Same whining, different day. Badly formatted too!

Self confidence and self esteem comes from making personal progress and you get to be the judge!

If you are really a "bad-ass" you can be really nice almost all the time. You very rarely need act tough and then only for idiots.

"Military or high profile security experience is a plus, vetrans[sic] are encouraged to apply."
Quote from real ad on Craigslist for security "professionals". Yep, I wanna work for youze guys!
(But, then again, it pays more than I am currently paid"!)

I interact with young men in restricted areas frequently. I say: Hi, I'm with Security, this is private property, can I ask what your business is here?
The answers I get range from 'Nothing, just leaving' and they leave. Good answer!
to "I don't give a fu*k, Fu*k you; you can't say anything to me!" and they raise their fists. Bad answer.

Love of theory is the root of all evil-W.B. Briggs

WOW,  Nation of Islam customers who call me "white devil" and ask me "what evil have you done today, Satan?"
Well, let me think: I may have hurt my integrity by not pounding you for your insults. Is that what you mean?
It is easy to insult me on duty when any appropriate personal response will get me fired. These cult members never say such things to me when I am off duty.


I have to stop telling women when I think they are Beautiful. They think I want to sleep with them, when it is just my aesthetic appreciation. Now Sexy is a different category

There are no mitigating circumstances that would let you break any rule of the organization, unless you can convince HR/Personnel it was for the benefit of the organization AND it prevented a disaster or lawsuit. The rules are for you, not for management. They will not think or use reason.

All talk of ethics, morals and value added in the workplace apply to you, not to management. They just want to be able to say they "taught you ethics" (Yeah, amazing, I know)

They say it is impossible to live in America for one day without breaking numerous laws. This is the same in the company and to the same purpose. If you anger them they can easily find a "violation" of the rules for which to fire you.

When they ask for suggestions, the only good suggestion is one that the manager can claim as their own and that will get the manager accolades. Any other suggestions are threats to managers, implying that their organization is less than perfect. After all, if the idea was a good one, they would have already have implemented it...and why are you causing trouble! Yes, they are generally petty, vindictive, stupid, apathetic and malicious. Get over it. [Yes, BTW, they already know they are frauds. But they also know they are better than you!]

Whistle blowers will be punished or fired. The termination will be for "performance" not the whistleblowing.

As a line employee you must stay silent (except for Yes, Sir) and accept the mediocrity of the first line superiors, managers and your fellow employees. Anything else will get you fired. STFU MYOB.

Bad Guys 101: Intentional Weakness

http://munchkinwrangler.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/the-ethics-of-going-armed/

...while I believe that most people are decent and good, I know–without the shadow of a doubt–that some people aren’t. And here’s the thing about those that aren’t: they are not good to a degree that most of my liberal friends who dislike guns and write off armed people as paranoid hicks can’t comprehend. We’re not talking about “swiping the cash box from girl scouts” bad. Some people have decided to abandon the social contract so entirely that you are not a real person to them. You’re just the thing they need to get rid of to get at the wallet and the car keys in your pocket, like a wrapper around a candy bar that needs to be ripped off and discarded before you can get to the nougat. (My former mother-in-law was one of those people who were aghast at the notion of someone arming themselves for self-defense. When I asked her what her plan was if she ever get mugged, she said, “Reason with them. Everyone wants to be respected.”) Well, some people don’t care about reasoning with you because you’re not a person to them. They don’t give a shit about being respected, at least not in the way you understand the word. You’re a food animal. All they care about is the thing they want from you–your wallet, your car, your body, whatever–and they want it now and with the least amount of fuss. And if they feel that the transaction is taking too long, puts them at risk in any way, they have no compunction about hurting you badly or killing you on the spot. This is not paranoid hyperbole, or some sort of effort to dehumanize muggers and rapists. It’s observed reality, and if you doubt that, all you have to do is to open the “Crime” section of any newspaper. (Better yet, talk to a beat cop.)...
RTWT

Jews vs. Muslims

I have always been a fan of the nation of Israel. Despite the continued anti-Israel spin of the MSM, I understand they are in a unique position vis-a-vi the Muslim countries of the Middle East and the New Holocaust planned by Iran.

IMO they have the human right to pre-emptively attack the Iranian nuclear weapons' labs, bunkers, storage areas, scientists and launch areas. The Iranians have made it clear over and over again they mean to destroy Israel.

