Objectively intelligent.

[Icky Thump]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas...=1000500063446

At 6:19, Scott Galloway had the temerity to say, "You don't like to say this out loud, but... If you're blessed with good relationships... if you're at a point in your career where you're on the back nine as opposed to the front nine, you're living your best life... For a lot of people, Covid-19 has been an inconvenience vastly overweighed by an increase in wealth... more time with Netflix, more time with kids, less time commuting..."

He said he takes no pride in saying any of that, and fully recognizes Covid-19 is not a glass half full moment for many. But he said it.

And he's said this in numerous podcasts. He should be canceled for it.

This is the problem with online discourse. He doesn't have someone around to punch him in the fucking face.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

He should be canceled for it.

Yes, of course. That is exactly the point. We shall all speak of him no more.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally Posted by Icky Thump

This is the problem with online discourse. He doesn't have someone around to punch him in the fucking face.

But he’s right. Lots of people are actually enjoying a much more balanced life during this pandemic. They don’t have to commute, they don’t have to waste time going through silly rituals at the office, and productivity is up among most companies.

Much of what we do in our work is performative busywork. Covid has exposed it as such. And there is no defense for wasting time and energy in performative acts. Or worse, making others below you do so.

If you don’t think there is something enriching, something of value, inseeing all of the inefficiencies and unnecessary rituals removed, your powers of perception must be dead. How many years did I take a train into the office, or drive down the expressway in heavy traffic, to go sit in a huge office building and do what I could’ve done from my fucking kitchen? Why did we all have to wear all those stupid corporate casual outfits? Why did we waste so much gas, at destruction of the environment, to drive to and fro for no good reason?

A lot of the legacy businesses and legacy rituals that Covid has removed from our lives should have been gone long ago if we were at all interested in efficiency and true work/life balance.

I feel bad for people in service industries who are disproportionately impacted, and we should give them a shit pile of money to bridge them until they can go back to work. But I don’t think it is heresy, or should be considered verboten, to say that this thing has some silver linings for a lot of people.

If nothing else, it is showing the idiocy of our prior workaholism. You don’t have to run around, and fly everywhere, and sit through endless meetings, to get things done. People are more productive when they work from their houses and can actually focus on the job, rather than put up with loads of people taxing their limited powers of attention at the office. Often with administrative horseshit. It’s also eliminating a lot of office politics, and weeding out the people who thrived on playing those games.

All of the victims of Covid are worth grieving. Except one: Busywork. That Covid has clarified what work is necessary and what is superfluous, and made us question why we ever bothered doing the latter, is a gift.

[LessinSF]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

People are more productive when they work from their houses and can actually focus on the job

You are speaking taboo truths, except for the quote above, as to me. I need to into the office. My home has too many temptations, from the TV to the couch to the fridge to the bed

[Icky Thump]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

But he’s right. Lots of people are actually enjoying a much more balanced life during this pandemic. They don’t have to commute, they don’t have to waste time going through silly rituals at the office, and productivity is up among most companies.

Much of what we do in our work is performative busywork. Covid has exposed it as such. And there is no defense for wasting time and energy in performative acts. Or worse, making others below you do so.

If you don’t think there is something enriching, something of value, inseeing all of the inefficiencies and unnecessary rituals removed, your powers of perception must be dead. How many years did I take a train into the office, or drive down the expressway in heavy traffic, to go sit in a huge office building and do what I could’ve done from my fucking kitchen? Why did we all have to wear all those stupid corporate casual outfits? Why did we waste so much gas, at destruction of the environment, to drive to and fro for no good reason?

A lot of the legacy businesses and legacy rituals that Covid has removed from our lives should have been gone long ago if we were at all interested in efficiency and true work/life balance.

I feel bad for people in service industries who are disproportionately impacted, and we should give them a shit pile of money to bridge them until they can go back to work. But I don’t think it is heresy, or should be considered verboten, to say that this thing has some silver linings for a lot of people.

If nothing else, it is showing the idiocy of our prior workaholism. You don’t have to run around, and fly everywhere, and sit through endless meetings, to get things done. People are more productive when they work from their houses and can actually focus on the job, rather than put up with loads of people taxing their limited powers of attention at the office. Often with administrative horseshit. It’s also eliminating a lot of office politics, and weeding out the people who thrived on playing those games.

