The Daily WTF: Curious Perversions in Information Technology

2012-05-30 Reply Admin

The second story sounds like my boss describing himself. He thinks he is the greatest strategist and team leader ever to set foot in our company... but he is just crap. Fortunately he is based in Belgium and we only see him a few times per year.

da Doctah · 2012-05-30 Reply Admin

How could they have thought the "Beacon of Hope" was Swiss when he says right off the bat he doesn't own a wristwatch? Anybody who showed up for the interview without one would be pegged as a ringer from the get-go.

da Doctah · 2012-05-30 Reply Admin

snoofle:
Resume
Summary

I am that I am. Honor me. Bow before me. Revere me. Sacrifice to me.

Major Accomplishments

I created the universe and all it contains in 6 days.

For boredom, I created man. For continued boredom, I created woman.

(I'm still trying to work out the kinks in that one).

I created caffeine, coffee and chocolate.

What I Can Do for You

I can smite your enemies.

Why You Should Hire Me

I can smite you.

You want a cover letter, it's hard to beat this one:

Leonardo da Vinci:

Most illustrious Lord, having now sufficiently seen and considered the proofs of all those who count themselves master and inventors of instruments of war, and finding that their invention and use of the said instruments does not differ in any respect from those in common practice, I am emboldened without prejudice to anyone else to put myself in communication with your Excellency, in order to acquaint you with my secrets, thereafter offering myself at your pleasure effectually to demonstrate at any convenient time all those matters which are in part briefly recorded below,

    1. I have plans for bridges, very light and strong and suitable for carrying very easily...

    2. When a place is besieged I know how to cut off water from the trenches, and how to construct an infinite number of...scaling ladders and other instruments...

    3. If because of the height of the embankment, and the strength of the place of its site, it should be impossible to reduce it by bombardment, I know methods of destroying any citadel or fortress, even if it is built on rock.

    4. I have plans for making cannon, very convenient and easy of transport, with which to hurl small stones in the manner almost of hail...

    5. And it is should happen that the engagement is at sea, I have plans for construction many engines most suitable for attack or defense, and ships which can resist the fire of all the heaviest cannon, and powder and smoke.

    6. Also I have ways of arriving at a certain fixed spot by caverns and secret winding passages made without any noise even though it may be necessary to pass underneath...a river.

    7. Also I can make covered cards, safe and unassailable, which will enter the serried ranks of the enemy with artillery, and there is no company of men at arms so great as not to be broken by it. And behind these the infantry will be able to follow quite unharmed and without any opposition.

    8. Also, if need shall arise, I can make cannon, mortars and light ordnance, of very beautiful and useful shapes, quite different from those in common use.

    9. Where it is not possible to employ cannon, I can supply catapults, mangonels, traps and other engines of wonderful efficacy not in general issue. In short, as the variety of circumstances shall necessitate, I can supply an infinite number of different engines of attack and defense.

    10. In time of peace I believe that I can give you as complete satisfaction as anyone else in architecture, in the construction of buildings both public and private, and in conducting water from one place to another.

    11. Also I can execute sculpture in marble, bronze, or clay and also painting, in which my work will stand comparison with that of anyone else whoever he may be.

    12. Moreover, I would undertake the work of the bronze horse, which shall endure with immortal glory and eternal honor the auspicious memory of the Prince of your father and of the illustrious house of Sforza.

And if any of the aforesaid things should seem impossible or impracticable to anyone, I offer myself as ready to make trail of them in your park or in whatever place shall please your Excellency, to whom I commend myself with all possible humility.

2012-05-30 Reply Admin

What I Can Do for You I can smite your enemies.
Why You Should Hire Me I can also smite my enemies.

There, twisted that for you.

2012-05-30 Reply Admin

Qŭert:
Can he rewrite his core to be less egocentric?

No, egocentrism is a readonly field in his framework.

--Joe

2012-05-30 Reply Admin

Jay:
In this Internet age, I'm rather glad that I have a fairly common name. I've searched for my name on Google and dozens of people turn up. Most of them are, to the best of my knowledge, not me.
Any time I look for a job, I kick around how much personal information I want to reveal. On the one hand, if I tell them about my marital status, religion, political views, etc, and they have different opinions, they might decide not to hire me, and I could miss out on what otherwise might be a good job. But on the other hand, surely sooner or later in the course of office conversation they'll figure out some of these things about me. And if they hate people with opinions such as mine enough that they would have refused to hire me, than even if they don't find some excuse to fire me, they would surely make the job unpleasant. Who wants to go to work every day for a boss who hates you? I'd be better off getting a job somewhere else.

