PG Essays Two Kinds of Judgement
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Oct 4, 2023 Discover the intriguing distinction between two types of judgment: correctness-based and selection-based. Explore how court cases and competition grades prioritize accuracy, while hiring and admissions focus on choosing the best fit. Learn why rejecting individuals isn't unfair, but rather about assembling a well-rounded team. Paul Graham encourages listeners to view selectors as customers and advises taking rejection less personally. He also shares tips on proactively improving your chances, especially during college applications.
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Most Judgments Aren't About You
- Most judgments are not aimed at accurately assessing you but at achieving another goal like selecting a team or making a hire.
- Realizing this reduces taking rejection personally and reveals selection processes are often quick and impersonal.
Team Selection Example
- Imagine picking 20 players where only borderline choices matter and swapping the 20th for the 21st barely changes team quality.
- The 20th player may feel misjudged, but the selector's goal was a good team, not perfect individual ranking.
Selectors Are More Like Customers
- Selectors often resemble customers choosing among options, not judges aiming for fairness or accuracy.
- Viewing them as customers removes expectations of fairness and reframes rejection as preference, not injustice.