Rants 2?

EdRomero · Post by **EdRomero** » Fri Nov 28, 2014 6:37 pm

degenerasian wrote:yeah i don't get why companies crack down on everything.

Wouldn't it be better to open everything up and then really see who's working and who's surfing porn?
For us, some sites are blocked but the company uses facebook and twitter so those sites are open.
If Pierre in Payables is on facebook all day, his manager can track it.

This is how it happens. Pierre is a shitty, lazy employee. Lucky for Pierre, his immediate supervisor, Benoit is a lazy fuck who is either afraid of confrontation or just doesn't care so Pierre gets away with it. Then when Beniot's supervisor, Emile, asks why shit doesn't get done, Benoit blames his employees being distracted by Facebook. Emile might know Benoit is a shitty supervisor, but getting someone fired and re-hiring someone is a lot of work, so at his next meeting, Emile tells his boss, Francois, that the company needs better internet filters. Generic rules and restrictions are much easier than trusting people to do their jobs and then actively supervising people.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Nov 28, 2014 7:00 pm

EdRomero wrote:
degenerasian wrote:yeah i don't get why companies crack down on everything.

Wouldn't it be better to open everything up and then really see who's working and who's surfing porn?
For us, some sites are blocked but the company uses facebook and twitter so those sites are open.
If Pierre in Payables is on facebook all day, his manager can track it.
This is how it happens. Pierre is a shitty, lazy employee. Lucky for Pierre, his immediate supervisor, Benoit is a lazy fuck who is either afraid of confrontation or just doesn't care so Pierre gets away with it. Then when Beniot's supervisor, Emile, asks why shit doesn't get done, Benoit blames his employees being distracted by Facebook. Emile might know Benoit is a shitty supervisor, but getting someone fired and re-hiring someone is a lot of work, so at his next meeting, Emile tells his boss, Francois, that the company needs better internet filters. Generic rules and restrictions are much easier than trusting people to do their jobs and then actively supervising people.

Benoit's just stupid then. Fire Pierre and hire Elise and Madeleine.

Post by **Shirley** » Sat Nov 29, 2014 12:06 am

Just as likely, it's lazy, shitty people in HR who don't know how actual work gets done (or not), but they know they have to justify their existence somehow. Every extra ridiculous rule just gives them more power, so why not add lots of stupid rules?

I'm pretty lucky to never have worked in a company like that.

EdRomero · Post by **EdRomero** » Sun Nov 30, 2014 10:27 pm

Has the word "hate" become a bad word universally or is it just the last two places I've worked in? Whenever I hear a kid say "hate," a teacher quickly corrects him and says, "say dislike. hate is a strong word." When the hell did it become bad to say strong words? If a kid hates carrots, she should be able to say she hates carrots without being corrected to change the word to "dislike." I always thought the word "hate" depended on context. Other teachers probably think I'm letting kids get away with too much by allowing them to say they hate broccoli. You should be allowed to hate food and other shit. You just can't hate large groups of people. Therefore, I guess I would say something if a kid said he "hated fags." "That's a bad word. You dislike fags."

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Sun Nov 30, 2014 11:45 pm

Like how I let my 3 year old scream "FUCK!!!" if she trips but not if I tell her we aren't watching Dora.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 7:56 am

There are two types of writing that I will never read - in fact, just seeing an article laid out in either of these two ways is enough to churn my bile as I quickly turn the page (or click onto the next article).

1) Open Letters

2) Self-Interview by the writer. ie: "Well, Chef McDonald's last restaurant was fabulous. What do you think went wrong?"

Lazy yet pretentious at the same time - especially the open letter - tired schtick that really is the last refuge of the writer who is bereft of ideas.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 7:59 am

EdRomero wrote:Has the word "hate" become a bad word universally or is it just the last two places I've worked in? Whenever I hear a kid say "hate," a teacher quickly corrects him and says, "say dislike. hate is a strong word." When the hell did it become bad to say strong words? If a kid hates carrots, she should be able to say she hates carrots without being corrected to change the word to "dislike." I always thought the word "hate" depended on context. Other teachers probably think I'm letting kids get away with too much by allowing them to say they hate broccoli. You should be allowed to hate food and other shit. You just can't hate large groups of people. Therefore, I guess I would say something if a kid said he "hated fags." "That's a bad word. You dislike fags."

