best thing i have read in a very long time....

[KeithR]

Are you proposing Madmen style working? Sounds good to me.

Yes, booze carts for day drinking in meetings required

 

[tima]

I think the internet as a whole led to the breakdown of our personal relationships along with the skills to deal with others. IMO it has multiplied the frustration and isolation of our youth and many others in society. It is hard to ignore all the bad that has come from this. I don't want to get political but IMO it has accelerated dramatically the Tribal state we now exist in.

It is easier to say 'no' in an e-mail than in person. It's easier to ignore an e-mail or an on-line question than respond to a person in front of you. I constantly told people on my team whose answer was "well I haven't heard back from him" to "go talk to him in his office." Technology can speed things up but it can also slow things down.

 

[Alrainbow]

I think many just left the workforce retired or stopped working
one can blame being told to get vaxed , but I don’t think it’s a big part of this. there is a % of the population who are scared shitless
you can read into just on this thread. i respect all views but for me I’ll never be moved by this or any other mass situations. i live in two states
down south rural no mask
but some do. Go closer to cities most masked
it’s not the size of the population it’s the mind set.
Nyc my other home it’s the same
go away from City no masks
even in the hood less masks
go to better neighborhoods more masks.
It’s not just education it’s more complicated
I feel sorry for those who seem to vastly alter there life over this. but as long as they don’t demand me to change I’m fine.
the ones whom feel the need to be carful are not the issue it’s the amount of pushing us to be made to be sacred is unfair.
masks for the most don’t work
not cause they can’t there rarely used correctly. we as humans do need to be around others but to be suited up to me does not equate to social behavior we need. i worked in the medical field for 25 years
worked hand in hand with infectious disease.
what goes on now it’s very counter productive.
non helping most people, been through aides and TB we were all very scared
I built iso rooms fully negative air pressurized HEPA and UV
with anti rooms.
this is very much non medical in what we are told to do and be afraid of. just how I feel.

 

[facten]

It is easier to say 'no' in an e-mail than in person. It's easier to ignore an e-mail or an on-line question than respond to a person in front of you. I constantly told people on my team whose answer was "well I haven't heard back from him" to "go talk to him in his office." Technology can speed things up but it can also slow things down.

Well said tima. Also, let's you read the body language and real tone associated with the response

 

[John T]

"Heaven forefend me from the most of the average run of male humans who are not good fellows the ones cold of heart and cold of head who don't smoke or drink nor swear nor do much of anything else that is brave and resentful and stinging because in their feeble fibers there has never been the stir and prod of life to well over its boundaries and be devilish and daring One doesn't meet these in saloons nor rallying to lost causes nor flaming on the adventure paths nor loving as God's own mad lovers They are too busy keeping their feet dry conserving their heart beats and making unlovely life successes of their spirt mediocrity" Jack London

 

[John T]

"I would rather be ashes then dust!
I would rather that my spark burn out in a brilliant blaze
then it should be stifled by dry rot
I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom in me
in magnificent glow
Than a sleepy and permanent plant
The proper function of man is to live
not to exist
I shall not waste my days in trying to
prolong them
I shall use my time"

Jack London

 

[Alrainbow]

so so true to being alive bro
but I’ll bet some here read that and think we are dumb to not care or be scared. maybe this comes with age. Many years back wife #1 was separated
working like an animal
gym 5 to 6 days a week looked great
I needed the gym to release my stress.
3 months going to my dr not feeling well at times
my blood and stats way beyond Healthy
my dr a childhood bud told me
Alfonso you can’t excape all stress by exercise
Well I disagreed right up until I got a stroke lol. it was a wake up call. it was fast came and gone 5 days in the hospital he got me good
every dr chief came to see me daily lol.
my point is we should live life and not let life control us.
im still working hard but refuse to let what ever this is scare me.