I STAND BY ISRAEL.

Whence America

Loss of America

"...Here we are. The most advanced and prosperous civilization the world has ever seen and it's like we're all just assuming it's always been like this and always will be. We've forgotten that this wonderful lifestyle we lead isn't a given. Freedom isn't a given. We've gotten to this wonderful place and we've torn up the map how to get here. Many of the people who educate our children don't believe in the Constitution. They don't believe that the values that built this society are anything special. And we've left them in charge of our children. So how can we be shocked when our children know nothing of the uniqueness of our country when their teachers don't believe there's anything unique about it...."

It's just the guard industry, not law enforcement--right?

I am shocked, shocked, I tell you!
Air Marshals' Management

"Air marshals to be reorganized amid internal problems

Feb 16 07:33 PM US/Eastern

The Federal Air Marshal Service is being reorganized to avoid the kinds of personnel problems described in a recent government report, witnesses at a congressional hearing said Thursday. The service is a branch of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that oversees security on airline flights, and includes undercover officers who are armed and fly aboard planes to thwart potential attacks.
A TSA inspector general's report last month said some managers have created a hostile work environment for air marshals through their insults toward women, minorities, veterans and gays.
The report also said the air marshals' management did not cooperate well within the organization and found a lack of compliance with directions from their headquarters...."

The managers are "elite" ex-cops and the air marshals aren't really really cops. Enough said.

Update:
2-27-12
-Nothing bad happens so the Air Marshals are not needed?http://www.policemag.com/Channel/Patrol/News/2012/02/25/Fed-Agent-Assn-Responds-To-Congressman-s-Attack-On-Air-Marshals.aspx?ref=OnTarget-Monday-20120227&utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Enewsletter -

Our last work

The men pushed women aside to get on the lifeboats first on the grounded cruise ship Costa Concordia.


"We’re most of us liars, we’re ’arf of us thieves, an’ the rest are as rank as can be,
But once in a while we can finish in style (which I ’ope it won’t ’appen to me).
But it makes you think better o’ you an’ your friends, an’ the work you may ’ave to do,"
Kipling.

Thanks to Mark Steyn...it needed to be said again.
http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/ship-336602-titanic-concordia.html

Iron Law of Bureaucracy

Pournelle's Iron Law of Bureaucracy states that in any bureaucratic organization there will be two kinds of people":

     First, there will be those who are devoted to the goals of the organization. Examples are dedicated classroom teachers in an educational bureaucracy, many of the engineers and launch technicians and scientists at NASA, even some agricultural scientists and advisors in the former Soviet Union collective farming administration.

    Secondly, there will be those dedicated to the organization itself. Examples are many of the administrators in the education system, many professors of education, many teachers union officials, much of the NASA headquarters staff, etc.

The Iron Law states that in every case the second group will gain and keep control of the organization. It will write the rules, and control promotions within the organization.

Source: http://www.jerrypournelle.com/reports/jerryp/iron.html

"Special" Investigator

My friend, whom I have mentioned before, told me he too has a new supervisor, a special investigator for his company.. This lady gave him her personal cell phone number in case of "serious incidents."

A serious incident occurred (a shooting) and he called her; getting her voice mail.

Her message said:

"You've reached Mistress Lash, I'm working with the slaves now, leave a message for the House of Discipline."

He double checked the number. It was correct. He didn't leave a message.

Going to His Head

One of the lobby workers did something beyond the call of duty. He was the talk of the staff and clients. A few people gave him personal accolades. He deserved it.

A few folks were heard to say, after hearing the story about his feat.
"Don't tell him he did a good job, it will go to his head."
As these folks did not personally know the man, I found the comment strange... and denigrating.

I believe that if he had made a serious error, they would have no problem criticizing him.

I guess this is a common belief. It leads to little or no appreciation for someone doing a good job. An unintended consequence is of course the potentially big headed person becoming apathetic, and performing just enough of the job to not get fired. "WOW, I just did a super job and no one appreciates it, why bother?"

Contributing to our present culture of mediocrity.

Good job people! Way to stifle performance. Does it makes you look or feel more competent? If someone is lionized does that diminish you? Apparently so in your view. So sad.

