Why Every Office Needs an Outsider 81
Research has shown that having an oddball team member not only gives you someone to make fun of, but also leads to better decision making. Researcher Katie Liljenquist, says having "socially distinct newcomers" on a team can help it perform at a higher level. Team tension is crucial, and shaking up the same old crowd is the way to create it. "You can imagine if you work in an office and you've got this outsider like Dwight Schrute who walks in and a lot of his ideas resonate with you. Your fellow in-group members are hearing this and thinking, 'Wait, you agree with Dwight?' That can be really uncomfortable and socially threatening," she says.
They're called testers (Score:3, Insightful)
And there's more than enough of them!
me? (Score:5, Insightful)
Dwight Schrute (Score:5, Insightful)
"You can imagine if you work in an office and you've got this outsider like Dwight Schrute who walks in and a lot of his ideas resonate with you. Your fellow in-group members are hearing this and thinking, 'Wait, you agree with Dwight?' That can be really uncomfortable and socially threatening."
Socially threatening because Dwight Schrute is a sociopathic cat killer who delights in blocking fire exits and pulling the alarm. A better choice could have been chosen. Michael, for instance.
Outsiders don't have to be assholes (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:me? (Score:4, Insightful)
There is one common element in all your failed relationships and careers...
You...
Re:I totally disagree! (Score:3, Insightful)
Now stop misunderestimating me!
- George W.
As compared to the current President who thinks that Austrians speak Austrian, and is totally lost without a teleprompter?
GM, Chrysler, AIG (Score:3, Insightful)
Having been an outsider many times (Score:4, Insightful)
I can tell you it's hell.
Until you quit and then you get that "I've been released from prison" feeling.
It's especially nice when 6 to 12 months later you hear that your boss got fired due to all the problems you tried to warn him about destroying the project and or his general incompetence.
Re:Outsiders don't have to be assholes (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:I totally disagree! (Score:3, Insightful)
Perfect example of nonsense...no linguist (I'm sure you're not familiar with terms like AAVE, AE, or SAE. That would be African-American Vernacular ENGLISH, American ENGLISH, and Southern American ENGLISH. You may notice the keywords ENGLISH) or anyone else who wasn't blatantly trying to defend Obama would agree with you.
Just think of the urban legend about Dan Quayle and Latin in Latin America. Many people still actually believe that one. Obama makes a stupid comment and the chattering classes go crazy coming up with explanations to defend him.
Re:I totally disagree! (Score:3, Insightful)
What's "real english?"
If England (the root word of English) started speaking only a modified Latin, would that language be "english?"
Or maybe, American's speak "real english" because there's more people who speak American English than there are who speak any other type of English?
Or maybe, instead of inane nitpicking about "real english" we can just recognize it for what it is, a regional accent.
Besides, I think British English is more corrupt than American English, innit?