Walk your own path

I tend to subscribe to the idea that my view of the world is fairly unique. True, others might see portions of the whole, but then bizarrely suggest that the solution to a particular problem is something I would identify as yet another problem. Pot, kettle. Kettle, pot. Or between two rocks and four hard places, 6 in one hand and half a dozen in the other, however you choose to measure it is irrelevant. It's like attempting to quit drinking by taking up recreational cocaine use: it ends badly.

Douchebag controlfreaks

Once, over a decade ago, I was suspended for not telling a manager in my company what my network password was while I was on vacation. He wasn't even my manager which seemed even more strange. I shrugged it off and took 3 days unpaid vacation added to the 2 weeks I already had. I did not use that time to think about what I had done because according to documents I had signed when network access was given to me: "I will not share nor reveal this password to anyone."... It seemed to be quite clearly written in a language I could understand. I later pulled that document from my file to dispute their failure to pay me for three days. This really pissed off that manager to know that not only had I not learned to meekly obey, but I had learned how to use their own rules against them while it was convenient to me. He never spoke to me again, and any interaction that was required from that day forward was sent in writing via 3rd party messenger.

At the time, this was rare behavior from 'the management'. That no longer appears to be the case as I read more and more horror stories atop adding my own to the pile.

Flash forward over a decade. My gestapo for the last 4.5 years has routinely stated that I am not important enough for a company cell phone, yet has complained for 4.25 years that I do not have a cell phone (I know, this is already retarded, but wait! There's more.). Three months ago, I was completely fed up of finding myself in these situations where, I was waiting for someone, or just waiting at a bus stop in the rain for far longer than I should have, or even just needing to get some quick bit of information from somebody but realizing I lacked change, or a phone booth anywhere within range of visible acuity (Phone Booth? do they still make those?). So I finally get myself a cell phone... I bought it, and I pay the plan, MY phone.

3 months go by and it is not mentioned. I do use it to jot down notes during my day, or photograph some computer screen, to remind myself of later. So I have not been hiding it and have found ways to assist myself in my job and/or memory, but I am not really using it as a phone while at work. I do not answer it when it rings, I reply to texts during breaks because I know that I should not be on my personal cell phone at all hours while at work... Besides, it's been at least 5 years that nobody could reach me 'right now' so most folks are used to me calling back when I get the message. Things are going well, I can augment my professionalism and not detract from work hours (by stealing time), so I have found the perfect balance.

Until last week.

The choice is ours

So it should be fairly apparent to everybody by now that the food chain is nowhere near as diverse as it needs to be, and that we are no longer on the top level of the food chain since our food now kills us, possibly for sport, and certainly for profit. It might also be apparent where all the trouble stems from, but, as you've likely heard, appearances can be deceiving. Truly you cannot judge a book by it's cover, but we can no longer judge a book by it's pages either.