If the man still continues to do great work despite the lack of appreciation, it is his strength of character. Today, such a thing is awfully old fashioned dude.

Probably lead to him getting a big head.

New Managers

My guard company has new local managers. All are of course expert security practitioners <sarc>...all security problems just need a guard assigned. They have at least a year in the industry!

I got reassigned to another site for a while due to threats against a manager there. After a while on that job, I find that there was a question as to whether I would be able to return to the same mini-mall lobby. It seems one of the new managers had a Friend who needed a job and thought mine would be a good one for him. The property owner insisted I be returned or he would cancel the contract. I was returned. [My proposed replacement  guard managed to alienate the property owner, the staff and the clients in a very short period of time.]

So I am back in the lobby, oh joy!


My other new guard manager is a young man who thinks management means being a tough guy, hard to pull off when he is 22 years old. He is BTW, a Very Close Friend to the new manager mentioned above.

He expressed surprise at the salary I was receiving and said "This is a well paid location." I mentioned that the pay rate included 2 merit raises I had been awarded by the property owner and the next guard might return to the standard rate of pay.
He said it was grossly UNFAIR... that I received more than any other similarly situated guard. He was frankly outraged. He is a socialist UNION man. Merit--no such thing!
If you do a good job we all should get a raise; regardless of performance of the individual guard.

Fairness Justice Protection

If anyone promises you Protection, Fairness or Justice: they are lying to you and want your money, your support, your body, your mind or your life.

No one can Protect you.
Sometimes you can protect yourself.

There is no Fairness.
You can be fair to some people around you.

Justice is only in the eye of the beholder.
Each person has their own idea of what it means.


Cynical? Moi?

More Guard Stories

An armed guard is patrolling a housing complex. He is approached by 2 toughs who say: Give us your gun or we will kick your butt. He does so. They walk away with his gun. He is 6' tall and 200 lbs.

3 guys surround another guard at a different site. They pull a Swiss Army Knife (I assume the knife blade and not the deadly can opener!) and say to give them his gun. He gives them his whole gun belt with his cell phone, baton, pepper spray and handcuffs. They walk off with his livelihood.

A guard failed to re-qualify and his permit for his gun is revoked. He carries a realistic looking BB gun.

Another guard carries a red gun. Not the ASP trainer gun but a revolver so rusted it is red in color.

Another guard is on her way to work, stops in her bank to cash her check and interrupts a robbery. She shoots the robber and get promoted.

A guard rides the bus to work in uniform each day. She gets on her bus, sees a man stabbing a woman in the rear of the bus and shoots him dead, administers first aid to the woman and calls the ambulance and police.

A guard carries a .45 ACP 1911A1 and drops it. The front sight and safety shear off. He leaves it with a gunsmith for repair and carries a .22 automatic for a week until it is repaired. He later saves up for a second 1911A1 in case such a thing ever happens again.

An unarmed guard carries a .38 snubby revolver in his pocket. He works an unarmed guard job. He is fired when he is caught cleaning it in the conference room.

A housing complex guard gets shot at by gansters. He returns fire and hit one of the armed youths. He is fired. He's told he was not authorized to shoot his gun, only carry it.

An unarmed guard patrols a parking lot for a sports complex. He is 5'5", 140 lbs. He gets attacked by 4 drunks. He knocks 1 unconscious, dislocates one guy's arm and another guy's nose. The last guy runs away screaming. Oh yeah, the guard is a 4th degree black belt in some martial art.

Guards are like a box of chocolates...you never know what you're going to get. Right? Forrest?

Guard Stories again

While living in what Nietzsche called “pitiable comfort”, I have heard from fellow guards some interesting stories.


The guard who routinely left the site he was "protecting" to go home until shifts end and returning in his pajamas to sign out.


The guard who went to the movies in uniform with gun during his shift on Friday and Saturday nights.


The guard who slept with the client during his shift each night.

The guard who slept every graveyard shift and worked a "real job" each day. [This is quite common....no one checks.]


The guard who stole every case of toilet paper and paper towels from the janitorial closets.


The guard who trained his new partner where the petty cash was kept so they could use the vending machines for "free" each night.


The guard who peed in the executive suite potted plants. The day guard who responded to reports of a strong smell of urine in the executive suite.

