR/>I say all of this just to say that if sacrificing a few 'personal' things is a step in the right direction for positively shaping your image, the ends justify the means. If what you say is true, people are going to think of you how they think of you anyway. The choice to feed in to that is up to you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com