The general decline in standards today

[Stanley Doble]

I'm sure if Thomas Edison, Nicola Tesla, Albert Einstein, and Werner von Braun had to submit to these absurd personality tests, Americans may still be burning candles at night, using steam power in its factories, the Axis would have won WWII, and the Russians would have landed on the moon first. These pre-employment quizzes were designed to screen human resources employees and salesmen; not technical employees.

With the possible exception of Werner Von Braun none of those guys asked for a job. They just went ahead and changed the world.

By the way, back in the fifties someone in the Ford human resources department determined that if Henry Ford applied for a job there, he wouldn't qualify.

I have a feeling Microsoft would turn down a dropout like Bill Gates too.

 

[jamespowers]

He cracks me up! "When they going to boldly go?"

You should hear his other roputines. This one is kind of tame. The ones about his childhood are hilarious.

 

[jamespowers]

Can't stand George Carlin. Tried to dig his stuff but never could.

Except this. He matured a bit when he got to be 70. Not many dirty words in this diatribe but it looks more prescient every year.

Ironic that the dirty talking hippy and iconoclast ended up a prophet somewhat to the right of Nahum the Elkoshite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jQT7_rVxAE

Some hippies actually get away from the dope smoke haze. Very, very, very few but some.

 

[sheeplady]

The most infamous is the Stanton (or Pinkerton) Survey which is supposedly designed to gauge a prospective employee's honesty. Among the questions are:

Do you agree with this statement: "Some of my friends are a little honest but I do not put them down."?

Would you return money to a store if a clerk gave you too much change?

Is it all right to bend company rules as long as it does not become a habit?

Is it all right for employees to use a sick day for reasons other than illness?

Have you ever hurt anyone's feelings?

Do you always finish what you start?

Did you ever help a friend by letting him/her have your employee discount without a supervisor's approval?

Would most employees steal if they would not get caught?

When there are no opportunities to advance in a company, do employees turn to stealing?

Is it fun to see how much your supervisor will let you get away with?

The problem is that even if you score high, that is answer the questions "correctly," they're probably going to think you're lying because, after all, "nobody is perfect."

A lot of those questions are designed to see how honest you are, not if you answer them "right." For instance, people should answer "yes" to if you've ever hurt anyone's feelings and "no" to always finishing what you start. It's kind of like a lie detector test where they ask you if you've ever lied as a base line question... because there is no person on this earth who has never told a lie.

 

[Captain Neon]

Actually, Tesla used to work for Edison and then George Westinghouse, and Einstein was always in the employ of some one; usually a government agency. Edison is the only one that thought himself unemployable so opened his own lab. Tesla tried to run his own lab, but quite frankly did not have the temperament to go into business for himself. However, you prove the point with the statement about Henry Ford and Bill Gates, and the Personnel departments of the companies they founded.

 

[Stanley Doble]

Actually, Tesla used to work for Edison and then George Westinghouse, and Einstein was always in the employ of some one; usually a government agency. Edison is the only one that thought himself unemployable so opened his own lab. Tesla tried to run his own lab, but quite frankly did not have the temperament to go into business for himself. However, you prove the point with the statement about Henry Ford and Bill Gates, and the Personnel departments of the companies they founded.

Tesla did work for Edison (and others before that). If that was all he did, no one would remember him.

His alternating current inventions were his, and he patented them. Then licensed the patents to Westinghouse.

He worked with Westinghouse but was never a Westinghouse employee. He quit Edison in the 1890s and was self employed until his death in 1943 or approximately the last 50 years of his life.

Einstein worked at the Swiss patent office. He was an office clerk. The work that brought him fame and changed the world was done on his own time.

 

[Stanley Doble]

Some hippies actually get away from the dope smoke haze. Very, very, very few but some.

I think he was always a leftie. With time he went so far to the left he ended up on the right.

There is this weird tendency for extremists on both sides to meet somewhere way out there where normal people can hardly see them.

One of the first examples I can think of involve a saloonkeeper named Bill McSorley who ran one of the oldest bars in New York, founded by his father in 1852. He was notoriously old fashioned and conservative, and kept the bar exactly as it had been in his father's day until he died in the 1930s.

A Czechoslovakian radical named Hippolyte Havel took to drinking in his saloon. He was such an odd looking character that even Bill, who minded his own business vigorously, was intrigued. He asked a customer what that funny looking guy did for a living and the customer, playing it safe, said he was more or less in politics. Not mentioning the fiery speeches he made in the street, demanding the destruction of the US government.