You're guilty of dislike crimes!

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 9:36 am

HAD A STRONG DISTASTE FOR IT!

howard · Post by **howard** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 3:07 pm

Pruitt wrote:There are two types of writing that I will never read - in fact, just seeing an article laid out in either of these two ways is enough to churn my bile as I quickly turn the page (or click onto the next article).

1) Open Letters

Oh, I bet if I blogged an 'Open Letter to President Obama' you would not look away. Sure, it would be lazy and pretentious. but you'd look.

Johnny Carwash · Post by **Johnny Carwash** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 3:40 pm

Pruitt wrote:2) Self-Interview by the writer. ie: "Well, Chef McDonald's last restaurant was fabulous. What do you think went wrong?"

Is this a different thing than a "humorous" imaginary dialogue between two people? Because that would be my Number 3.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 4:57 pm

Johnny Carwash wrote:
Pruitt wrote:2) Self-Interview by the writer. ie: "Well, Chef McDonald's last restaurant was fabulous. What do you think went wrong?"
Is this a different thing than a "humorous" imaginary dialogue between two people? Because that would be my Number 3.

No, just didn't think of that one. Especially loathsome when it's a dialogue between historical personalities.

Here's the piece that set me off this morning. The author Dave Bidini is a local musician who never really hit it big, but is also famous as an "intellectual/cool" hockey writer.

http://arts.nationalpost.com/2014/11/28 ... ve-bidini/

(Note - I am not a Joni Mitchell fan)

Here's an excerpt, full of a sort of humble pretentiousness that hipsters of Bidini's ilk are masters at. (Tom Connors was a schlocky Canadian country singer, beloved in an ironic way for his nursery-rhyme level songs about hockey, small towns and beer.)

Joni Mitchell, I love your records (I am in the majority here). I play them all the time. When my kids were young I parked by the beach along the Georgian Bay shoreline listening to “Court and Spark” on cassette in our old Grand Marquis. The kids sat on the hood eating ketchup chips and I reclined in the front seat listening to the songs and weeping into my hands, which I held to my face so the kids wouldn’t see. Another time in the mid-1990s, I sent my parents to see you and Bob Dylan play at Maple Leaf Gardens — the last great concert there — on the same night that I went to see Tom Connors at Massey Hall; a fine Toronto evening, the last great Yonge Street musical march, legends here and everywhere. Later, we compared notes, and talked about what we’d seen and who we’d listened to. My parents and me. Talking music. This doesn’t happen a lot, Joni, and you were at the centre of it.

I don’t expect gods to answer letters — no one should; it’s not the job of people we follow and worship — but there’s a blackness about you, Joni, about your way, that is starting to consume and devour whatever light pours from your art. For years, I’ve tried to ignore your public negativity and scorched earth despondency and haughty exceptionalism. I’ve returned to the altar, even though there are few blessings now, only sermons from someone whose gifts were bestowed upon us many, many years ago. Old gifts. Timeless, sure, but since then, so much vitriol. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Fuck off.

howard · Post by **howard** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 5:05 pm

Ok, I'm convinced. Deleting my letter to Barry.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 5:23 pm

howard wrote:Ok, I'm convinced. Deleting my letter to Barry.

Or, you could write it as a poem.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Dec 02, 2014 8:05 am

Ode to a Greasy Turd

Johnnie · Post by **Johnnie** » Wed Dec 03, 2014 2:17 pm

Pruitt wrote:There are two types of writing that I will never read - in fact, just seeing an article laid out in either of these two ways is enough to churn my bile as I quickly turn the page (or click onto the next article).

1) Open Letters

2) Self-Interview by the writer. ie: "Well, Chef McDonald's last restaurant was fabulous. What do you think went wrong?"

Lazy yet pretentious at the same time - especially the open letter - tired schtick that really is the last refuge of the writer who is bereft of ideas.

What about when it's Etan Thomas to Charles Barkley?

Post by **Shirley** » Wed Dec 03, 2014 2:20 pm

Johnnie wrote: What about when it's Etan Thomas to Charles Barkley?

Oh snap!

t's like in Animal Farm where the other animals looked in the window and the pigs were walking upright like the evil humans.