Just musing.

If they hate you for your personal opinion then you're right...you're better off not working there anyway. But the more likely scenario is they like someone else's opinion better than yours, and therefore voted higher for that person.

If you think that's dumb, consider the culture where everyone gets along with each other versus one where people have to walk on egg shells all day. I'm not saying it's correct for these things to matter, I'm just saying there's a reason they call it "politically correct" and not "ideally correct."

It's also the reason that HR exists, and plays a major part in the on boarding process in larger companies.

2012-05-30 Reply Admin

Calli Arcale:
You cannot be required to disclose your race, even to the IRS, but your marital status is significant to calculation of tax obligations. The racial information is used for demographic research and things like that, but since it's voluntary, I would tend to consider its value suspect.

While working my way through school back in the 1980s, I spent a couple summers working in a hospital human resources office. One government regulation required that we report demographic information, including race. Another regulation prohibited us from asking for such information. I forget exactly how it was resolved, but I think the HR director just made up a bunch of numbers and called it close enough.

2012-05-30 Reply Admin

Please don't put all us Americans in with the lot that sue for a living. It's not really the populous, but the lawyers and judges that perpetuate it for their own benefit. The airwaves are full of "if you or somebody you know has been hurt you're entitled to compensation" ads. Since most law-makers are also lawyers, any attempt to put in tort reform is always soundly defeated.

D-Coder · 2012-05-30 Reply Admin

da Doctah:
snoofle:
Resume
Summary

I am that I am. Honor me. Bow before me. Revere me. Sacrifice to me.

Major Accomplishments

I created the universe and all it contains in 6 days.

For boredom, I created man. For continued boredom, I created woman.

(I'm still trying to work out the kinks in that one).

I created caffeine, coffee and chocolate.

What I Can Do for You

I can smite your enemies.

Why You Should Hire Me

I can smite you.

You want a cover letter, it's hard to beat this one:
Leonardo da Vinci:
Most illustrious Lord, having now sufficiently seen and considered the proofs of all those who count themselves master and inventors of instruments of war, and finding that their invention and use of the said instruments does not differ in any respect from those in common practice, I am emboldened without prejudice to anyone else to put myself in communication with your Excellency, in order to acquaint you with my secrets, thereafter offering myself at your pleasure effectually to demonstrate at any convenient time all those matters which are in part briefly recorded below,
    1. I have plans for bridges, very light and strong and suitable for carrying very easily...

    2. When a place is besieged I know how to cut off water from the trenches, and how to construct an infinite number of...scaling ladders and other instruments...

    3. If because of the height of the embankment, and the strength of the place of its site, it should be impossible to reduce it by bombardment, I know methods of destroying any citadel or fortress, even if it is built on rock.</div></BLOCKQUOTE></div></BLOCKQUOTE><< etc >>
Yes, but if you're Leonardo da Vinci... it's not boasting.

2012-05-30 Reply Admin

"increasing level of seedy intensity"

Awesome.

da Doctah · 2012-05-30 Reply Admin

D-Coder:
da Doctah:
You want a cover letter, it's hard to beat this one:
Leonardo da Vinci:
Most illustrious Lord, having now sufficiently seen and considered the proofs of all those who count themselves master and inventors of instruments of war, and finding that their invention and use of the said instruments does not differ in any respect from those in common practice, I am emboldened without prejudice to anyone else to put myself in communication with your Excellency, in order to acquaint you with my secrets, thereafter offering myself at your pleasure effectually to demonstrate at any convenient time all those matters which are in part briefly recorded below,
    1. I have plans for bridges, very light and strong and suitable for carrying very easily...

    2. When a place is besieged I know how to cut off water from the trenches, and how to construct an infinite number of...scaling ladders and other instruments...

    3. If because of the height of the embankment, and the strength of the place of its site, it should be impossible to reduce it by bombardment, I know methods of destroying any citadel or fortress, even if it is built on rock.</div></BLOCKQUOTE></div></BLOCKQUOTE><< etc >>
Yes, but if you're Leonardo da Vinci... it's not boasting.
Place I got the quote from says Leo got the job.