McSorley as a New York saloonkeeper knew a lot of politicians. He offered to use his pull to help Havel get a job. Havel, who believed there was nothing in the world as foul as a Tammany politician, thanked him politely. McSorley also gave him credit up to $2 while he wouldn't trust men who drank in his place for 30 years for so much as a nickel cigar.

Once a cop tried to warn him. "Keep an eye on that long haired nut" he said. "He wants to blow up every bank in the country".

"So do I" said Bill.

Nobody could ever figure out the basis for their friendship or what they had in common.

 

[jamespowers]

Tesla did work for Edison (and others before that). If that was all he did, no one would remember him.

His alternating current inventions were his, and he patented them. Then licensed the patents to Westinghouse.

He worked with Westinghouse but was never a Westinghouse employee. He quit Edison in the 1890s and was self employed until his death in 1943 or approximately the last 50 years of his life.

Einstein worked at the Swiss patent office. He was an office clerk. The work that brought him fame and changed the world was done on his own time.

let us also not forget that he successfully sued Marconi as the father of radio when all he did was put Tesla's patented parts together. No one ever credits Tesla with radio though. :doh: The suit was concluded after Tesla's death.

 

[jamespowers]

I think he was always a leftie. With time he went so far to the left he ended up on the right.

There is this weird tendency for extremists on both sides to meet somewhere way out there where normal people can hardly see them.

One of the first examples I can think of involve a saloonkeeper named Bill McSorley who ran one of the oldest bars in New York, founded by his father in 1852. He was notoriously old fashioned and conservative, and kept the bar exactly as it had been in his father's day until he died in the 1930s.

A Czechoslovakian radical named Hippolyte Havel took to drinking in his saloon. He was such an odd looking character that even Bill, who minded his own business vigorously, was intrigued. He asked a customer what that funny looking guy did for a living and the customer, playing it safe, said he was more or less in politics. Not mentioning the fiery speeches he made in the street, demanding the destruction of the US government.

McSorley as a New York saloonkeeper knew a lot of politicians. He offered to use his pull to help Havel get a job. Havel, who believed there was nothing in the world as foul as a Tammany politician, thanked him politely. McSorley also gave him credit up to $2 while he wouldn't trust men who drank in his place for 30 years for so much as a nickel cigar.

Once a cop tried to warn him. "Keep an eye on that long haired nut" he said. "He wants to blow up every bank in the country".

"So do I" said Bill.

Nobody could ever figure out the basis for their friendship or what they had in common.

:rofl: Same ends just different reasons for getting there.

 

[Captain Neon]

Soon after I started my last job, a manager's wife had a baby girl. He and I were at the same level. One of our female colleagues passed around a card and encouraged us all to contribute money for the new baby. Money was a little tight, but I threw in the money that I had set aside for lunch and went hungry that day. My wife was also pregnant with our son at the time, and it was well-known in the company that we were expecting. We also had cake when another manager's first grandchild was born. When our son was born by emergency C-section in May, I was anticipating some sort of acknowledgement. I never received any thing more than a handshake, and a few requests for pictures. Two other managers had little girls in September, and once again I was asked to contribute towards baby gifts from the same female colleague. While I did contribute, as it was the right thing to do, I also expressed my disappointment that my own son was slighted in May. I was given a weak apology with an attitude that my family didn't warrant the same acknowledgement.

 

[jamespowers]

Soon after I started my last job, a manager's wife had a baby girl. He and I were at the same level. One of our female colleagues passed around a card and encouraged us all to contribute money for the new baby. Money was a little tight, but I threw in the money that I had set aside for lunch and went hungry that day. My wife was also pregnant with our son at the time, and it was well-known in the company that we were expecting. We also had cake when another manager's first grandchild was born. When our son was born by emergency C-section in May, I was anticipating some sort of acknowledgement. I never received any thing more than a handshake, and a few requests for pictures. Two other managers had little girls in September, and once again I was asked to contribute towards baby gifts from the same female colleague. While I did contribute, as it was the right thing to do, I also expressed my disappointment that my own son was slighted in May. I was given a weak apology with an attitude that my family didn't warrant the same acknowledgement.

After the first time that would be it. Not a cent from me---"sorry dumbass, if my family doesn't warrant acknowledgement then just ignore me when you want money."