Sir Charles should never appear to be taking on the characteristics of Rush Limbaugh.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Tue Dec 09, 2014 10:33 pm

Okay so I appreciate the fact that my friends, family friends, friends of my wife, relatives, and what not want to send around cards during the holiday season. I even enjoy getting mail and non-facebook updates/letters about how everyone is doing. But maybe if these people used their knoggins they would put some thought into who they are sending their cards too. One I am Jewish...You know what I don't need....cards wishing me a Merry Xmas. Okay I can handle a Merry Xmas..sometimes it is just cheaper to buy one set of cards, but you know what I really don't need....heavy Christian messages and wishing to keep "him" in my heart. I don't need fish or crosses in a holiday card. It is just a tad bit insulting that they don't recognize I may not have the same belief structure. I mean...seriously, some of the people I have known/been friends with since we were in diapers. The Jewish thing is not new. I am sure they remember me waiting patiently to come over and play with their new toys. I am going to blame their wives. However, maybe next year I will order a bunch of cards saying "Since you don't seem to have any clue that I don't celebrate your holiday or respect my belief structure, I am sending this card to wish you a happy Hanukkah even though I know you don't celebrate that holiday.....and your kids are ugly....and maybe you should learn the concept of focus when taking a picture for your card"

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 12:13 pm

[quote="wlu_lax6"]It is just a tad bit insulting that they don't recognize I may not have the same belief structure. I mean...seriously, some of the people I have known/been friends with since we were in diapers.

So there really is a War on Christmas! I hear ya. I don't even register the Merry X-Mas on cards, but I have never gotten one with religious, well, anything on them.

As for the sentence I quoted, the response I keep seeing all over the place is essentially, "just because you don't accept the reality of MY religion doesn't make it any less true, so I am going to declare the Truth."

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 2:00 pm

I know it can be tough on you guys this time of year. Every year we send out holiday cards that say something like "Happy Holidays", and every year I get some kind of snide remark from my mother about my not saying "Merry Christmas" on the cards.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 2:42 pm

sancarlos wrote:I know it can be tough on you guys this time of year. Every year we send out holiday cards that say something like "Happy Holidays", and every year I get some kind of snide remark from my mother about my not saying "Merry Christmas" on the cards.

Eh, the Merry Christmas stuff is fine. Most people just assume everyone is Christian, so no big deal. Then factor in that there is really no religious basis (at least not Christian) to Christmas traditions and symbols. And most of what religious meaning Christmas held is washed away in rampant commercialism. The only things that bother me are being told it is a Christian Nation, and if I don't like it, leave. This is usually preceded by an argument that the government (schools, municipalities...) should promote Christianity to the exclusion of other religions. Recently, this is followed by a cry of Christian Oppression (thanks, Bill O'Reilly!). Which leads me to my hatred of the base rallying invention of the War on Christmas. A store clerk or any other stranger wishing you a Happy Holiday season is not an attack on your religion or oppressing you.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 3:13 pm

sancarlos wrote:I know it can be tough on you guys this time of year. Every year we send out holiday cards that say something like "Happy Holidays", and every year I get some kind of snide remark from my mother about my not saying "Merry Christmas" on the cards.

Yeah but nothing is stopping you from breaking out a pen and adding a Merry X-mas to those who you want to wish that too...Maybe that even shows you are not just going the lazy route and care about the people you are usps spamming with pictures of your kids, dog, summer vacation (which is also goofy to include a beach trip with a snowman theme card).

Look I don't mind if someone wishes me a Merry Xmas if they don't know I am Jewish. I am okay with people making an incorrect assumption (I don't wear pants tight enough to give them any hints). Sure a hpapy holidays would be safer. My issue is with the folks who know I am a member of the tribe and send a super aggressive christian card.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 3:16 pm

... says the same guy continually pushing his lacrosse on us.

(Kidding. We use Happy Holidays partially for the reason you stated and partially because I revel in pissing off the people who get pissed off by us not using Merry Christmas.)

Jerloma · Post by **Jerloma** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 3:40 pm

I'm not sure you guys get the point of proselytizing. They're trying to "save" you. It makes more sense to direct it at non-Christians.

Post by **Shirley** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 4:03 pm

Lacrosse is the One True Religion.