2012-05-30 Reply Admin

Anon:
They really like to chase the chicks

I call BS on this one. He was supposed to be British, so I'm pretty sure he would have said:

They really like to chase the Old boilers

FTFY....

But seriously, I thought he meant they enjoy their time on the land....

2012-05-30 Reply Admin

F:
emaN ruoY:
With the concentration on the sports cars and keys, I'm wondering if it was all a set. If he were to show up unannounced a few days later and sneak a peak and still see the fancy stuff. Granted, it was a bank, so who knows.
Also, in the US, asking about family during an interview is considered very taboo. Is that not the case in the UK?

It would be a very foolish thing to do, as an unsuccessful applicant might allege sex discrimination (it being unlawful to discriminate against someone on the grounds of marital status, among other things). While said applicant might not succeed in an Employment Tribunal case, the company would incur substantial costs (if only in management time) defending it.

Maybe in an overly litigious society like our friends in the US. In most of the civilised world, while it is illegal to discriminate against people based on anything (including inability to actually fulfil the job you're hiring them for, it seems) it is a difficult thing to prove....

Off the track a little, my favourites are the ones that complain they're discrimnated against because they don't cut (or wash) their hair, or have enough piercings to well <insert something witty>. When you know what the issue is, and it's something you can easily change (wash hair, cut hair, remove piercings) you have noone but yourself to blame when people choose not to hire you - especially for public facing roles where your presentation is important to the companies image (Australia Post, Civic Centre, Canberra - anyone?). There seems an increasing Chico Marx attitude (I don't want to work, I just want a job) coupled with some sort of assumption that people somehow have a right to do whatever work they please, even if they are incapable of it or unwilling to learn fundamental skills required for it.

2012-05-30 Reply Admin

Vroomfundel:
Speaking about attitude towards discrimination on both sides of the pond, I can't help but mock the 'Equal Opportunity Employer' thing they have in the UK. On every other web site that accepts online applications you have this 'equal opportunity' section, which requires you to disclose your gender, race, sexual orientation and disability status.
Why, would a sensible person ask. So that you won't be discriminated against, stupid! It's an equal opportunity program. I thought about registering myself as disabled black lesbian just to see if they get tempted by the opportunity to score a tick in all boxes with just one candidate (because I fail to envisage any other reason why would they want this information, other than fulfilling a quota in all categories, i.e. for discrimination).

THIS, 100% THIS. Any organisation that wants to know any personal detail about you on the basis that they are an equal opportunity employer does not understand equal opportunities.

EO is not about balancing workplaces into demographics that reflect the real world. EO is about hiring the best person for the job irrespective of their heritage, personal life or colour car they drive. By asking whether someone is a particular gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation we are simply setting up a list we can use to discriminate against some candidates.
For example, "We are an equal opportunity employer, what is your gender?" would imply that they believe they have an imbalance in the workplace toward one gender and are looking to hire the other - this is not EO. Ideally (and of course it's not always possible because of the human factors and occasionally language problems) the 1st page of a resume (assuming it contains onley personal infromation) can be thrown out, and the resume' assessed for it's content with no concern for WHO the applicant is, just HOW WELL they suit the position...

That said, there are probably times when gender is important for a role (not that any such cases immediately spring to mind)

2012-05-30 Reply Admin

That's also the case in Australia. It is illegal to ask about marital status, pregnancy status, race, religion, etc. in a job interview.

So I'm surprised if the UK (which obviously has similar laws to Australia) would allow this.

2012-05-30 Reply Admin

Mainframe Web Dev:
emaN ruoY:
With the concentration on the sports cars and keys, I'm wondering if it was all a set. If he were to show up unannounced a few days later and sneak a peak and still see the fancy stuff. Granted, it was a bank, so who knows.
Also, in the US, asking about family during an interview is considered very taboo. Is that not the case in the UK?

Taboo in the US? One might say - a protected discrimmination class and illegal per federal employment law.

That's also the case in Australia. It is illegal to ask about marital status, pregnancy status, race, religion, etc. in a job interview.

So I'm surprised if the UK (which obviously has similar laws to Australia) would allow this.