All of the victims of Covid are worth grieving. Except one: Busywork. That Covid has clarified what work is necessary and what is superfluous, and made us question why we ever bothered doing the latter, is a gift.

But a lot are dead. Even more are fucked up sick. Whatever the benefits are they aren't worth the cost we have collectively had to go through. Yes, it is better FOR ME, to be able to do a deposition in my house, and when I am done, go downstairs to my coffee pot, instead of taking a two hour drive to MCO, while on the phone with a travel agent, changing to the soonest flight, sitting in the airline lounge, eating trail mix, getting on a plane, watching netflix on my phone, driving home, then bouncing into the office the next day to show my boss what a tough guy I am. Old way, I cost a client $2500 bucks; now I cost him $250 for a zoom hookup.

But, in retrospect, I'd rather have gone through the bullshit and have 300k more Americans still be alive.

Back to your point though, the cat is out of the bag. Once the vaccine has been disseminated I am not sure I am going to get back on that hamster wheel. As I mentioned right between the first and second wave, my place was stomping its feet for face time. Sure shut their mouths now that the NYC positivity rate is 5%.

[Icky Thump]

Originally Posted by LessinSF

You are speaking taboo truths, except for the quote above, as to me. I need to into the office. My home has too many temptations, from the TV to the couch to the fridge to the bed

Just the opposite. I go into the office and I have mutant superspreaders interrupting me, coughing on me, telling me how great they are, when they are doing the law practice equivalent of a chimp flying a 737 Max.

If I go into the office it will take me 7 hours to do a brief I could do in 90 minutes at home or in the office on a weekend.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Icky Thump

Just the opposite. I go into the office and I have mutant superspreaders interrupting me, coughing on me, telling me how great they are, when they are doing the law practice equivalent of a chimp flying a 737 Max.

If I go into the office it will take me 7 hours to do a brief I could do in 90 minutes at home or in the office on a weekend.

I go into the office most days, because it's quiet and my reception is much better. But I and one other person have aggressively policed the asshole superspreaders among the partners, doing things like sending out office wide emails instructing them that someone has got to be a real moron to wear a mask with your nose out, that people who don't wear masks in the halls are violating firm policy and (rightfully) creating liability for the firm, and that we should question the judgment of any lawyer who is enough of a moron to walk the halls without a mask. In other words, I've been a complete asshole to the assholes. There were only a couple of them to start, but now they mostly stay home.

And abusing people for not wearing masks gets it out my system, so when I'm here I'm a little bit nicer to Sebby.

[Icky Thump]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

I go into the office most days, because it's quiet and my reception is much better. But I and one other person have aggressively policed the asshole superspreaders among the partners, doing things like sending out office wide emails instructing them that someone has got to be a real moron to wear a mask with your nose out, that people who don't wear masks in the halls are violating firm policy and (rightfully) creating liability for the firm, and that we should question the judgment of any lawyer who is enough of a moron to walk the halls without a mask. In other words, I've been a complete asshole to the assholes. There were only a couple of them to start, but now they mostly stay home.

And abusing people for not wearing masks gets it out my system, so when I'm here I'm a little bit nicer to Sebby.

Yeah your place is soft.

My place retaliates against those who report mask noncompliance, give the superspreaders key roles in establishing firm medical policy, in dealing with very sick and elderly clients, and try to browbeat those who won't come in, into "getting with the program."

Seriously, I had patient zero send a firm wide email about how proud he was that he was doing in-person depositions now with his elderly cancer-ridden clients because he makes sure he and the other lawyers test negative. Of course when reminded that the Rose Garden Massacre, the Caribbean Rona Cruise were both preceded by negative tests, the response was "don't be scared."

This is a guy who coughed his way into infecting a whole floor in March, and thinking that he is smarter than Rand Paul, can never get it again so doesn't need to wear a mask ever.

Letting this guy establish medical criteria is like letting a chimp fly a 737 Max.

Me, I am just not going to deal with it. I went into the office, no one was serious and now that the positivity rate is soaring, just forget it.

My boss called me once and I was on my way to buy groceries and he was like "You are going to a store when we are walking around the office?" and I responded "Sam's Club is safer."