 

[GHT]

When did the dragon receptionist arrive at doctor's surgeries? Time was, you were sick, you went to your doctor, either he sorted it, or he might refer you to a specialist. Then the dragon came on the scene. And with her, came the medical degree printed on a roll of toilet tissue. By that I mean, she wants to know the ins and outs of your complaint. What's she trying to do, make the doctor redundant?
There was a story on the internet some years ago, emanated from the US I think, probably got embellished along the way, but it typified the dragon.
Mr. Jones, an older fellow, in his early seventies, reports to his doctor. Reception and waiting room are altogether in one large room. Mr. Jones walks through the patients waiting to be seen by the doctor, he goes up to the desk, the conversation goes like this:
Dragon: "Good morning Mr. Jones, and what seems to be your problem?"
Mr. Jones: "It's my dick!"
Dragon: "MR. JONES!" Don't you dare use such language.
Mr. Jones: "Well you asked, what am I supposed to say?"
Dragon: "Mr. Jones, when you have such a difficult problem, you must say that you have a problem with your ear. Then explain to doctor the real reason, when you are in the surgery."

Mr. Jones turns around and walks out of the waiting room, he gets outside, turns around, walks back into the doctor's, through the waiting patients, up to the reception desk. The receptionist looks smug at her humiliation of the elderly gent.

Dragon: "Good morning Mr. Jones, and what seems to be your problem today?"
Mr. Jones: "It's my ear."
Dragon: "And what is wrong with your ear?"
Mr. Jones: "I'm having difficulty peeing out of it!"
Waiting room goes into absolute uproar. Just remember, you mess with us oldies at your peril.
Disclaimer: If you are a doctor's receptionist: Not all receptionists are dragons.

 

[Captain Neon]

The families with the new daughters were not to blame, and I know that I would have been bad-mouthed for not contributing. While, yes, I was taken aback at the brazenness of the request, and I gave serious thought to refusing, I wanted to demonstrate how civilized professionals act, and not escalate her pettiness. Problem solved any way, as of 10/21/13, I was asked to clear out. I see an other big move in my future. I just don't know when or where yet. I've already got an on-site interview lined up out of state next week, and a phone interview for an other out of state position to morrow morning.

I don't know what I ever did to get on her black-list, but I don't have to deal with her any more.

 

[Gregg Axley]

The families with the new daughters were not to blame, and I know that I would have been bad-mouthed for not contributing. While, yes, I was taken aback at the brazenness of the request, and I gave serious thought to refusing, I wanted to demonstrate how civilized professionals act, and not escalate her pettiness. Problem solved any way, as of 10/21/13, I was asked to clear out. I see an other big move in my future. I just don't know when or where yet. I've already got an on-site interview lined up out of state next week, and a phone interview for an other out of state position to morrow morning.

I don't know what I ever did to get on her black-list, but I don't have to deal with her any more.

I'm sorry to hear this.
Often times, especially where I'm at, the higher a person moves, the more of an ego they have.
What goes around comes around.
Good luck on the interview tomorrow morning.

 

[Virginia Creeper]

When did the dragon receptionist arrive at doctor's surgeries? Time was, you were sick, you went to your doctor, either he sorted it, or he might refer you to a specialist. Then the dragon came on the scene. And with her, came the medical degree printed on a roll of toilet tissue. By that I mean, she wants to know the ins and outs of your complaint. What's she trying to do, make the doctor redundant?
There was a story on the internet some years ago, emanated from the US I think, probably got embellished along the way, but it typified the dragon.
Mr. Jones, an older fellow, in his early seventies, reports to his doctor. Reception and waiting room are altogether in one large room. Mr. Jones walks through the patients waiting to be seen by the doctor, he goes up to the desk, the conversation goes like this:
Dragon: "Good morning Mr. Jones, and what seems to be your problem?"
Mr. Jones: "It's my dick!"
Dragon: "MR. JONES!" Don't you dare use such language.
Mr. Jones: "Well you asked, what am I supposed to say?"
Dragon: "Mr. Jones, when you have such a difficult problem, you must say that you have a problem with your ear. Then explain to doctor the real reason, when you are in the surgery."

Mr. Jones turns around and walks out of the waiting room, he gets outside, turns around, walks back into the doctor's, through the waiting patients, up to the reception desk. The receptionist looks smug at her humiliation of the elderly gent.

Dragon: "Good morning Mr. Jones, and what seems to be your problem today?"
Mr. Jones: "It's my ear."
Dragon: "And what is wrong with your ear?"
Mr. Jones: "I'm having difficulty peeing out of it!"
Waiting room goes into absolute uproar. Just remember, you mess with us oldies at your peril.
Disclaimer: If you are a doctor's receptionist: Not all receptionists are dragons.

