the mehallo blog. beta.

I had a very interesting conversation this past week. It was with someone who (technically) is my boss.

Works over me, but our working relationship is more colleague than overloard, serb. And that’s refreshing.

I always seek out work situations where the relationship is more of a partnership in tackling a common goal. Usually with me as the design expert dude and the other person as the expert in what they do.

Our conversation was about fear.

Fear in people we work with. How it controls everything they do. And how obvious it is to us. And how frightened people are to attempt to do just about anything these days.

the past decade
We just got out of an eight year presidency based entirely on keeping people afraid. Afraid of what might happen.

Then we got our hands on some hope. Superficial hope cause some of the horrible things happening haven’t gone away. They’ve actually gotten worse.

We talked about how many people live in a fearful world – how many of our colleagues are fearful enough that they toe the line, do what they’re supposed to and hope nothing bad comes of it.

Has our work environment in the United States become all about this fear?

fear job
Several years back, I was presented with an opportunity to ‘teach’ at a local university by another professor. Was told how cool the job is, but was then told, ‘though you know, the atmosphere is that you’ll be constantly reminded that you can be fired at any moment.’

At the time I said, ‘No, I can’t do that.’

Makes me a prick? Yeah, I know that’s how it came across.

But really, I can’t FUCKING DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I will NOT work in an environment of fear.

I just can’t handle it. Never could.

(Ask my wife: she’s seen the paranoia that comes from me in a corporate sardine can. It’s not pretty.)

Once someone has been repeatedly fired – typically in situations beyond their control – it makes sense to become fearful.

Or rebel. Take an enough is enough stand.

why
So back to our conversation. We talked about why the hell do people do this to themselves? One is either going to have a job or not have a job. The stable work-9-to-5 have-3.5-kids retire-at-65-lifestyle is a long ago memory today. Buck it up, that’s what we all have to deal with.

And we started thinking: Are we the only people who get this concept? That fear is so embedded we now accept it as  . . .  normal human behavior?

Someone else I work with is constantly reminding me that my sense of humor will get me fired. And I ‘shouldn’t say funny things like that.’ And all I see is someone who is really frightened giving me advice.

I have a crazy approach: I work my ass off at what I do. And I’m kinda good at it. And if it’s not working for whatever reason, great. End it. I’ll do something else (and read this post for more of this philosophy).

There’s nothing worse than a hard working, angry employee who is existing under someone’s thumb. Bad for both parties.

So what bug is up my ass with all this? See Alice’s post, it sums up all the shit that’s going on in the world right now – residue from the Bush years. This is where we are, these are the fears they put in us. This is what our next generation has to deal with.

Give them some pills, take the edge off. Help them concentrate, get things done.

You know, fear of what may happen is often worse than what actually will happen. Fear of the unknown slows everything to a stop. We can’t go back in time (yet), how do we move forward if we’re afraid to?

Fear is a decision.

One that can lead to a really miserable existence if one chooses.

Illustrations from the great Ralph Steadman (which seem to fit; to me anyway); borrowed liberally from his book, Scar Strangled Banger

tags: illustration, thoughts // 1 comment  . . .