The armed guard who refuses to carry his gun loaded. He says he can't trust himself not to get angry and shoot somebody. [Oh, well we appreciate that!]


One guard is routinely seen on the streets of his city carrying his holstered duty gun, handcuffs, baton and badge in plain clothes while shopping and running errands. Guards must by law be on duty or going to/from work as a guard in uniform to carry a gun. This guard thinks he is a cop.


Another guard shows up for his first day of work as an armed guard wearing only his gun and uniform--no other "accessories" . (Now this is not unusual but leaves only lethal force to address every problem he/she may encounter.) He had one magazine and then complains he has no ammunition. He then roots in his shoulder bag and find one round of ammo. (ala Barney Fife?) He then loads that one round into his gun and immediately shoots himself in the foot.


Another guard shows up with all shiny new equipment and a Sam Browne belt. He's ready! His partner mentions that he has no belt keepers. What are those the new guy asks. His partner says draw your gun. He tries...the holster, gun and belt rise to his armpit and he can't get he gun out of the holster.


Another guard shows up so drunk he can't stand up and passes out in the security office.

Some guards spend the whole night in the Security Office and perform no patrols. They watch DVDs.


Another guard draws his baton to strike a fly on the 32" flat screen CCTV monitor. Breaks the monitor...misses the fly. Blames the previous shifts guards.


Another guard is smoking marijuana in the security office. The office next door calls and reports they can smell marijuana in the vents. The smoker says he'll go investigate.


Another guard parked his car in the restricted executive parking lot. He gets off duty at midnight and no one has a card key for that lot. He takes bus home.


The guard who dropped his gun, it went off when he tried to catch it... so he made up a story about a drive-by shooting.

The guard who left his gun in the restroom. It disappears.He doesn't report this to anyone. His partner helped search for it and stole it.

Your guards are often apathetic disgruntled racists, anarchists, communists, socialists and transnational progressives. When speaking with them they evince the usual single issue sound bite justification for their beliefs. This is so tiring that when they begin  what I call a "standard political rant" I quickly say that I do not discuss politics, religion or the government when on duty and my personal beliefs are personal.


There's a million stories in the guard world...many worse than these.

"Arf !" says Sandy

OMG. Lots has happened in the world since my last post. The politicians have destroyed America with the full cooperation of half the citizens.
However little has happened in my lobby. I got a small raise and have managed to avoid getting fired...so far. STFU, MYOB and GTM (see Post 1) has worked.

A few stories:
A woman got scared that someone was going to back into her car, as they backed up. she started screaming, cursing and leaning on her horn. The man stopped. The woman continued to scream and curse at him for scaring her. The man looked at her and ignored her. I then forgot the STFU/MYOB Rule. I said to the woman, "Ma'am, You are screaming and cursing him. Why do you think you will Not get shot by him or that he even speaks English." The man hears this and explodes out of his car and screams at me. "Why you say I no speak da English, I speak da English gooder than you. You racist motherfucka think you better than me. I tell you boss you racists bastara!" OK, then. Have. A. Nice. Day.

In the lobby I get, at least once a week, some customer come up to me to ask a question about the internal policies of  the vendor I happen to be standing near at that moment. Although I now know all the vendor's policies and can answer the question, I have been ordered to not answer and instead steer the questioner to the vendor. OK, not a bad idea...questioner gets the latest information and can yell at the correct organization's representative. I do love the folks who walk up, start to ask a question, finally notice I am a guard, and say "Oh, you just the fuc*ing Guard! Sh*t!" Yep, dat b me. Have. A. Nice. Day.

There was a disturbance in the lobby where a loudly whining man had a tantrum about his bill. I explained in a whisper to him with a smile that as much as I would love to hurt him, I was required to first ask him to act maturely. He quickly did so.

A woman walks into the lobby with what looks to be a full sized UZI with stock collapsed dangling from her hand. She looked lost. As I approached she was joined by a man holding a 5 year old boy. She handed the UZI to the boy. I got close enough to finally see that the muzzle had a 1" orange cap on it and was made entirely of plastic. Kewl, I don't have to shoot anyone.

A customer of one vendor comes in every 3 weeks or so. He tries each time to 'chat me up', despite me explaining I was not gay. It got annoying. So I explained it this way. "Sir, Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe you dream of love, sex and relationships." He gushingly says, smiling hugely Yes! he does. I then say "I dream of battle." He looked at me like I was nuts and dangerous and hasn't bothered me since. I may be nuts but I am dangerous to very few.