 

[John T]

Bravo Alfonso!! Unfortunately life's pace can take control. But with some effort we can try to avoid this pitfall. Friends make fun of me because I don't have a cell phone. If I had children or some important business perhaps I would have to. I can communicate just fine without one. Point being I try to live a simple existence. The least complicated the better! It is the most insignificant of moments that can be the most valuable. I took private Yoga classes from a very cool young woman. What I learned that was most useful was to breathe. I try to incorporate this throughout my day. Buona Salute Alfonso...John

 

[Alrainbow]

A very profound post truly what life is.
but I can’t rewind life lol
im 65 with a 15 year old always enjoyed my children lived for them mostly

 

[PeterA]

A very profound post truly what life is.
but I can’t rewind life lol
im 65 with a 15 year old always enjoyed my children lived for them mostly

The right priorities and lucky children.

 

[Alrainbow]

I thank you your comment
I grew up in the streets
a long story
but It made me learn to love and enjoy them all of my life
this topic has some wonderful comments we are sharing
maybe there is hope for us all.

 

[Leekg]

this topic has some wonderful comments we are sharing
maybe there is hope for us all.

Agreed. I don't expect thoughtful debate on any given forum but very much appreciate this group's efforts. Thank you.

 

[BruceD]

It’s a new world and some of us old farts are best out of it.

Indeed as one of the Sites oldest "farts" while relating to Mikes posting of Mr Musk's excellent quip, I was reminded of my own encounter with a message that was one of the most meaningful passages I'd come across -also in a long time. Possibly feeling it had some relevance in the thread conversations if not too broad to relate to our present troubled times.

Please Mods or Mike if not deemed relevant please remove thank you.

BruceD
An Obituary.
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years.
No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- And maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.

Common Sense was preceded in death,
-by his parents, Truth and Trust,
-by his wife, Discretion,
-by his daughter, Responsibility,
-and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 5 stepchildren;
- I Know My Rights
- I Want It Now
- Someone Else Is To Blame
- I'm A Victim
- Pay me for Doing Nothing

Not many attended his funeral because so few realised he was gone. If you still remember him.

 

[Gregm]

the idea of putting the genie back in the bottle is wishful thinking. the break down of the work ethic culture, and public dole expansion, and then 'other' lowering of protections under the law combined are dragging us into the abyss. and each part undermines the other part.

i hope i'm wrong.

I don't know if it was mentioned, but IBM and, later Microsoft tried to establish the "remote work -- no dedicated office" concept in number of countries. It didn't work, ultimately. People gravitated back to togetherness, while accepting that the time spent in office socialising helped build a sense of belonging...
In my office about 40% work remotely -- but it's not the same 40%, fortunately...

As to the growing abuse of the social support benefits, I agree. It is opening the door to individualistic indifference, cutbacks, and tearing down the current system of ethics without offering an alternative other than whatever is proposed by political expediency.

 

[ddk]

I don't know if it was mentioned, but IBM and, later Microsoft tried to establish the "remote work -- no dedicated office" concept in number of countries. It didn't work, ultimately. People gravitated back to togetherness, while accepting that the time spent in office socialising helped build a sense of belonging...
In my office about 40% work remotely -- but it's not the same 40%, fortunately...

As to the growing abuse of the social support benefits, I agree. It is opening the door to individualistic indifference, cutbacks, and tearing down the current system of ethics without offering an alternative other than whatever is proposed by political expediency.

Financial institutions with adoption of ESG is even a bigger problem for small businesses but the negative effect of ESG on the energy sector is detrimental to everything.

david

 

[Alrainbow]

Indeed as one of the Sites oldest "farts" while relating to Mikes posting of Mr Musk's excellent quip, I was reminded of my own encounter with a message that was one of the most meaningful passages I'd come across -also in a long time. Possibly feeling it had some relevance in the thread conversations if not too broad to relate to our present troubled times.

Please Mods or Mike if not deemed relevant please remove thank you.

BruceD
An Obituary.
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years.
No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- And maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.

Common Sense was preceded in death,
-by his parents, Truth and Trust,
-by his wife, Discretion,
-by his daughter, Responsibility,
-and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 5 stepchildren;
- I Know My Rights
- I Want It Now
- Someone Else Is To Blame
- I'm A Victim
- Pay me for Doing Nothing

Not many attended his funeral because so few realised he was gone. If you still remember him.