I'm glad I've never had to experience the dragon receptionist. I've spoken to more medical receptionists since my son's birth than I ever have in my entire life up to that point, and they're all been very lovely to me.

Speaking of old men and their "ears," my grandfather needed to have part of his "ear" amputated a few years ago due to cancer. One of the nurses in pre-op seemed to be concerned that this quite elderly man might not quite comprehend what he was in for, so she asked if he understood the surgery he was about to have.

"Oh, yes! he replied brightly. "You're going to cut my works off!" The nurse gaped at him, somewhat scandalized.

"Oh, don't make that face," he told her. "I'm 86 years old, my wife is dead, and I'm just happy I've had it as long as I have."

 

[Captain Neon]

I'm sorry to hear this.
Often times, especially where I'm at, the higher a person moves, the more of an ego they have.
What goes around comes around.
Good luck on the interview tomorrow morning.

Thank you, Gregg. Former female colleague is one of those people that has more power in the company than is equivalent to her place on the organizational chart. Another colleague refers to her influence as a cancer. Our formerly shared boss, being a micromanager, has been unable to familiarize himself with changes in the industry and the needs of a growing company. Instead of having basic knowledge of all aspects of the business regarding our department, he has chosen to be ignorant of these aspects of the business, while continuing to focus his efforts on doing the position he was promoted from 5 years ago, my prior position. He's simply been unable to let go of the role, and inaccurately believes that everyone must do everything the same way he does. That being the case, he has fully delegated those responsibilities to this former colleague and she has successfully insulated herself from scrutiny, and acquired the power to get her own way to the detriment of the company's future. As another former colleague is fond of saying, "We step over dollars to pick up dimes."

 

[jamespowers]

The families with the new daughters were not to blame, and I know that I would have been bad-mouthed for not contributing. While, yes, I was taken aback at the brazenness of the request, and I gave serious thought to refusing, I wanted to demonstrate how civilized professionals act, and not escalate her pettiness. Problem solved any way, as of 10/21/13, I was asked to clear out. I see an other big move in my future. I just don't know when or where yet. I've already got an on-site interview lined up out of state next week, and a phone interview for an other out of state position to morrow morning.

I don't know what I ever did to get on her black-list, but I don't have to deal with her any more.

You should have just brought it from the beginning. The result would be the same so the Hell with them.
I hope you get a better paying job in a better area.

 

[jamespowers]

Thank you, Gregg. Former female colleague is one of those people that has more power in the company than is equivalent to her place on the organizational chart. Another colleague refers to her influence as a cancer. Our formerly shared boss, being a micromanager, has been unable to familiarize himself with changes in the industry and the needs of a growing company. Instead of having basic knowledge of all aspects of the business regarding our department, he has chosen to be ignorant of these aspects of the business, while continuing to focus his efforts on doing the position he was promoted from 5 years ago, my prior position. He's simply been unable to let go of the role, and inaccurately believes that everyone must do everything the same way he does. That being the case, he has fully delegated those responsibilities to this former colleague and she has successfully insulated herself from scrutiny, and acquired the power to get her own way to the detriment of the company's future. As another former colleague is fond of saying, "We step over dollars to pick up dimes."

Well, at least you got out of there before they go broke.....:doh:

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Thank you, Gregg. Former female colleague is one of those people that has more power in the company than is equivalent to her place on the organizational chart. Another colleague refers to her influence as a cancer. Our formerly shared boss, being a micromanager, has been unable to familiarize himself with changes in the industry and the needs of a growing company. Instead of having basic knowledge of all aspects of the business regarding our department, he has chosen to be ignorant of these aspects of the business, while continuing to focus his efforts on doing the position he was promoted from 5 years ago, my prior position. He's simply been unable to let go of the role, and inaccurately believes that everyone must do everything the same way he does. That being the case, he has fully delegated those responsibilities to this former colleague and she has successfully insulated herself from scrutiny, and acquired the power to get her own way to the detriment of the company's future. As another former colleague is fond of saying, "We step over dollars to pick up dimes."

How true. It's not the guy (or gal) at the top that you have to watch out for but the one just below the top.

 

[vintageTink]

You should hear his other roputines. This one is kind of tame. The ones about his childhood are hilarious.

I saw his stand up on TV a few years ago. Liked it enough I put it on my netflix queue.