PS: Sorry for dupe; first time poster.

2012-05-30 Reply Admin

Yes:
there are probably times when gender is important for a role (not that any such cases immediately spring to mind)

I know gender makes a huge difference in how much I'm willing to pay a stripper.

Coyne · 2012-05-30 Reply Admin

The Positive Attitude letter is a bit wordy. Fixed it:

To whom it may concern:
I can do anything. I can be anything. I can get along with anything. You need me. Hire me and pay me.

Best, XXX XXXX

2012-05-30 Reply Admin

Hey, Jean-Ralphio is going into the web development business!

2012-05-31 Reply Admin

I totally agree, chasing birds or as we sometimes call them -- totty -- is very British we don't really use words like chicks, that's so American ... still I wonder who the bank was, but having worked in a couple of investment banks this doesn't surprise me!

Matt Westwood · 2012-05-31 Reply Admin

AN AMAZING CODER:
Jay:
In this Internet age, I'm rather glad that I have a fairly common name. I've searched for my name on Google and dozens of people turn up. Most of them are, to the best of my knowledge, not me.
Any time I look for a job, I kick around how much personal information I want to reveal. On the one hand, if I tell them about my marital status, religion, political views, etc, and they have different opinions, they might decide not to hire me, and I could miss out on what otherwise might be a good job. But on the other hand, surely sooner or later in the course of office conversation they'll figure out some of these things about me. And if they hate people with opinions such as mine enough that they would have refused to hire me, than even if they don't find some excuse to fire me, they would surely make the job unpleasant. Who wants to go to work every day for a boss who hates you? I'd be better off getting a job somewhere else.

Just musing.

If they hate you for your personal opinion then you're right...you're better off not working there anyway. But the more likely scenario is they like someone else's opinion better than yours, and therefore voted higher for that person.

If you think that's dumb, consider the culture where everyone gets along with each other versus one where people have to walk on egg shells all day. I'm not saying it's correct for these things to matter, I'm just saying there's a reason they call it "politically correct" and not "ideally correct."

It's also the reason that HR exists, and plays a major part in the on boarding process in larger companies.

Another way to say the same thing: Who wants to employ an arrogant loudmouth knowitall who spends all his time at the proverbial water-cooler preaching his own personal psychodrama all day? Fuck off, waster.

Matt Westwood · 2012-05-31 Reply Admin

Larry:
Yes:
there are probably times when gender is important for a role (not that any such cases immediately spring to mind)
I know gender makes a huge difference in how much I'm willing to pay a stripper.

That's a bit sexist. How can the gender of the person make a difference to how efficiently they can prepare a wall for redecoration?

lolwtf · 2012-05-31 Reply Admin

"he was wearing a wristwatch the size of a dinner plate with more telemetry than a jet cockpit." Congrats, a TDWTF article finally managed to make me laugh out loud.

2012-05-31 Reply Admin

lolwtf:
"he was wearing a wristwatch the size of a dinner plate with more telemetry than a jet cockpit." Congrats, a TDWTF article finally managed to make me laugh out loud.

I nodded, but you could not see. A written equivalent - fitting to the theme - is of course: seconded.

2012-05-31 Reply Admin

Yes:
Vroomfundel:
Speaking about attitude towards discrimination on both sides of the pond, I can't help but mock the 'Equal Opportunity Employer' thing they have in the UK. On every other web site that accepts online applications you have this 'equal opportunity' section, which requires you to disclose your gender, race, sexual orientation and disability status.
Why, would a sensible person ask. So that you won't be discriminated against, stupid! It's an equal opportunity program. I thought about registering myself as disabled black lesbian just to see if they get tempted by the opportunity to score a tick in all boxes with just one candidate (because I fail to envisage any other reason why would they want this information, other than fulfilling a quota in all categories, i.e. for discrimination).
THIS, 100% THIS. Any organisation that wants to know any personal detail about you on the basis that they are an equal opportunity employer does not understand equal opportunities.