I don’t know you but man I agree big time. maybe I’m just old and expect the youngers to wake up and stop feeling entitled
my 15 year old is not like this so far but college is coming soon let’s see.
great post

 

[Alrainbow]

We or defiantly me look to why
why the push for so many changes is family values
all must be gray no shades of individual or culture values per country
the push to stop office space is purely money for large corps
if we take a few steps back they buy up all and deconstruct
what was our lives for generations
out elected people are eager to not just let this happen but think there in the club with them
only concerned for there future not ours.
i can’t see how this ends well for we the people of most countries.

 

[Bobvin]

I got to see my wife work from home during the covid, those hours saved commuting were spent working. the team she managed remained highly productive. The disadvantage she sees returning to the office (in a passive aggressive corporate culture) is the in-office gossip and sniping rears its ugly head. they are trying to come up with a hybrid model, allowing a couple flex days, with a couple “must be in the office” days too. For professions where its possible, and the employees are held accountable this seems reasonable.

”Love, work, and knowledge are the wellsprings of our lives, they should also govern it.”
— Wilhelm Reich

 

[PeterA]

I got to see my wife work from home during the covid, those hours saved commuting were spent working. the team she managed remained highly productive. The disadvantage she sees returning to the office (in a passive aggressive corporate culture) is the in-office gossip and sniping rears its ugly head. they are trying to come up with a hybrid model, allowing a couple flex days, with a couple “must be in the office” days too. For professions where its possible, and the employees are held accountable this seems reasonable.

”Love, work, and knowledge are the wellsprings of our lives, they should also govern it.”
— Wilhelm Reich

My wife commutes to a corporate executive job. She used to do it five days a week. Now it is two or three. She likes not wasting time in the car and subway. She does work during that saved time, so in that sense she is more efficient. She also likes the slightly flexible schedule and periods during the day where she can go for a quick walk. She travels a lot to meet global clients face to face. The cell phone makes her "accessible" all the time. I agree that certain jobs allow for this. It seems to benefit the company. The salaried employees have to get the job done regardless of how long it takes them. I do not know if this hybrid solution is better for the individual employee or not. She seems to like being in the car less. It is surely a shift in the workplace, but it affects some businesses more than others.

The bigger issue I see is how to sustain a work ethic in society, and the cultural ramifications of these changes.

 

[Leekg]

As to the growing abuse of the social support benefits, I agree. It is opening the door to individualistic indifference, cutbacks, and tearing down the current system of ethics without offering an alternative other than whatever is proposed by political expediency.

Are you talking about the support benefits for Musk or low income workers? From the tone on this thread I'll guess the later. Correct me if I'm wrong.

It's interesting, and discouraging, that so much attention is given to lower income social benefits while benefits for high income groups are ignored. The tax code is full of breaks for the wealthy, add in patents, copyrights, and trademarks, labor laws that make unionization difficult or impossible, courts that historically favor those with resources to hire representation - the list is long.

All of these things are not granted by a supreme being - they are conscious policy decisions.
All of these things are taxes on society and benefits to upper income brackets. A few examples: Walmart workers qualifying for food stamps and other public benefits. Bezos not collecting state sales taxes, giving him an automatic price advantage over goods sold locally. Musk receiving ~$9 billion in public tax subsidies.

I know many of you like to believe that your hard work and savvy are the reasons for your success. If that's all it took the Four Seasons in Maui would be full of home health aides and cow milkers. How do I know about the Four Seasons in Maui? Pharma patents and the ability for my employer to deduct "business" expenses, thank you very much. Pretty good racket, if you are lucky like me and can get it. And BTW, I used to milk cows for a living.

The gap between lines on this graph is allowing the purchase of some nice audio gear:


My motive for posting this is to encourage you to be critical of both high income and low income dole. Otherwise it's just selfish and cruel.