The lobby boss hears me tell a customer who is playing with their iPhone on line "Next customer, please". Customer then nods and proceeds to the nearest Help Desk window. The boss comes up to me and says not to do that. I say "Yes, Sir". He explains that using "next customer" was disrespectful. I said OK. He then turns to the next customer and says...wait for it..."Next customer, please". I say" OK, I understand."  (I understand you are an insane micromanager.)

I routinely pick up litter, dirty diapers and used Tampons from the lobby entrance area. I carry disposable gloves for such chores. Barbarians are all around us; they are inside the gate. Its the Dark Ages folks! But luckily we sheepdogs multitask!

As a guard, Everyone is your boss. I was approached by a local police chief (!) who asked me. "Did you see that guy lurking in the parking lot?" Sir, did you mean the guy with the clown shoes? "Yes." Sir he is one of our usual mentally ill customers, he is harmless. "OK, just checking to make sure you're paying attention." [Thank you sir; can I have another! I'm a private guard dude, you are not my chief. I make less than 1/2 the salary of your lowest paid officer, sans benefits too. Go check on them]

The Nine Rules of Policing have become arcane police knowledge. The police are changing. Katrina was the tip of the iceberg....and America is the Titanic.

BTW, I don't hate cops. I just do not think they walk on water. In my life I have found we are all only human...no group is exempt from having stupid and immoral members.

I'll  try to write a bit sooner this next time. I hate to disappoint my sole reader. :)

Lobby Thoughts #30

http://www.saysuncle.com/2011/02/23/getting-back-at-tsa/
Best responses to the "just trampling on your rights for a living" abusive guards' justification!

"In the Kingdom of the Blind, the one eyed man is king." This is rare. In reality the one eyed man is either marginalized, imprisoned or quickly killed.

Guards should not be seen or heard thinking. This scares the bosses and clients. "If we wanted thinking we'd hire a consultant." (and then ignore their recommendations)

Few are interested in thinking/reasoning. Better for them to seek more common pleasures. Thinking hurts their self esteem. The unexamined life is more comfortable. :)

Thinkers can always work customer service, if they are Nice. Many people need someone else to solve their problems for them and explain what things mean, without pointing out how stupid they are/were.

Ego prevents many folks from even considering the possibility they may be wrong. [Me, thesmilimgguard? I am often wrong!]
They feel their perception of the world is right and proper and actually more accurate than others' views. Even after repeated failure and pain they will not re-examine their assumptions and premises. If you try to have them think about something, they may injure you. ;)

If I was smart I wouldn't still be a lobby guard, so take what I may write with a 'grain of salt'.  :)

Locus of Control: Internal v. External.
In the lobby I frequently meet members of the public with a near complete external locus of control.
"Mongo only pawn in game of life." 
I hear all about  the CIA, black helicopters, the Illuminati, white people, Bush and Cheny and how if they weren't "kept down" they would flourish. Some are sure the lobby guard is part of the conspiracy! [Sorry dude, the person I've been assigned to 'keep down' lives in NYC!  ;)]
As I have a more internal locus of control world view, I am frankly amazed and simultaneously bored.

A guard friend often says to me: "I hate the Public." I answered "Everyone does."

Lobby Dancing

I had one of those 'standard troublemaker' interactions in the lobby the other day. A young man went to talk to a "friend" of his in a looong line of people waiting for one of the vendor's services. He then stayed and placed his order at another clerk's station. He wasn't really a "friend" of the person he was speaking with, he was just a cheater. One of the folks on line said to me: "Do something, he cut into line! It is unfair!" ["Yes, ma'am, shall I shoot him or just chop off his head?"]
I approached the young man and said calmly "Don't cut in line."  Intending to leave it at that.

He went into escalated fear/aggression mode instantly. (Eyes wide, sweating, shaking) and said "Why you coming up on me like that!" [Wow, I was impressed. He had lost his mind in less than 2 seconds!] I calmly said, "I work here and you cut in line, please don't do that." He said Exactly the same thing he had just said "Why you coming up on me like that!" I said again calmly: "Just doing my job." He said again in a voice so high pitched I thought he might have a future in the Boys Choir. "Why you coming up on me like that!".

