I work in the lovely state of Delaware. I was born and raised in the Bronx, in NYC. I am a scientist by trade. If there is ANYONE on the planet that tells it like it is, it is ME. I don't do subtlety, I don't do nicely-nicey, I don't know how to mince garlic, nor my words. It's the facts, ma'am, and just the plain old facts, you either like me, or you don't. I don't try to win hearts or minds, but I do expect people to be swayed by facts when I give them facts. That's me, who I am, to the core.
Having moved down here, to me, the "almost south", I had a very rude awakening. I was coached, my first year down here, on how to improve my performance at work. I needed to "soften" my approach. Say things like "it would be better if...." And "I think it is...." Instead if my usual, "do it like this it works better" or "you're wrong, it is like this.."
In any case, I get Juan, and I cheer him at times when I am angry at JA. But that approach, like my approach, does turn off some people. And in his case it may bring out the protectiveness in the protective type older men with daughters. Another thing about Martinez's approach, it gave me agitata to listen to for long stretches, and I would find I would just end up tuning it out, spacing out, and having to read what I had missed on WS. The jurors can't go back and read WS - so if they tune out for a while, they miss it, period.
For those of you who watch the TH on HLN, we heard, over and over, that The defense kept JA on the stand for days and days so that jurors would form a bond with JA. The jurors didn't come into watching the trial preloaded with hate for her like most of us did. So they may have bonded a little, even before Martinez got her on cross. They didn't know what we knew before he crossed on her. And it may have worked well enough to make 4 jurors not able to give her the death penalty.
Anyhow, possible lessons to be learned going forward. I don't dislike Martinez, nor his style, all the time. I do think he should become more judicious at using it, and he would become more effective. JMO. I am a better manager now that I live in the almost south. I have learned how to be less direct when I need to be.
