A Really Useful Engine
Bob Geldof seems like a sanctimonious asshole, but what the fuck did I ever do for anyone anywhere?
On my good days I try to operate under the "first do no harm" principle of human relations, and today with the world on fucking fire again of course I wish everyone subscribed to that philosophy. But the key thing to remember is the "first" part. It's not "just do no harm." Do no harm, and then try to help. That's where I seem to get tripped up.
One of the many things (besides the institutionalized rape of the English language that occurs in every meeting I attend every day) I find particularly distateful about the corporate world in which my sorry ass sits at this very moment is the overblown revolutionary fervor that takes hold in aid of what is really only at the end of the day the accumulation of (what everyone hopes will turn out to be obsene amounts of) wealth. I recognize that this is not a new insight, but the interesting thing to me is the manner in which really intelligent, basically well-intentioned, and potentially enormously useful human beings convince themselves that they're not just going through their day trying to do a good job and provide for their families but really by creating these products and going to these meetings and making these phone calls they are actually, in some small but significant way, changing the world. And it's not just corporate-speak--they actually believe it.
I on the other hand am not a believer. I am good at my job and there are things about it I enjoy very much and I need to get up every morning and go somewhere or I'd fade into oblivion, but I do not for one moment believe I am doing anything noble or important or, really, useful to anyone except me and my family and, occassionally, the 100 or so other people who sit in this building. And maybe that's enough, and surely it's better than I've done before, but it sure as shit ain't changing the world.
But I'm envious of the believers. They believe they're helping, and maybe just by believing that they are. I can't help but think, though, when you convince yourself you can change the world by writing ad copy or filling out spreadsheets, that's about as good as it's going to get for you, chum. I may not get out of this godamn place alive, but at least when I fall down I'll still have my eyes on the door. For now I need to believe my life ain't over yet.
On my good days I try to operate under the "first do no harm" principle of human relations, and today with the world on fucking fire again of course I wish everyone subscribed to that philosophy. But the key thing to remember is the "first" part. It's not "just do no harm." Do no harm, and then try to help. That's where I seem to get tripped up.
One of the many things (besides the institutionalized rape of the English language that occurs in every meeting I attend every day) I find particularly distateful about the corporate world in which my sorry ass sits at this very moment is the overblown revolutionary fervor that takes hold in aid of what is really only at the end of the day the accumulation of (what everyone hopes will turn out to be obsene amounts of) wealth. I recognize that this is not a new insight, but the interesting thing to me is the manner in which really intelligent, basically well-intentioned, and potentially enormously useful human beings convince themselves that they're not just going through their day trying to do a good job and provide for their families but really by creating these products and going to these meetings and making these phone calls they are actually, in some small but significant way, changing the world. And it's not just corporate-speak--they actually believe it.
I on the other hand am not a believer. I am good at my job and there are things about it I enjoy very much and I need to get up every morning and go somewhere or I'd fade into oblivion, but I do not for one moment believe I am doing anything noble or important or, really, useful to anyone except me and my family and, occassionally, the 100 or so other people who sit in this building. And maybe that's enough, and surely it's better than I've done before, but it sure as shit ain't changing the world.
But I'm envious of the believers. They believe they're helping, and maybe just by believing that they are. I can't help but think, though, when you convince yourself you can change the world by writing ad copy or filling out spreadsheets, that's about as good as it's going to get for you, chum. I may not get out of this godamn place alive, but at least when I fall down I'll still have my eyes on the door. For now I need to believe my life ain't over yet.
posted by tom at 9:27 AM
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