[ipince]

> For example: if you saw two guys at a company booth, one guy who was slightly overweight, had a unkept beard, and wore a t-shirt that had the Perl deCSS code, and standing next to him, was someone in dockers, a button up shirt, and had a blackberry, you might make some snap assumptions.

I think the point here is that even if you (internally) make those assumptions, you shouldn't externalize them. Give everyone the benefit of the doubt, so to speak.

[balls187]

Obviously my analogy breaks down--assuming someone with a nerdy shirt might be technical isn't nearly as offensive as assuming someone isn't technical because they're a woman.

Though I agree with you. "Better for others to think you're an idiot, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."