Corporate Placebos

So I have a theme these days, as you can see.
Especially on the 3 days a week I come into my office in downtown Seattle.
The drive gives me lots of time to contemplate things, which often end up revolving around the futility and waste of the moments I spend on this work related crap.

But today, the specific theme is about corporate placebos. We are (as I type this) having a monthly all hands company meeting downstairs. Needless to say, I am not in attendance. If asked, I will state that I have lots of work to do and I can always read the power point. Truth is I glanced at the power point already. I wasn't shocked in the least by what I saw, but it did increase my resolve to not be in attendance. It was a 20 slide sales pitch from management to the staff. It always is. And it always says the same stuff. And it always means absolutely nothing, although the graphs and such are pretty.

And yet.........it appeases the masses and they go back to their cells feeling better for having had their insubstantial position within a huge and uncaring corporate beast validated. They will sleep better tonight and be more productive tomorrow knowing that the bottom line margins are on the rise (pretty graphs of upward market trends make for positive feelings). WHAT THE HELL?

Where did we learn this behavior of passive acceptance and even positive self-sacrifice to the corporate gods? When did we become convinced that the company was more important than the family and friend? By the way, this last bit is neatly wrapped up in the idea that you can't help your family and friends if you aren't successful at work, thus the more important commitment to the job. and again, WHAT THE HELL?

So I sit up here and type, knowing that downstairs there are faces smiling with blissful ignorance and listening to 3 hours of corporate placebos designed to make them better slaves. Wow.

Later-E