About writing. And reading. And being published. Or not published. On working on being published. Tangents into the pop culture world to come. Especially about movies. And comic books. And movies from comic books.
As for the replies to earlier comments, I hadn't thought about the 'protestant work ethic.' You're right that people unerringly view their own successes as a mark of personal virtue: they worked harder, etc., while also viewing at the same time their failures as being imposed from outside. How many people, confronted with a failure, say "Well, if I'd worked harder, I'd have done better." (I do, sometimes. But I'm weird.)
The more I see, the more I realize I am outside of the norms for society. Most people want to get to the top and kick everyone else off the ladder, it seems, and set up myths to justify that: If they'd worked harder, etc.
At each of my jobs, whenever I've been put in charge, I've tried to equalize pay as much as possible. I've argued that the top brass -- ME -- should take less so that the bottom people can have a bit more. It was NEVER met with anything but disbelief or scorn.
I once suggested, for Xmas bonuses, that we rate employees from 1-5; the highest rated people would get a bonus at X level, while the lowest would get a minimal bonus. One partner said "That would mean that [the receptionist] could get the same bonus as [a lawyer who'd worked there for years]."
I said "Yeah, it could."
All three partners said "We can't have that."
I said "Why not?"
"Because receptionists don't contribute the way lawyers do."
I said: "Well, we don't want to all answer the phone ourselves, right?"
They changed the subject. Bonuses were handled the same way.
Briane: Also, if other people find success, it's because they "got lucky" and it has nothing to do with that person's ability or effort. And while sometimes that kind of thing is true (the entertainment market in particular), people tend to apply it to everything.
So: Two great pics in a row.
ReplyDeleteAs for the replies to earlier comments, I hadn't thought about the 'protestant work ethic.' You're right that people unerringly view their own successes as a mark of personal virtue: they worked harder, etc., while also viewing at the same time their failures as being imposed from outside. How many people, confronted with a failure, say "Well, if I'd worked harder, I'd have done better." (I do, sometimes. But I'm weird.)
The more I see, the more I realize I am outside of the norms for society. Most people want to get to the top and kick everyone else off the ladder, it seems, and set up myths to justify that: If they'd worked harder, etc.
At each of my jobs, whenever I've been put in charge, I've tried to equalize pay as much as possible. I've argued that the top brass -- ME -- should take less so that the bottom people can have a bit more. It was NEVER met with anything but disbelief or scorn.
I once suggested, for Xmas bonuses, that we rate employees from 1-5; the highest rated people would get a bonus at X level, while the lowest would get a minimal bonus. One partner said "That would mean that [the receptionist] could get the same bonus as [a lawyer who'd worked there for years]."
I said "Yeah, it could."
All three partners said "We can't have that."
I said "Why not?"
"Because receptionists don't contribute the way lawyers do."
I said: "Well, we don't want to all answer the phone ourselves, right?"
They changed the subject. Bonuses were handled the same way.
Briane: Also, if other people find success, it's because they "got lucky" and it has nothing to do with that person's ability or effort. And while sometimes that kind of thing is true (the entertainment market in particular), people tend to apply it to everything.
DeleteIt looks like a sea of gold.
ReplyDeleteJeanne: I think it is.
Delete