A Chorus Of Disapproval

Happy new year, dear readers. I thought I would start you off with some of Gary “Boy Genius” Larson’s excellent cartoons. 2017 is going to be a better year than 2016, mos’ def. We already have a nominee for Humanitarian of the Year. A billionaire in the US has been funding a secret project to develop robots that will be able to hire and fire staff without ’emotions getting in the way’. Emotions, you say. Yeah, things like compassion, humanity, empathy: all that stuff that is so unnecessary in the workplace. What with management and HR departments being notorious for their soft-heartedness, we need to kick it up to the next level. Yes, I am a manager…. Physician, heal thyself??? Coincidentally, I was watching Elysium over the bank holiday. I guess science fiction isn’t fiction anymore. I was really ticked off that the company refused to make a comment – dude, seriously, have the guts to speak up for your convictions. I look forward to the day when I hear one of these guys have the nerve to say “Yes, we are doing the right thing. We need to treat our employees with as little humanity as possible, and make as much money as possible. I want to buy the Palace of Versailles, and it has to be paid for somehow!”. At least you can respect that. I believe the figure generally touted is to reduce the human population at the top of the tree to 500,000 with say another 5 million to mow the lawn and clean the pool etc. Guess what? You’re not one of 500,000 🙂

Word to the wise for the would-be masters of the universe out there – when the time comes to decimate the Earth, you won’t get to keep the illusion that you are a good person. There is no neutral ground. You will have passed that Rubicon ages ago so save time, embrace your inner psychopath. Start with small animals…….

I leave you with this extremely cool poem by Sophie Hannah:

If People Disapprove Of You.

By Sophie Hannah.

Make being disapproved of your hobby.
Make being disapproved of your aim.
Devise new ways of scoring points
In the Being Disapproved Of Game.

Let them disapprove in their dozens.
Let them disapprove in their hordes.
You’ll find that being disapproved of
Builds character, brings rewards.

Just like any form of striving
Don’t be arrogant; don’t coast
On your high disapproval rating.
Try to be disapproved of most.

At this point, if it’s useful,
Draw a pie chart or a graph.
Show it to someone who disapproves.
When they disapprove, just laugh.

Count the emotions you provoke:
Anger, suspicion, shock.
One point for each of these
And two for each boat you rock.

Feel yourself warming to your task –
You do it bloody well.
A last you’ve found an area
In which you can excel.

Savour the thrill of risk without
The fear of getting caught.
Whether they sulk or scream or pout,
Enjoy your new-found sport.

Meanwhile all those who disapprove
While you are having fun
Won’t even know your game exists
So tell yourself you’ve won.

This post is dedicated to Sorrel, delinquent extraordinaire. 2017- don’t go gently into that dark night.  Have a terrific year, one and all (even putative masters of the universe 🙂 )

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