I had no idea that Geraldo drives an F-150. But I *do* think you're underestimating his talent for fiction, dating all the way back to Al Capone's vault.
Early on in this whole thing I heard something that has really stuck with me. The people screaming their heads off about wanting everyone to return to work was never about everyone returning to work. What they really meant is they want the service industry to return to work.
I'm sorry but in the middle of a pandemic, which we are still in the middle of, your desire to run a service worker ragged at a restaurant isn't the normal we should be asking to return to.
Ok hear me out businesses, if $300 unemployment is stopping people from working for you, in response to this market change, you could...PAY YOUR EMPLOYEES MORE???? I mean, isn't that how these free markets are supposed to work?
1. Hundreds percent agree on the humanities versus STEM point. People who shit on non-STEM pursuits are assholes
2. This topic and several other recent happenings have brought a tweet to mind that I feel is getting more accurate by the day. It’s something like “90% of Twitter is creating a fake person in your mind and then getting mad at them.” This feels especially true with this topic and the various transgender discrimination bills that have been pushed in various state legislatures this year.
Not the point of the letter, but I wonder how life would be different if more people had studied how to evaluate a friggin source. Humanities are really important.
“ They develop characters as little more than plot devices, or vehicles for their own thinly-veiled monologuing. ” Suddenly viewing Holly the trash talking corgi in a whole new light
I mean, who wouldn't want to work for Sonic, a company that classifies their workers as "tipped employees" so they can pay them a lower minimum wage, but prohibits tipping through credit card transactions.
I saw someone mention this in the replies to the Sonic tweet, and even in the vast scope of depravity that underpins our service economy, that realization shocked me. It had never occurred to me that a place that is very much fast food could do that.
I used to say that, "people will do whatever you let them get away with," as relationship advice, but now I think it applies to business even more.
Not that Sonic is a small business, but I wonder how many people try to become small business or franchise owners because they conflate being their own boss with getting to be a dick without repercussions. Those that crave their own mini-fiefdom are usually the last people that should have one.
I was thinking about this as I was pulling this together yesterday--the appeal of running a small business has always been sold as "being your own boss", and no doubt that is a large part of the draw for many people. But what's quietly left out for *some* people is that the appeal is being someone else's boss. The more in-depth articles that have come out about that Waterville diner guy suggest that the latter was very much the case.
I've legitimately heard the same thing from people working in the service industry (mostly because I've been standing near someone 50+, who clearly wants to have a conversation about it, asking the kid the question). And I can't figure out if these kids legitimately believe what they're saying (about other people not wanting to work) or if they're just trying to avoid a fight with the gray-haired person who is a wrong answer away from pulling down his mask to yell at them.
the people who are still going to these high-risk service jobs are definitely doing it because they need to, so I would have to imagine they’re toeing the company line or, as you said, avoiding an argument with someone who’s likely to film it for Facebook live or something.
Like some others you've written, this post was serendipitous. I was stewing about a meme a former student of mine shared on Facebook that essentially made the same point about nobody wanting to work anymore.
Thanks for writing this! It articulated what I was thinking and decided not to post. Plus, I am sure my wife will appreciate not having to hear my rant about it!
I know this is not your point (and I 100% agree with your point), but I can't let a column that purports to be about creative writing go without drawing attention to Chuck Wendig's book, "Damn Fine Story". Everything you need to know about creative writing, including character development, is in that book. Also, Elmore Leonard's timeless advice about writing: "Try to leave out the parts people skip."
The surprising number of people over the last year who have been adamant that folks should be forced to work / forced to work for low wages suggests that we might need to revisit the whole "rational utility maximizer" idea as a refresher.
@See, if everyone focused on STEM, we could be building a better burger bot and everyone could get their cheapass greaseball junk on a bun like they always did@
Maybe the folks refusing to work for these fast food joints should look into a career in repossession - sounds like there are going be a number of Super Duties falling delinquent on their loans.
I don't think you need a creative writing class, the audience needs a critical thinking and reading comprehension class. The narrative has been set since the 1980s and just gets re-conned each decade, the creators of which have some of the most creative folks on their payroll to get people to go against their self interest with clever branding and narratives.
One of the founding fathers said something to the extent that an educated populous ensures a healthy democracy and boy are we missing the boat right now.
we all agree amazon is evil and their working conditions suck.
but if i've got my choice of slinging burgers for $9/hr or being a human robot for $18+ bennies I'm taking the latter every time.