EO is not about balancing workplaces into demographics that reflect the real world. EO is about hiring the best person for the job irrespective of their heritage, personal life or colour car they drive. By asking whether someone is a particular gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation we are simply setting up a list we can use to discriminate against some candidates.
For example, "We are an equal opportunity employer, what is your gender?" would imply that they believe they have an imbalance in the workplace toward one gender and are looking to hire the other - this is not EO. Ideally (and of course it's not always possible because of the human factors and occasionally language problems) the 1st page of a resume (assuming it contains onley personal infromation) can be thrown out, and the resume' assessed for it's content with no concern for WHO the applicant is, just HOW WELL they suit the position...

That said, there are probably times when gender is important for a role (not that any such cases immediately spring to mind)

A few: Acting (obvious) Any job with heavy lifting (yes, women can do it. But, for the most part, men are bigger and stronger) Doctor's offices (May Need Male and Female staff for the comfort of some patients)

2012-05-31 Reply Admin

Yes:
That said, there are probably times when gender is important for a role (not that any such cases immediately spring to mind)

For example - actors for certain role in film, theatre ... I know, in holywood films it may not make big difference in stupidity level to assign gender and race randomly, but there are also films, where it really matter. Trust me.

Police may want some females to make body searches on suspected females.

In fashion bussines you need some specific gender to present some gender specific clothes (such as underwear, or wedding robes, or swimming suits ...)

In dance schools there is usually pair which teach dance - so if you need (re)fill only one position there, you also need specific gender.

And there is much more such position. Not everybody is just small replaceable wheel in big anonymous machine.

Capcha: eros

2012-05-31 Reply Admin

In Germany a company has to meet a quota on woman and disabled people if they have more than 10 employees.

If not the owner has to pay a fine of 1500 Euro a month (worst case).

Roby McAndrew · 2012-05-31 Reply Admin

XXXXX:
Always bring your own copy of your resume to an interview. You never know how the recruiter/headhunter/HR service has massaged your information.

This is good advice. I had an interview at which one of the interviewers commented that he hadn't wanted to call me in because my CV was so badly formatted. I produced a copy of the what I had given to the agency, and they showed me what they had got from the agency. In the process of deleting my address and phone number, the agency had wrecked the carefully laid out document.

The interviewer agreed that my version was excellent, and his colleague said something along the lines of "Yes, that's what I thought had happened".

Watson · 2012-05-31 Reply Admin

"If you are an alien, how come you sound like you're from the North?"

Matt Westwood · 2012-05-31 Reply Admin

Roby McAndrew:
XXXXX:
Always bring your own copy of your resume to an interview. You never know how the recruiter/headhunter/HR service has massaged your information.

This is good advice. I had an interview at which one of the interviewers commented that he hadn't wanted to call me in because my CV was so badly formatted. I produced a copy of the what I had given to the agency, and they showed me what they had got from the agency. In the process of deleting my address and phone number, the agency had wrecked the carefully laid out document.

The interviewer agreed that my version was excellent, and his colleague said something along the lines of "Yes, that's what I thought had happened".

While I was waiting in the reception area of the company for whom I am now happily employed, I heard a loud and bollocky voice from beyond the doorway: "I fucking hate it when they change their fucking CVs just before the fucking interview! I've got to read the fucking thing again now!"

Turned out the agency muffin had been tweaking it to look better, and it didn't match the one I had in my briefcase - (which was different again) which I presented at the interview itself.

2012-05-31 Reply Admin

WinDef:
In Germany a company has to meet a quota on woman and disabled people if they have more than 10 employees.
If not the owner has to pay a fine of 1500 Euro a month (worst case).

So one could say women and disabled people get their jobs mainly to avoid a fine and not because of their own merits...

Matt Westwood · 2012-05-31 Reply Admin

Your Name:
WinDef:
In Germany a company has to meet a quota on woman and disabled people if they have more than 10 employees.
If not the owner has to pay a fine of 1500 Euro a month (worst case).
So one could say women and disabled people get their jobs mainly to avoid a fine and not because of their own merits...

It's called "positive discrimination" and it sucks.

2012-05-31 Reply Admin

Your Name:
WinDef:
In Germany a company has to meet a quota on woman and disabled people if they have more than 10 employees.
If not the owner has to pay a fine of 1500 Euro a month (worst case).
So one could say women and disabled people get their jobs mainly to avoid a fine and not because of their own merits...

One could say that, but one would never say it, because then one would be facing a crowd of women, minorities, and disabled people. A very angry crowd. Angry because deep in the hidden recesses of their own minds, they have wondered the same thing, only to immediately suppress the thought.

