Hugh

A practical example of why stereotyping, be it by ethnicity, religion, accent, or whatever, can mislead.

When I was appointed Programme Manager on a large Mobile Comms provider's Data Warehouse Programme, I telephone interviewed the KPMG consultants who would be assisting me in delivering the Programme.

One of those was a gentleman called Saul Judah; when we had our telephone conversation, I discovered he had a broad Glaswegian accent, as well as the fact he was very well-versed on Data Warehousing. When we all met up for a meal (initial team-building exercise), I also discovered he was Asian (his family were originally from Goa), and his religion was Catholic - this was due the fact his family (when it was in Goa) anglicised their name to one of their neighbours (a Mr Saul Judah, and the forename was given to the eldest son of each generation), and had taken up the religion of the European settlers of Goa, who were mainly Dutch Catholics.

So, Saul had a Jewish name, looked like one of Gary's Muslims, was Catholic, and had a Glaswegian accent (born and bred) - perhaps things aren't so simple and clear-cut as some would make out?

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Splitter!!!