I recognized this would lead to his becoming violent and his justifying this violent reaction as "self-defense". "Hey, the guard started it, he attacked me!" Half the people on line would agree with him and half disagree. Knowing from past experience that my bosses would serve me up and go the easy path, "Hey, you shouldn't have said anything, it was Your fault he hit you!" ...I just turned and walked away.

Leaving many mystified faces behind me.

No sweat off my brow as they say. I lost nothing in it because I simply did not Really care that he cut in line. There will always be cheaters.

However this young man then made the classic mistake. He misinterpreted my de-escalation as my personal fear and later approached me away from the line in a relatively isolated part of the lobby. Bad idea. :)

He started to say something derogatory and I smiled at him and held his gaze, obviously calmly waiting. He froze and backed away looking at my hands clasped at my waist level. He seemed confused that I was not manifesting any fear. He mumbled something incomprehensible and left.

Unfortunately some people are Still ruled by their emotions at this point and a fight ensues...at which time I can better demonstrate that I needed to defend myself. "The guard just walked away but this guy then sought him out and attacked him." Try to control YOUR emotions everyone. I was not always so controlled, to my chagrin, and let such folks anger me.

Along these line may I recommend a most wonderful site that addresses this most clearly and can help one get Much better at conflict resolution. Conflict Communications.

Thinking?

The vast majority of the public, including those very well paid to do so, can not really think clearly or reason. It is a daily annoyance listening to them express their ideas and opinions when their reasoning is easily shown to be in error, incomplete, or unreasonable. It does, however,  keep me thinking...and sometimes entertained in the lobby. For some I just nod and smile, as their position is so superficial or preposterous that ANY discussion will be pointless and frustrating. 

Occasionally-thankfully, some DO remind me to 'check my premises'. :)

from Criticalthinking.org

"...We figure things out better if we can monitor what we are doing, intellectually, in trying to figure them out, so that we go beyond simply using logical structures, so that we go beyond simply making logical moves, so that we start to intentionally, deliberately, and willfully examine and take apart the logical structures we are using, so that we designedly, purposively, and alertly assess our use of the structures in everyday situations, and, of course, so that we do these things well: clearly, accurately, precisely, etc.

To understand logical structures is to integrate them, to establish logical connections between them, to make it possible for the mind to make an extended series of nuanced inferences, deductions, and derivations. “This is so, therefore that also is so, and that, and that.” The logical structures implicit in an educated person’s mind are highly systematized. The well-educated person is able to reason quite directly and deliberately, to begin somewhere, know where one is beginning, and then reason with awareness from that point to other points, all with a given question in mind, with specific evidence in mind, with specific reasons to advance, with specific conclusions to support, with consciousness of one’s point of view and of contrasting points of view. The good reasoner is always reasoning within a system that disciplines and restrains that reasoning.

When the logical structures by which a mind figures out the world are confused, a jumble, a hodgepodge, a mere conglomeration, then that figuring out is radically defective, typically in any of a variety of ways: incomplete, inaccurate, distorted, muddled, inexact, superficial, rigid, inconsistent, and unproductive. Then the mind begins it knows not where, takes things for granted without analysis or questioning, leaps to conclusions without sufficient evidence to back them up, meanders without a consciousness of its point of view or of alternative points of view. Then the mind wanders into its own prejudices and biases, its own egocentricity and socio-centricity. Then the mind is not able to discipline itself by a close analysis of the question at issue and ignores the demands that the logic of that question puts on it and us as rational, logic-creating, logic-using animals.

{Taken from Paul, R. (1993). Critical Thinking: What Every Student Needs to Survive in A Rapidly Changing World, Dillon Beach, CA: Foundation For Critical Thinking)."

I particularly do not love speaking with those so adamant about their beliefs who, when shown other equally (or more) valid ways of thinking about it, respond with a series of logical fallacies and ad hominem attacks. Especially the "You are just a guard, what do you know." Trumped! I am abashed! [and saddened...]

However I am energized and joyful when someone shows me that I have not completely thought something through, that I believed to be "true". Thanks, really!! (as I am prone to depression by my daily lobby interactions.)
[What is, is... I'm done whining now Sergeant Major!]

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."

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!