So I have this friend (let's say) who works in a nonprofit. Her org is in a position to hire an entry-level staffer, and she's the one in charge of the search. She's showing me resumes, because she values my opinion. I've seen a couple so far. The job description she has posted mentions that candidates should have a social justice background. Some of the applicants I've seen so far have been involved in real grassroots organizing; some were chapter heads of big, relatively low-maintenance organizations on the order of the Sierrra Club; and some have just had office jobs.

The other day we were looking at one of the latter type of applications. My friend asked me what I thought, and I said the applicant looked like a nice competent person, if lacking in activist background. Then again, I said, I think it's worth picking up someone like that and showing them the ropes -- a good way to increase their active commitment to social change.

My friend gave me a frustrated look that made me think my opinion on applicants was no longer of a high enough value to seek out. But we're a social justice organization, she said. This applicant doesn't have a social justice background.

Have you ever known a guy whose social repertoire relies heavily on clomping his huge headphones over your ears and insisting you listen to a song by his favorite band, usually one which has a great deal of meaning to him but which takes some explaining to anyone else? And he doesn't do the explaining... You try playing him some music you like, in a less invasive way, because he really is manic about this one band and, you know, you worry about a person like that... he gives you back your CD and says, Yeah, it's OK, but it's not My Favorite Band. And then you mention another band you like, and he says, Oh please, I don't think I can talk to you anymore.

And did that happen to you, and did you then think, My god, didn't I give this attitude up in high school when it was used against me one too many times?