Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Gay, not gloomy

We were interviewing a candidate for a specialized function in finance. It was a highly technical interview and the candidate was impressive.

“He is a good candidate”, I was told after the interview. “But I think he is gay. I hope you don’t have a problem with that.”

My brain refused to process what I was hearing. How did the sexual preferences of a person in any way affect his ability to perform his task?

The retort came to me only hours later. “I don’t care if he's gay”, I should have said, “as long as he is not gloomy.”

_____
A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.

18 comments:

KCSherri said...

I'm like you - I always think of the retort WAY after it's too late....!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

I hope he got the job!

Jessica Bell said...

Hahaha! Oh man! Don't you hate that? I'm like that. The wit sneaks in way to late!

LTM said...

I think it's the stun of the incongruous comment that throws us off momentarily.
I get too many competing thoughts at once to reply (e.g, Do I seem like a prig who would be bothered by that? Is this person such a prig? Did he say, "I will only calculate sexy male numbers," and I missed it? etc.)

LOL! ;p

Sueann said...

Ha! I always come up with something to say after everyone has left. So I know the feeling.
Hugs
SueAnn

Mary@GigglesandGuns said...

Shock at stupidity throws my whole brain off.
I really do love your drabble.

Unknown said...

Can I tell you that I love this drabble!!!!! No seriously, I really LOVE this post. Having had a brother who was openly gay and wonderfully talented, I can truly empathize.

Talli Roland said...

Cool drabble!

Yup, I'm like that. Always thinking of the right response way too late. Sigh!

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Wonderful Rayna,

Yvonne

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Good retort!

Cruella Collett said...

How I wish you had been able to say just that! It is terrible that sexual preferences should still be an issue in 2010.

Deb and Barbara said...

Damn, that would've been a good response! Actually, that is SO good, you still get points for thinking of it afterward.

I found a great blog that recently posted the amazing letter from James Kaufman to Laura Schlessinger about gay people and the laws of the bible. It is brilliant and hysterical. And a great example of what cleverness one can come up with given a few hours over a computer.

http://hollyedexter.blogspot.com/2010/06/thoughts-on-prop-8.html

(don't know how to make that a proper link)

Enjoy! Barbara

Tina said...

Great answer, however late. I hate it when the perfect response comes to me HOURS later. At least it made an excellent drabble.

Jemi Fraser said...

Yikes! Some people are so bizarre - how could it matter.

I'm terrible for thinking of retorts on time - I need to pause the world for a bit while I think :)

Unknown said...

I love that: Gay not gloomy! What a wonderful way to put it.

CD

Donna B. said...

GREAT RETORT....save it for the next time. Good for you for not judging. It makes zero difference how his sexual preference would effect his ability to do the job. How ridiculous some people are! I hope he got the job.

dipali said...

Good one, even if too late:)

Natasha said...

@ Sherrie - isn't that frustrating- when you find the perfect retort. I think part of the reason I write is because things like this can get taken care of.

@ Debra- must you even ask? Not only was he the best candidate, he was the only one who had a sense of humour.

@ Jessica - maybe that is why we are all writers?

@ LTM- yes, I was so taken aback, I couldn't even react. Loved your last option, BTW

@ SueAnn- it is frustrating, isn't it?

@ Mary- totally. I mean, what is the connection?

@ Chary- thank you, Chary. Nobody I know well is openly gay, but I think it shouldn't make a difference to me if they are.

@ Talli- that just has to be a writer thing, in that case.

@ Yvonne, thank you

@ Alex- but delayed, as most of mine are.

@ Cruella- the next time it happens, though I wish it doesn't, I have my retort ready.

@ Barbara- thank you. And that was fantastic!

@ Tina- the best thing with blogging is that I can live vicariously at least.

@ Jemi- it is ridiculous, isn't it? And for a position that doesn't even involve too much interaction with people- not that even that should matter.

@ Clarissa- and he did have a sense of humour too.

@ Donna- of course he did. I am the one who needs to work with him, and I want the best person for the job- man or woman, gay or not. Gloomy need not apply.

@ Dipali- thank you.

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