But then, who cares? They're minorities. That means we have them outnumbered! Yeah for democracy, where the majority is always right!

DaveK · 2012-05-31 Reply Admin

Ok, you may have XXX XXXX'd the name at the bottom of the application letter, but I'd recognize that guy anywhere from his writing style.

How could you pass up the opportunity to meet Mark V. Shaney in the flesh?

DaveK · 2012-05-31 Reply Admin

Coyne:
The Positive Attitude letter is a bit wordy. Fixed it:
To whom it may concern:
I have my head up my arse and am dazzled by my own brilliance.

Best, XXX XXXX

Even Shorter'd That For Ya!

2012-05-31 Reply Admin

Swissgerman:

Danke für de gueti bricht, ich han mich köschtlich amüsiert. Chasch den du überhaupt no schwizerdütsch? Gruess us Rapperswil Tobi

oheso · 2012-05-31 Reply Admin

F:
... the company would incur substantial costs (if only in management time) defending it.

Sounds like a recipe for productivity improvement, then.

oheso · 2012-05-31 Reply Admin

Mason Wheeler:
Then again, if someone really cared, it's not that difficult to make a pretty good guess as to someone's ethnicity if you're able to have a face-to-face conversation with them.

http://alllooksame.com/exam_room.php

Knock yourself out.

2012-05-31 Reply Admin

Are you sure the second one wasn't generated from a spam bot utilizing a Markov chain?

2012-05-31 Reply Admin

In Germany,

you actually are meant to post this kind of information (marital status, kids, sometimes even siblings and occupation of parents) including a picture of you on your resume.

Contrary to the US Anti-Discrimination Concept, in Germany they want to know as much about you right from the start - and if you don't provide it (by f.e. bringing an american style resume) you usually just get sorted out.

As much as I know this is common in mostly all european countries, I can only speak for Finland and Germany for myself though.

Also, in Germany, it is customary to actually ask the applicant for how much m oney they expect out of a position, something else I think is not that common in the US..

2012-05-31 Reply Admin

gilhad:
Yes:
That said, there are probably times when gender is important for a role (not that any such cases immediately spring to mind)

For example - actors for certain role in film, theatre ... I know, in holywood films it may not make big difference in stupidity level to assign gender and race randomly, but there are also films, where it really matter. Trust me.

Police may want some females to make body searches on suspected females.

In fashion bussines you need some specific gender to present some gender specific clothes (such as underwear, or wedding robes, or swimming suits ...)

In dance schools there is usually pair which teach dance - so if you need (re)fill only one position there, you also need specific gender.

And there is much more such position. Not everybody is just small replaceable wheel in big anonymous machine.

Capcha: eros

What's (perhaps) interesting, is that most of these sex/gender-discriminating choices in who should do a job are the product of other sex/gender-discrimination.

You need women to model women's clothes - but why should there be "women's clothes" and "men's clothes" anyway?

You need a female officer to perform a search on a female suspect - but why should there be any difference in comfort for either the searcher or the searchee or any greater/lesser expectation for abuse?

You need a man to demonstrate the men's leading role in a dance - but why can't a woman lead a man or a woman lead a woman or a man lead a man? They can all do it. If that makes the students uncomfortable somehow, then that's just the product of their own sexism or heteronormativism.

Which brings to the first one - if men and women are equal, why does a particular role in a story have to be filled by a person with particular plumbing? This apparent belief of ours is just more sexism justified by the sexism of others?

How can you ever have justice when injustice is its own excuse?

2012-05-31 Reply Admin

Watson:
"If you are an alien, how come you sound like you're from the North?"

Lots of planets have a north.

KattMan · 2012-05-31 Reply Admin

Ouch! You stepped on my Zune-thang!:
Which brings to the first one - if men and women are equal, why does a particular role in a story have to be filled by a person with particular plumbing? This apparent belief of ours is just more sexism justified by the sexism of others?
How can you ever have justice when injustice is its own excuse?

Because men and women are NOT equal, they are instead complimentary. I don't believe in equality, there are leaders and followers, strong people and smart people, we are not equal, we are instead complimentary, get over this equality fairy tale.

