Meritocracy?

Meritocracy?! We don't have no stinkin' meritocracy, fool!

Many of us don't care if you are male, female, straight, gay, black, white, Asian, Indian, old, young, etc., etc. We care that you are a good person who treats others in a civilized manner. We care about your skills, your contribution. You doing a good job. You trying for some higher personal ideals.

What we see is people hired or promoted because of their skin color, national origin, religion, gender, sexual preference or their politics. That is, all the things the law was supposed to address. This is not "righting past wrongs". When Diversity means no one outside "our group" will be hired or "No straight white men need apply." (Like in the past when "no black people need apply") This is not the way to do it. It is frankly disgustingly partisan.


I see this in microcosm in the lobby. Various vendors occasionally have lines of customers awaiting service. Some members of protected groups will allow/facilitate members of their group to cut into line, ahead of others who take no such liberties. Socking it to the man!


As I hear many times: "What good is my power and promotion if I can't hire and promote my friends, family and my group members!" Next step? "What good is my power and promotion if I can't get immense personal profit!" Welcome to the 3rd world. Oh, and no, not everybody does it!

I guess we humans are good at thinking of perfect worlds unfortunately those ideal worlds don't survive actual humans.

If one has the skills needed, one gets the job. Simply eschew your hypothetical criteria where diversity contributes to the business. This isn't college. Its work. In sales, diversity allows you to sell to prejudiced fools, it doesn't help in slinging code or making widgets. Intelligence, work ethic and cooperation counts more...unless you are in the government.

Personal Guard Camera

As you know there is a trend out there to get each police officer equipped with a portable video camera that clips on their uniform. This will allow a recording of the crime(s) in progress, the suspects resistance to arrest and can be accidentally erased or conveniently malfunction if it documents officer misbehavior.

Security guards can do something similar (recording, not misbehaving!). However your firm is Very unlikely to purchase these cameras for their guard staff...that way lies madness...and lawsuits.

Placing a Flip or Kodak video recorder on your belt allows you to document suspicious persons, vehicles and incidents in a low profile manner. Simply carry the video camera in a cell phone case on your belt. If, while using it, you are looked at in a hostile manner you may get away with it if you pretend you are texting, playing a game app or talking on the phone.  BestBuy, Amazon and everyone sells these today. You could use your iPhone or EVO if you can afford such things and their contracts.

Remember you too can be prosecuted for wiretapping and invasion of privacy, especially if you get creative with it. So please obey the law.

You are not the police, as you well  know. Using these recordings, videos, pictures are probably not admissible in court and may get you prosecuted too. Fun times!

KYJ: Keep Your Job!

DBTP: Don't Be The Problem!

Update: Help generate chaff  useful intelligence.You can also be part of the trend in collecting enormous amounts of relevant government surveillance and intelligence with your iPhone!