Comments on: The Because Effect from a different perspective http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/19/the-because-effect-from-a-different-perspective/ a blog about information Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:37:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Stephen Smoliar http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/19/the-because-effect-from-a-different-perspective/comment-page-1/#comment-191557 Stephen Smoliar Fri, 21 Sep 2007 23:15:17 +0000 http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/19/the-because-effect-from-a-different-perspective/#comment-191557 OFFICE SPACE is the MASH (the Altman version, not the watered-down television series) of a new generation. What MASH did to the workplace of the military, OFFICE SPACE did to cubicle-land. It may have lacked that Altman PANACHE, but it still hit home. The thesis is sort of a syllogism: The workplace is run by stupid people Stupid people are easily outsmarted Therefore, workplace activity can be reduced to making a game out of outsmarting the stupid Needless to say, this syllogism gives one whopping kick to that paragraph from Seidman's book; but that paragraph is the moral equivalent of wearing a big KICK ME sign on one's back! Wake up and smell the burnt coffee at the bottom of the pot in the break room! OFFICE SPACE is the MASH (the Altman version, not the watered-down television series) of a new generation. What MASH did to the workplace of the military, OFFICE SPACE did to cubicle-land. It may have lacked that Altman PANACHE, but it still hit home. The thesis is sort of a syllogism:

The workplace is run by stupid people
Stupid people are easily outsmarted
Therefore, workplace activity can be reduced to making a game out of outsmarting the stupid

Needless to say, this syllogism gives one whopping kick to that paragraph from Seidman’s book; but that paragraph is the moral equivalent of wearing a big KICK ME sign on one’s back! Wake up and smell the burnt coffee at the bottom of the pot in the break room!

]]> By: Sean http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/19/the-because-effect-from-a-different-perspective/comment-page-1/#comment-191470 Sean Fri, 21 Sep 2007 18:56:06 +0000 http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/19/the-because-effect-from-a-different-perspective/#comment-191470 And this imo, is why a film like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_Space" rel="nofollow">Office Space</a> has struck such a chord with the <a href="http://www.parkparadigm.com/?p=138" rel="nofollow">Digital Generation</a> (and wannabes like us!) And this imo, is why a film like Office Space has struck such a chord with the Digital Generation (and wannabes like us!)

]]> By: Andrew Back http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/19/the-because-effect-from-a-different-perspective/comment-page-1/#comment-190455 Andrew Back Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:46:41 +0000 http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/19/the-because-effect-from-a-different-perspective/#comment-190455 This is interesting... Recently in a post titled "The desire to create" I pondered [or rather rambled] as to why as an individual we are increasingly driven to create. Not limited to physical and online artefacts by which we could be judged, this could equally for example be creating happiness in someone else, improving our community or aiding those less privileged. And I believed that this is largely because we now have our luxuries, have had our fill and consumed most of what we can. And still not satisfied we have turned our attentions elsewhere. I assumed that this new direction is simply inevitable and the next logical step in the pursuit of fulfilment. But the suggestion that 'hypertransparency' and 'hyperconnectivity' are factors makes sense. They enable us to be aware of the actions of peers near and far, the plights of many, and to collectively judge and take action. Whilst at the same time making our own actions more visible. Our senses are heightened as we become more conscious of the world around us and of how others perceive us. And we can no longer be satiated via isolated consumption. We are driven to create whether out of a desire that is pure, a sense of duty or guilt. The quote makes me feel better about a post (The online drift and minding your own business) in which I cheekily referred to "The work-to-live crowd" as being "legacy". And it resonates with a label I keep hearing increasingly here in Scotland in connection with small business ventures with a social conscience - "More than profit". E.g. an upcoming conference in Aberdeen: http://www.aberdeenccn.info/web/site/home/MTP.asp This is interesting… Recently in a post titled “The desire to create” I pondered [or rather rambled] as to why as an individual we are increasingly driven to create. Not limited to physical and online artefacts by which we could be judged, this could equally for example be creating happiness in someone else, improving our community or aiding those less privileged.

And I believed that this is largely because we now have our luxuries, have had our fill and consumed most of what we can. And still not satisfied we have turned our attentions elsewhere. I assumed that this new direction is simply inevitable and the next logical step in the pursuit of fulfilment. But the suggestion that ‘hypertransparency’ and ‘hyperconnectivity’ are factors makes sense. They enable us to be aware of the actions of peers near and far, the plights of many, and to collectively judge and take action. Whilst at the same time making our own actions more visible. Our senses are heightened as we become more conscious of the world around us and of how others perceive us. And we can no longer be satiated via isolated consumption. We are driven to create whether out of a desire that is pure, a sense of duty or guilt.

The quote makes me feel better about a post (The online drift and minding your own business) in which I cheekily referred to “The work-to-live crowd” as being “legacy”. And it resonates with a label I keep hearing increasingly here in Scotland in connection with small business ventures with a social conscience – “More than profit”. E.g. an upcoming conference in Aberdeen:

http://www.aberdeenccn.info/web/site/home/MTP.asp

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