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Icky Thump

Yeah your place is soft.

My place retaliates against those who report mask noncompliance, give the superspreaders key roles in establishing firm medical policy, in dealing with very sick and elderly clients, and try to browbeat those who won't come in, into "getting with the program."

Seriously, I had patient zero send a firm wide email about how proud he was that he was doing in-person depositions now with his elderly cancer-ridden clients because he makes sure he and the other lawyers test negative. Of course when reminded that the Rose Garden Massacre, the Caribbean Rona Cruise were both preceded by negative tests, the response was "don't be scared."

This is a guy who coughed his way into infecting a whole floor in March, and thinking that he is smarter than Rand Paul, can never get it again so doesn't need to wear a mask ever.

Letting this guy establish medical criteria is like letting a chimp fly a 737 Max.

Me, I am just not going to deal with it. I went into the office, no one was serious and now that the positivity rate is soaring, just forget it.

My boss called me once and I was on my way to buy groceries and he was like "You are going to a store when we are walking around the office?" and I responded "Sam's Club is safer."

Thank you for making me feel good about my place.

I think we could have gone this way under our prior managing partner, who was one of the lead assholes, but the current managing partner has been very clear that she wants to keep me happy and here and I went full asshole early on. And I came in, where other people who thought like me just stayed home and avoided them.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally Posted by Icky Thump

But a lot are dead. Even more are fucked up sick. Whatever the benefits are they aren't worth the cost we have collectively had to go through. Yes, it is better FOR ME, to be able to do a deposition in my house, and when I am done, go downstairs to my coffee pot, instead of taking a two hour drive to MCO, while on the phone with a travel agent, changing to the soonest flight, sitting in the airline lounge, eating trail mix, getting on a plane, watching netflix on my phone, driving home, then bouncing into the office the next day to show my boss what a tough guy I am. Old way, I cost a client $2500 bucks; now I cost him $250 for a zoom hookup.

But, in retrospect, I'd rather have gone through the bullshit and have 300k more Americans still be alive.

Back to your point though, the cat is out of the bag. Once the vaccine has been disseminated I am not sure I am going to get back on that hamster wheel. As I mentioned right between the first and second wave, my place was stomping its feet for face time. Sure shut their mouths now that the NYC positivity rate is 5%.

I agree the cost is unacceptable. But it happened, and here we are, and among the observations one can make about the current situation, a very large one is, Covid has silver linings. For some now. For most over the longer term.

That cat needed to be let out of the bag quite badly. We have been on hamster wheels for so long - manic, addled, multitasking, and lacking the time to ask why or if we could live better and more productive lives. Covid allowed us to harness the tech rather than the tech continue to make us 24/7 employees. Instead of our smartphones adding hours on top of the day we spent at the office, they have now properly replaced the time we spent at the office.

Eliminating the commute is the mother of all game changers.

This has been a tragedy, but good often follows the tragic. Crises create positive change. We can say that about Covid. It’s not a sin to admit it.

[Icky Thump]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

I agree the cost is unacceptable. But it happened, and here we are, and among the observations one can make about the current situation, a very large one is, Covid has silver linings. For some now. For most over the longer term.

That cat needed to be let out of the bag quite badly. We have been on hamster wheels for so long - manic, addled, multitasking, and lacking the time to ask why or if we could live better and more productive lives. Covid allowed us to harness the tech rather than the tech continue to make us 24/7 employees. Instead of our smartphones adding hours on top of the day we spent at the office, they have now properly replaced the time we spent at the office.

Eliminating the commute is the mother of all game changers.

This has been a tragedy, but good often follows the tragic. Crises create positive change. We can say that about Covid. It’s not a sin to admit it.

To put the two last posts together, my place doesn't want to let go.

They need to see faces (when they are there -- it doesn't matter if you are in and working when no one else is) that's why you have to send multiple "all lawyers" emails if you're in on a Sunday. Not because everyone needs to know if you've forgotten the copier code, because the bosses need to see you standing on your hind legs for peanuts.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally Posted by Icky Thump

To put the two last posts together, my place doesn't want to let go.

