Apophenia †Filling the Blanks

Apophenia - Filling the Blanks Apophenia Filling the Blanks Apophenia Filling the Blanks By Maeve Maddox Readers comments on What Does [Sic] Mean? point up the curious feature of the human mind that infuses meaning into the meaningless. I always thought it was an abbreviation for â€Å"Spelling Is Correct.† I think I read on this site that someone believed â€Å"sic† to stand for â€Å"said in context†. I had previously thought it was an acronym for â€Å"Spelled InCorrectly†. This type of fill-in-the-blanks reasoning is at work in elaborate conspiracy theories and when someone sees the face of Jesus in a tortilla. The tendency to find meaning in the partially-known is called apophenia: finding meaning or patterns where none exist. Unfamiliar with the source of the notation [sic], readers make use of the letters and the context to create something that makes sense to them. We all fall into this kind of fallacious reasoning at some time or another. Uncomfortable in a new situation, we hear laughter and are certain that the people are laughing at us. The narrative of the movie A Beautiful Mind revolves around the protagonists apophenic beliefs. For those of us who write fiction, some aspect of apophenia must be at work when we spin whole narratives out of a chance remark or the glimpse of an oddly-dressed person on a train. The human mind craves meaning. We look at our lives and see a meaningful narrative. We find evidence for beliefs that other people find preposterous. If you browse the Wikipedia articles that stem from the one on apophenia, youll find several types of this kind of thinking. One type is called Mortons Demon, named by Glenn R. Morton to explain what was at work in his mind when he believed in a widely-held theory he no longer believes in. Morton entered the study of physics believing firmly in creationist theory. His study of geology changed his belief. He then gave a name to the type of reasoning that had enabled him to believe in a theory with insufficient physical evidence: Mortons demon stands at the gateway of a persons senses and lets in facts that agree with that persons beliefs while deflecting those that do not. With a national election only days away, were being hammered with all kinds of assertions about the candidates. Its probably a good time for voters to watch out for apophenia in their thinking. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Great Similes from Literature to Inspire YouHang, Hung, HangedIs "Number" Singular or Plural?

So you didn’t get the jobâ€now what

So you didn’t get the job- now what In the course of your job search, you’ve probably come across someone who talks about how they lucked into some great opportunity, clicked with an interviewer right away, and basically walked away with a job offer on the spot. And you probably hate that person a little, especially if you’ve experienced what just about all of us have at some point: a rejection after going through the application process. Let’s face it: that rejection always stings, even if you know you weren’t a good fit or you didn’t have a good interview. Thinking you may not get a job and the confirmation of that fact feel like two different things. So how do you cope after you get the call, email, or deafening silence that confirms the worst?Mourn it a little, but then move on.This is a disappointment. It’s okay to embrace that, but it’s really not worth wallowing for too long. Whether you were the next choice on the list or dead last in the rankings, the end result is the same, so why dwell? Even if you had your heart set on this new gig and envisioned yourself getting that sweet, sweet offer letter, you can’t let the disappointment derail your progress in your job hunt.Don’t expect specific intel on why you weren’t hired.Unless you’re told directly that they didn’t hire you for X reason, you’re probably never going to know for sure exactly why you lost out on this job. Don’t look for closure from the company, because you might be disappointed in what you get. If you ask for specific feedback, you may get it, but it’s just as likely you’ll get a response like, â€Å"we decided to go in a different direction.†Remember that it doesn’t mean you’re un-hireable.It can be tempting to personalize the decision. Why didn’t they want to hire ME? What did I do to make this happen? Chances are, it wasn’t you, personally, who triggered the rejection. Maybe so meone else had a few more experience points or aced the interview. Just because this particular company decided not to hire you does not mean you’re fundamentally flawed as a candidate or that it will affect your chances on your next application.Consider it a chance to regroup.Getting a rejection is a chance to take an honest look at what happened at every step of the process (review your resume, reflect on the interview) and decide what you can improve for next time. It can make you leaner and meaner, and ready for the next job to come along. Were you as prepared as you could have been? Did the interview go well or were there things you’d change? Can your resume be more targeted and reflective of your top skills? These are important questions to ask after any job rejection.Not getting the job is also a chance to think about what your job search goals are. Did you really want this job? Do you want to continue looking for this specific kind of job after all? The bottom line is that this is a good chance to re-evaluate yourself- both as a potential employee and as a job seeker.After any job rejection, it’s important to remember that it’s not the end of the world. It’s a letdown for sure, but for whatever reason, this job just wasn’t right. At some point, the stars will align, and you’ll find an employer who thinks you’re a perfect match for their job opening. Don’t lose your motivation or your faith in yourself- see it as an opportunity to learn from the experience and move on to the next thing.