2012-05-31 Reply Admin

da Doctah:
How could they have thought the "Beacon of Hope" was Swiss when he says right off the bat he doesn't own a wristwatch? Anybody who showed up for the interview without one would be pegged as a ringer from the get-go.

He must have had a cuckoo clock instead.

2012-05-31 Reply Admin

Frank:
Your Name:
WinDef:
In Germany a company has to meet a quota on woman and disabled people if they have more than 10 employees.
If not the owner has to pay a fine of 1500 Euro a month (worst case).
So one could say women and disabled people get their jobs mainly to avoid a fine and not because of their own merits...
One could say that, but one would never say it, because then one would be facing a crowd of women, minorities, and disabled people. A very angry crowd. Angry because deep in the hidden recesses of their own minds, they have wondered the same thing, only to immediately suppress the thought.

But then, who cares? They're minorities. That means we have them outnumbered! Yeah for democracy, where the majority is always right!

As a disabled woman, I can say that particular thought never crosses my mind. It's always the opposite. Imagine not getting that position you wanted despite being more qualified for it, or being underpaid despite having more experience than your coworkers... and add this question to the list of reasons why: "Is it because my boss thinks I'm an incompetent freak for something I have no control over?" That's the question I suppress in the recesses of my mind because it's a very depressing and futile road to go down.

2012-05-31 Reply Admin

Bridget:
Imagine not getting that position you wanted despite being more qualified for it, or being underpaid despite having more experience than your coworkers... and add this question to the list of reasons why: "Is it because my boss thinks I'm an incompetent freak for something I have no control over?" That's the question I suppress in the recesses of my mind because it's a very depressing and futile road to go down.

I wonder if retards ask themselves the same question. It's not their fault they're retarded.

2012-05-31 Reply Admin

frits:
Please to meet you, hope you guessed my name.

Could it be frits?

2012-05-31 Reply Admin

justsomedudette:
Watson:
"If you are an alien, how come you sound like you're from the North?"
Lots of planets have a north.

... even England.

2012-05-31 Reply Admin

Bridget:
Frank:
Your Name:
WinDef:
In Germany a company has to meet a quota on woman and disabled people if they have more than 10 employees.
If not the owner has to pay a fine of 1500 Euro a month (worst case).
So one could say women and disabled people get their jobs mainly to avoid a fine and not because of their own merits...
One could say that, but one would never say it, because then one would be facing a crowd of women, minorities, and disabled people. A very angry crowd. Angry because deep in the hidden recesses of their own minds, they have wondered the same thing, only to immediately suppress the thought.

But then, who cares? They're minorities. That means we have them outnumbered! Yeah for democracy, where the majority is always right!

As a disabled woman, I can say that particular thought never crosses my mind. It's always the opposite. Imagine not getting that position you wanted despite being more qualified for it, or being underpaid despite having more experience than your coworkers... and add this question to the list of reasons why: "Is it because my boss thinks I'm an incompetent freak for something I have no control over?" That's the question I suppress in the recesses of my mind because it's a very depressing and futile road to go down.

I love how you're privy to the qualifications of other applicants! That means that you got into the final cut, where you and the other short-short listers can meet in the lobby and compare notes. Since you obviously weren't the best, or even able to evaluate who was the best for the position, the reason you got onto the short-short list was because of positive discrimination.

2012-05-31 Reply Admin

Decius:
I love how you're privy to the qualifications of other applicants! That means that you got into the final cut, where you and the other short-short listers can meet in the lobby and compare notes. Since you obviously weren't the best, or even able to evaluate who was the best for the position, the reason you got onto the short-short list was because of positive discrimination.

Internal position. I work alongside the person who got it now. And all I'm saying is that the fear of negative discrimination is far greater and it's a nasty little question that's sitting along with 'did I ask for too big a salary?' or 'are my job skills lacking?' I try not to disclose disability status in interviews unless the interviewer notices just because I fear how heavily it'll count against me. And for the most part, it's not been an issue. When it was though, it was really ugly. So disclosing disability ever working in my favor? Maybe when someone offers to carry my groceries out to the car for me... but I find it incredible that it'd happen in a workplace. Maybe someday I'll be proven wrong, but I really like my current coworkers so it may be a while before I try for a better job.

The Beacon of Hope and A Positive Attitude

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