(spelling is optional)

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 4:11 pm

Jerloma wrote:I'm not sure you guys get the point of proselytizing. They're trying to "save" you. It makes more sense to direct it at non-Christians.

Like 10% of people who pick Merry Christmas are actively attempting to win a religious convert. 50% probably don't even go to church themselves.

Jerloma · Post by **Jerloma** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 4:23 pm

I'm not talking about that. Hell, I'm pretty sure my Christmas cards say Merry Christmas. I'm talking about the people that wlu is referring to who are directly proselytizing in their X-mas cards. I don't think that's done with malice.

The religious intolerance in this place is really starting to make me a little uncomfortable.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 4:38 pm

Shirley wrote:Lacrosse is the One True Religion.

(spelling is optional)

Now I am proselytizing

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 4:42 pm

Jerloma wrote:I'm not sure you guys get the point of proselytizing. They're trying to "save" you. It makes more sense to direct it at non-Christians.

I think I would be okay with the direct aggressive proselytizing (don't have issues with the Mormons going door-2-door if they are polite or the Jews for Jesus who work the metro station). I can have a reasonable conversation or debate. This doesn't even feel like passive aggressive proselytizing...this behavior just feels lazy (like the out of focus pictures on these same cards).

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 6:03 pm

I use "Happy Holidays" so if anyone gives me any static about it, I just explain, "I want them to have a Happy New Year, too, but assholes like you can fuck off all day, every day."

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 6:31 pm

We went with Merry Christmas this year, mostly because of the awesome new version of GMail's contact filters.

Johnnie · Post by **Johnnie** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 12:56 pm

Update to my saga. It has been two weeks since the closeout for performance reports for my rank and I haven't seen any message traffic in sight regarding it. However, I do have access (I'm sure unintentionally) to the shared intranet where said report is uploaded and reviewed. I've been reading the back and forth. My supervisor is still pressing forward with his markdowns, but my Chief pushed back highly recommending that he explain himself. So it's a game of politics now.

Anyhoo, I dropped in on my Chief and started asking questions about things. We talked for a good half hour. He's given me his word that my supervisor is being overruled and that my commander is on board with it. Basically, they keep pushing back subtly that he reconsider his comments and rating. He has one more chance to get it right. I doubt he'll get the hint.

My supervisor, I'm told, has been noted by the current hierarchy as being a toxic asset. His move out of the unit was deliberate. The guy is simply as waste of space and complete scumbag. They recognize the lack of leadership quality he had. My chief noted that morale in the unit being low was directly tied to him. With him gone, it has been a complete reversal. The folks running the show see through his nonsense. If a supervisor wants to mark down someone drastically, it reflects on the supervisor too. Sure, there can be legitimate reasons, but without documentation proving otherwise, words don't matter. And when milestone paperwork (like midterm feedbacks) are even accomplished, there's something up. They see that with me.

So, we'll see what comes of this. I really, truly hope my Chief isn't giving me lip service. That would be brutal. And for a dude pegged for Command Chief, it would honestly shock me.

Johnny Carwash · Post by **Johnny Carwash** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:11 pm

Glad to see that turned around, Johnnie. Can't speak for the military, but there have been multiple times in my career when refraining from flipping out and going scorched earth in response to an asshole/tool boss worked out in the end.

DC47 · Post by **DC47** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:58 pm

That was a pretty fast turn-around and a win for truth and justice. Your mojo runs strong.

EdRomero · Post by **EdRomero** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 2:28 pm

Kinda cool Johnnie gets to work with Bobby Valentine

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 2:58 pm

I guess I shouldn't care about these things, but... it is a little frustrating that despite the fact that I've been doing essentially the same job for 20 years, and had the same title for10 years, I still can't get my parents to understand what it is I do for a living, or even get the title right. Just received my copy of my mother's holiday card, with lengthy newsletter enclosed. And, of course, she not only gets it wrong, but misses by a mile and unlike most bragging parents, manages to understate it fairly significantly.

Ah well, whaddya gonna do?

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 3:03 pm

sancarlos wrote:I guess I shouldn't care about these things, but... it is a little frustrating that despite the fact that I've been doing essentially the same job for 20 years, and had the same title for10 years, I still can't get my parents to understand what it is I do for a living, or even get the title right. Just received my copy of my mother's holiday card, with lengthy newsletter enclosed. And, of course, she not only gets it wrong, but misses by a mile and unlike most bragging parents, manages to understate it fairly significantly.