I had no idea that Geraldo drives an F-150. But I *do* think you're underestimating his talent for fiction, dating all the way back to Al Capone's vault.
Early on in this whole thing I heard something that has really stuck with me. The people screaming their heads off about wanting everyone to return to work was never about everyone returning to work. What they really meant is they want the service industry to return to work.
I'm sorry but in the middle of a pandemic, which we are still in the middle of, your desire to run a service worker ragged at a restaurant isn't the normal we should be asking to return to.
Ok hear me out businesses, if $300 unemployment is stopping people from working for you, in response to this market change, you could...PAY YOUR EMPLOYEES MORE???? I mean, isn't that how these free markets are supposed to work?
A couple things:
1. Hundreds percent agree on the humanities versus STEM point. People who shit on non-STEM pursuits are assholes
2. This topic and several other recent happenings have brought a tweet to mind that I feel is getting more accurate by the day. It’s something like “90% of Twitter is creating a fake person in your mind and then getting mad at them.” This feels especially true with this topic and the various transgender discrimination bills that have been pushed in various state legislatures this year.
Not the point of the letter, but I wonder how life would be different if more people had studied how to evaluate a friggin source. Humanities are really important.
I know exactly the tweet you’re talking about and even had it in my initial notes for this piece.
“ They develop characters as little more than plot devices, or vehicles for their own thinly-veiled monologuing. ” Suddenly viewing Holly the trash talking corgi in a whole new light
I mean, who wouldn't want to work for Sonic, a company that classifies their workers as "tipped employees" so they can pay them a lower minimum wage, but prohibits tipping through credit card transactions.
I saw someone mention this in the replies to the Sonic tweet, and even in the vast scope of depravity that underpins our service economy, that realization shocked me. It had never occurred to me that a place that is very much fast food could do that.
I used to say that, "people will do whatever you let them get away with," as relationship advice, but now I think it applies to business even more.
Not that Sonic is a small business, but I wonder how many people try to become small business or franchise owners because they conflate being their own boss with getting to be a dick without repercussions. Those that crave their own mini-fiefdom are usually the last people that should have one.
I was thinking about this as I was pulling this together yesterday--the appeal of running a small business has always been sold as "being your own boss", and no doubt that is a large part of the draw for many people. But what's quietly left out for *some* people is that the appeal is being someone else's boss. The more in-depth articles that have come out about that Waterville diner guy suggest that the latter was very much the case.
I know some uhh director-level people pushing the same “the kids don’t want to work” line who could serve to read this (but would never)
I've legitimately heard the same thing from people working in the service industry (mostly because I've been standing near someone 50+, who clearly wants to have a conversation about it, asking the kid the question). And I can't figure out if these kids legitimately believe what they're saying (about other people not wanting to work) or if they're just trying to avoid a fight with the gray-haired person who is a wrong answer away from pulling down his mask to yell at them.
the people who are still going to these high-risk service jobs are definitely doing it because they need to, so I would have to imagine they’re toeing the company line or, as you said, avoiding an argument with someone who’s likely to film it for Facebook live or something.
Like some others you've written, this post was serendipitous. I was stewing about a meme a former student of mine shared on Facebook that essentially made the same point about nobody wanting to work anymore.
Thanks for writing this! It articulated what I was thinking and decided not to post. Plus, I am sure my wife will appreciate not having to hear my rant about it!
I know this is not your point (and I 100% agree with your point), but I can't let a column that purports to be about creative writing go without drawing attention to Chuck Wendig's book, "Damn Fine Story". Everything you need to know about creative writing, including character development, is in that book. Also, Elmore Leonard's timeless advice about writing: "Try to leave out the parts people skip."
I’ll check it out, thank you!
The surprising number of people over the last year who have been adamant that folks should be forced to work / forced to work for low wages suggests that we might need to revisit the whole "rational utility maximizer" idea as a refresher.
Great post, Scott. A creative way to take down a deceptive narrative.
@See, if everyone focused on STEM, we could be building a better burger bot and everyone could get their cheapass greaseball junk on a bun like they always did@
Maybe the folks refusing to work for these fast food joints should look into a career in repossession - sounds like there are going be a number of Super Duties falling delinquent on their loans.
I don't think you need a creative writing class, the audience needs a critical thinking and reading comprehension class. The narrative has been set since the 1980s and just gets re-conned each decade, the creators of which have some of the most creative folks on their payroll to get people to go against their self interest with clever branding and narratives.
One of the founding fathers said something to the extent that an educated populous ensures a healthy democracy and boy are we missing the boat right now.