Lobby Thoughts #29

Microcosmic Economic Indicators: The recession may be slowing and the economy improving. As a guard, parking lot patrols show a sizable increase in small empty glassine packages for marijuana and many more "airplane" size liquor bottles. If there is more disposable income able to be used for substance abuse this may show some trickle down economic improvements...or maybe just an increase in depression?

 I have finally realized that most people REALLY DO NOT KNOW what polite behavior involves. It is to them similar to some esoteric ancient ritual, only of anthropological interest. Their personal wishes, opinions and POV trump all else.

" People do not change until either there are terrific incentives to do so, or they have no choice."
http://shrinkwrapped.blogs.com/blog/2011/02/the-first-resilient-community.html

People MUST emote. They have little choice...even unto their self destruction.

You must ignore insults. I get called racist names many times a week...I ignore them until the speaker is within 2 steps of me... at which time, if not a physical threat, I say with a smile "Thanks, have a nice day too!" I so enjoy the resulting variety of facial expressions...I am sometimes easily entertained.

Almost everyone loves having servants and whipping boys. Guards are great for that.

Ma'am; "Skinny jeans" are for you if you are ALREADY skinny. They are not meant to attempt to make you look skinny. Only a diet might do that. No spandex either please, my eyes.

We mediate the clash of cultures.

When immature managers must lash out for their personal psychological catharsis, the contract guard is the only member of their "team" that they can arbitrarily abuse with little if any repercussion.

Smell is sometimes very powerfully evocative--beyond the nauseous smells of many of the public.
A woman had on a fragrance that immediately brought my long dead grandmother clearly to mind...interesting.

Do not let any judgement appear in your facial expressions.

NO SNARKY COMMENTS. No soto voce appraisals either!

Many of your best employees don't care about being secure and so will prop open doors, let strangers into your secure areas and chose really bad passwords. As the manager you will ALWAYS forgive these folks because you know in your heart that if nothing happened, security is of no import. If something did happen as a result of that emp's action; isn't it really security's fault after all? Life is easy!

The $12.50/hr helpers of the handicapped are wearing real Gucci in the Lobby. Their charges are wearing soiled pajamas and holey slippers.


http://www.cfmediaview.com/lp1.aspx?v=10_12247786_1274_9
"But it’s not just training in technology that is so critical for future security professionals, it’s also understanding the world of business. “I’ve seen more and more of my colleagues taking a year or going out to complete a MBA, and that’s critical today and I think it will be one of the major areas of focus in the industry,” he said. “Security is a pure expense when viewed by the board of directors. I was fortunate that my corporation understood the criticality and importance of security.” However, many in the industry aren’t as lucky. “When security practitioners are successful, nothing happens. It’s sometimes difficult to quantify the success of what you’ve done.” That’s why being able to present a business case and budgetary analysis is so important to getting the funding necessary to develop a strong security program."