Ah well, whaddya gonna do?

One of my best friends has tried to explain what he does to me several times. He can't really explain it. He does some kind of human resources and web management, so I just tell people he's into Human Trafficking when they ask.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 3:26 pm

sancarlos wrote: Ah well, whaddya gonna do?

Issues a correction and send it to every recipient of your Mother's letter.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 5:00 pm

No, I do not have any clothes for your charitable foundation. And if I did, I would have donated them to the first one of the five charities that called this week.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Dec 16, 2014 10:35 am

I am working out of an available workspace in our New York office today. Since there are several people here today that don't normally work in this office, I got the dregs of desk setups. I docked my laptop, but the monitor screen is square. I haven't seen a square monitor screen since the Apple IIE. At least it is a flat screen and has more colors than just green. I had to recalibrate the dimensions, as a quarter of all pages were off the screen. It is killing my eyes. I am a couple hours away from violently swiping everything off the desk and undocking.

Johnnie · Post by **Johnnie** » Tue Jan 06, 2015 4:44 pm

Johnny Carwash wrote:Glad to see that turned around, Johnnie. Can't speak for the military, but there have been multiple times in my career when refraining from flipping out and going scorched earth in response to an asshole/tool boss worked out in the end.

Spoke too soon, my friend. My performance report came back signed with the lower mark (a 4 on a 1-5 scale) despite what I was told by members in my chain of command (a 5 overruled by my commander). The regulations surrounding the lower mark is justified. It isn't a career threatening rating, just a lower one, and thus it doesn't have an appeal process. There is no recourse for fighting it. However, when everyone in the AF gets the highest rating, getting a lower one means that you are either a fuckup or your supervisor is out for blood. I fall into the latter category. I'm just extremely pissed at my chain of command. I was lied to, straight up. When I eventually leave this place, I will get no medal for all the work I've done.

If I even tried to fight this rating, this disgusting logic applies: It is as much a "So, Supervisor where's your justification that he gets a 4?" as it is for me of "So, supervisee, where's your justification that you deserve a 5?" Essentially, I have to prove, with written documents that I am a superstar. Others getting a 5 doesn't cut it. What specific examples of my rating period can I provide in writing right now that can fight his opinion. Who tracks themselves like that? And where's the baseline? I was a 5 back in May? Now all of a sudden I'm a 4? But how do I know where I stand amongst my peers if I'm not told? Oh, this is where it gets better. Well, I have to also be proactive in requesting feedback just as he has to be in giving it. Now, the Air Force logic that's drilled into your head is to be a good supervisor and necessary paperwork like that has to be top driven. But...when this happens and a 4 is being pushed, it doesn't matter. And Air Force regulations back it up. It falls on a person's morals and internal compulsion to rate appropriately. "Would it be wrong to give this person a 4 despite all of the work he does, hours he works, and way he presents himself?" No AF regulation determines that. My supervisor decided to stagnate my career all over spitefulness and personal vendetta.

In other news, I finally finished up my MED Board in November. I'm able to continue my career instead of being in a holding pattern. I'll be re-enlisting Thursday. (Yay?) I also tried forwarding up an exemption to policy letter that would extend my time here in Germany. During my MED Board I was coded to not be able to receive an assignment. This extension would have given me another opportunity of staying overseas. I bet you can guess what happened. It got denied.

<Stephen A. Smith Voice> HOWWWEVVAAHHHH </voice>

Due to my not being able to get retainability (fancy word for "acquiring more military time via a contract extension or re-enlistment") because of my MED Board, I passed an arbitrary line in the sand with regards to my Date Estimated to Return from Overseas (DEROS). The DEROS (June of this year) was bumped to the end date of my current enlistment (February 2016). So on Monday when I have a face-to-face with my commander, I'll get to inform him that the 12 month extension I requested may have been denied, but I'll get to stick around 8 more months regardless of how he feels. So, small victory? It also allows me to see the overseas list come May. If I get passed over for that, I'll find out where in the States I'll be returning to in October.

Oh, retirement. How I wish thee were much, much closer than 7 years from now.