They need to see faces (when they are there -- it doesn't matter if you are in and working when no one else is) that's why you have to send multiple "all lawyers" emails if you're in on a Sunday. Not because everyone needs to know if you've forgotten the copier code, because the bosses need to see you standing on your hind legs for peanuts.

You work for insecure losers. Lemme guess... Most of upper management has personality defects, or shitty home lives, or they’re bitter nebbishes, or all three at once?

The plaintiffs’ sector of the profession attracts angry nerds and diminutive people who can only acquire power by using a degree to beat money out of others. I did a year with those kinds of assholes and honestly couldn’t stomach them. Such defective people. I don’t know how any decent person survives being immersed in those personalities every day.

But their days of commanding people to come to the office to fluff their egos are ending. Same is happening in finance. The people who abuse analysts and associates are going to have a hard time getting them back into the offices and forcing them to engage in performative work.

I never understood the attitude of making employees subject to needless abuse or busywork as a form of hazing. It is deplorable to abuse a worker just because you were abused. Work isn’t a frat house. Workers don’t need to be treated like pledges just to “make their bones.” If you instead treat them well, you’ll find they perform better and make you more money.

I’ve had two bosses get in my face. I closed the door and confronted the first with “What’s your fucking problem?” We had it out and things got a bit better. The second I told to keep his bonus, and resigned leaving him high and dry with a bunch of trials to handle which I knew the facts of and he didn’t.

If I could have it to do again, I’d instead punch both of the fucks in the face.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Icky Thump

To put the two last posts together, my place doesn't want to let go.

They need to see faces (when they are there -- it doesn't matter if you are in and working when no one else is) that's why you have to send multiple "all lawyers" emails if you're in on a Sunday. Not because everyone needs to know if you've forgotten the copier code, because the bosses need to see you standing on your hind legs for peanuts.

At my last big law you had to show Saturday face, but you also kinda wanted to. I’d spend my week putting out fires, so I really could only think about my projects where I needed help on Saturdays. If a GA was in, em might get the file. For me to wait until Monday? Well that would have to be the Mother of all GA, 10 times better lawyer than that Oliver Douglas.


Edit: sorry about the Jets. Only a Lions fan can know your pain.

[Icky Thump]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

At my last big law you had to show Saturday face, but you also kinda wanted to. I’d spend my week putting out fires, so I really could only think about my projects where I needed help on Saturdays. If a GA was in, em might get the file. For me to wait until Monday? Well that would have to be the Mother of all GA, 10 times better lawyer than that Oliver Douglas.


Edit: sorry about the Jets. Only a Lions fan can know your pain.

The truth is about half the franchises in the NFL are there for fodder only. They really should have a relegation deal. Lions, Jets, Bengals, Chargers shouldn't be part of the same league with the Steelers, Packers, Pats, well-run orgs.

[Icky Thump]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

You work for insecure losers. Lemme guess... Most of upper management has personality defects, or shitty home lives, or they’re bitter nebbishes, or all three at once?

The plaintiffs’ sector of the profession attracts angry nerds and diminutive people who can only acquire power by using a degree to beat money out of others. I did a year with those kinds of assholes and honestly couldn’t stomach them. Such defective people. I don’t know how any decent person survives being immersed in those personalities every day.

But their days of commanding people to come to the office to fluff their egos are ending. Same is happening in finance. The people who abuse analysts and associates are going to have a hard time getting them back into the offices and forcing them to engage in performative work.

I never understood the attitude of making employees subject to needless abuse or busywork as a form of hazing. It is deplorable to abuse a worker just because you were abused. Work isn’t a frat house. Workers don’t need to be treated like pledges just to “make their bones.” If you instead treat them well, you’ll find they perform better and make you more money.

I’ve had two bosses get in my face. I closed the door and confronted the first with “What’s your fucking problem?” We had it out and things got a bit better. The second I told to keep his bonus, and resigned leaving him high and dry with a bunch of trials to handle which I knew the facts of and he didn’t.

If I could have it to do again, I’d instead punch both of the fucks in the face.

My place is more the passive-aggressive model.

"Icky, you aren't in the office, we're all worried about you . . . is everything OK at home?"

"Big boss man is walking around and noticed that you weren't here. . . I didn't know what to say."

"Let's discuss it next time you are in the office."