Finished files are the result of years of scientific study combined with the experience of many years.
A confusing sentence by content? Perhaps. But it's a puzzle.Question: How many examples of the letter "f" are evident in the sentence?
Answer: Three? Five? As many as six? A majority of the new Salt Lake County Sheriff's Advisory Board saw three. The answer is six.
Response to the riddle, posed during a Wednesday meeting to a largely upper middle-class white-collar group of county residents, indicates the majority of the group fell for the puzzler, looking past the words "of" in their search for the elusive letter.
What does it mean? Initially, one might say members of the group see things basically the same.
But, does it mean the group thinks the same and will share similar views on upcoming issues? Does it indicate the panel is not as diverse as touted?
Enough, already. It's just a simple riddle.
A sneaky, psychological test of the mind, perhaps. But it was given to remind people that what they think they see is not always reality. It shows that the mind will miss important factors if trained by a combination of experience and preconditioning.
And it worked.
The three members who quickly figured out the riddle and saw the correct six letters said they'd seen it before.
While the majority of the panel answered the puzzle incorrectly, the members did not appear confused about their goals as members of the new citizens advisory board.
"I think it's a good source for the citizens . . . and to know they'll be heard from someone on their side of the game," said board member Michelle Hall. The Salt Lake woman owns a small business that sells industrial equipment.
"The training has gone wonderful," said Barry Bank, a Sugarhouse retailer. "I'm going to stick with (the board). It is an important part of Salt Lake County."
But to at least one of the three board members who resigned after the first meeting, Feb. 17, the question of representation is a serious one. Despite inclusion of most minority communities and both genders on the panel, a handful of present and former board members who resigned agree the group doesn't represent the middle or lower class.
"I did have some concerns," said a former member, who tendered a resignation after considering both the schedule and the makeup of the group. "It didn't appear very community-oriented."
The individual questioned how members of the current board - many of whom are highly educated white-collar professionals - could empathize with situations that may be alien to their lifestyle. Others who resigned could not be reached for comment.
Board member Richard Williams, a management and communication consultant from Sandy, said he believes the board is a solid cross-section of the county's population, except there is no member from the black community.
"I wish there was a black female on it," he said. "I really like the fact there are a couple of homemakers."
With several attorneys, consultants and professors, the education factor is a strong one.
Williams agreed there is a prevalence of white-collar professionals but said it will benefit the board in its initial developmental stage.
"It seems to be some fairly educated people, but I don't think that's a problem right now," he said, adding there is room down the road to integrate the board with stronger representation from various socio-economic levels.
Bank said he also noticed the absence of a black board member. "I don't know if it's good, bad or indifferent," he said. Other than that, he said, he was satisfied with the progress of the panel.
"The training did scare some people away," he said. "But, that's good on our part." Bank said those who end up on the board must be willing to accept all of the challenges.
Sheriff Aaron Kennard told The Deseret News that all minority communities were invited to apply for the board positions. There were no applications from the black community, he said. However, one group member has since contacted a black man to sit on the panel.
Similarly, Kennard said several citizens in the low-income level had initially expressed an interest in the board. He said of the initial 85 applicants, at least five could be considered from a low-income background.
"They were the first to drop out," he said. Kennard said the three members who resigned likely realized they weren't up to the commitment.
"They've seen the commitment that is needed," he said.