serious people

(To annoy or not to annoy)

I have a friend who frequently (yesterday) nudges me that I should not annoy big serious big money potential customer corporate types with certain statements and words (management is a waste of time and bollocks?). That's rule #1 he says.

But I cannot help it. Here we say "find your voice", "be true to yourself" and "engage in open conversations" - and I happen to agree.

Stupid or not, being honest (and stupid saying it loud?) is an excellent filter against wasting their time and my time. They don't like it, good, then let's not waste time.

So, am I not interested in selling to the big corporate big money firms?

Sure I am. And luckily there are free-thinkers, curious and other forward looking people within such big firms, people who enjoy a pointed discussion, the ones I'd like to spend time with.

Why only break some rules when most rules deserves some breaking?

I do like breaking rules :)

Comments

[Philipp Schumann]

Sig, I totally agree to these principles, and standing by them.

Honesty is the same as not-lying-to-yourself, which is something your self-respect demands; thus it is not only some kind of whim or preference, but perfectly rational.

Now, whether you owe it to yourself to be less superficial than the continuous use of "bollocks" and "stupid" permit is another matter. It wouldn't be my own style of writing (any writing in my opinion is an expression of thought), but I like it by mere virtue of being yours, if it is. Certainly don't sacrifice yourself to others, whether to convince others or impress them. Don't listen to me, either. :)

A quote I like on this subject:

--

Men have been taught that it is a virtue to agree with others. But the creator is the man who disagrees. Men have been taught that it is a virtue to swim with the current. But the creator is the man who goes against the current. Men have been taught that it is a virtue to stand together. But the creator is the man who stands alone. Men have been taught that the ego is the synonym of evil, and selflessness the ideal of virtue. But the creator is the egoist in the absolute sense, and the selfless man is the one who does not think, feel, judge or act. These are function of the self. Men have been taught that the highest virtue is not to achieve, but to give. Yet one cannot give that which has not been created. Creation comes before distribution- or there will be nothing to distribute. The need of the creator comes before the need of any possible beneficiary. Yet we are taught to admire the second-hander who dispenses gifts he has not produced above the man who made the gifts possible. We praise an act of charity. We shrug at an act of achievement.
~ Ayn Rand

[sig]

Philipp, thanks - and good quote!

I almost included a paragraph in the post (but took it out, should have left it) about respect for your fellow man, that is of course an extremely important aspect, and should be the default starting point.

And in that one has to include respect for how other cultures and individuals react to certain actions, words and statements - and then avoid such out of respect. In that area we can all get better, that is not necessarily a rule I want to break as breaking it would have no purpose other than make life harder for all.

In that sense bollocks could have been avoided (ouch there I go again ;) - but it was the "worst" word I could find that I already had used, as a quote delivered by a "serious" marketing chap when hearing about thingamy.

And "stupid"... well, I think I'm nice there as I never used it about anybody but for myself... so using it refelcts on me in the doubles sense, and that is... eh stupid? :D

After all, I think the highest respect I can offer my fellow man is to be completely honest and stand by that whatever it takes, show all and let him decide if it's worth "spending time with" me or not...

[Philipp Schumann]

Lol ... using "stupid" about yourself _is_ stupid as far as I can see, and in the double sense! First, you aren't by any measure of the word; secondly, there is absolutely no point in "sacrificing" yourself. :)