February 7, 2012

The Forced Morality of our Diminishing Anonymity

I pulled into a drive-thru ATM today at lunch. There was an error message on the screen. "Your deposit could be not be accepted." And $25 cash left sitting in the cash tray.

I took the money. Canceled the prior customer's deposit. Started and completed my transaction. And then walked inside to return the money.

What's the morality lesson here?

The fact that I realized security cameras would be witnessing my actions.

Now, if I had found $25 outside the door of a Target...well, I suppose it would depend on how far outside the door the money was? If it were physically inside the building, I probably would have brought it to a cashier. If it were on the sidewalk, just outside the store, I probably would have done a quick glance for the owner, and then pocketed it.

Today, I learned nothing about my morality. Only that as our privacy diminishes, our lack of anonymity is going to force us to do better things - in fear of punishment.

Of course, this does not make us better people.
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February 6, 2012

What the Superbowl Can Teach Advertisers About Positive Interruptions

It took me several commercial breaks last night to remember that I wanted to watch the commercials.

Doing something else during the breaks, or tuning out altogether, has become 2nd nature to me.

And that's a big problem. Fortunately, we saw the solution last night. Incredibly entertaining advertisements. As entertaining as the program itself.

That solves the problem. But creates a new one altogether. Because for some reason, these advertisers think "being creative" is just for one night. And the rest of the year, we'll just bullet list the features of our latest car, while having it circle a mountainside.

But, wouldn't it be better if people actually wanted to watch your... advertainment?
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February 2, 2012

People Who Can’t Tell the Difference Between Good and Garbage

If I ever have to interview someone, I'm going to ask them what kind of music they like.

And if they say "everything", they're not getting the job.

Because in all things, there is great. There is good. There is garbage. And there are those who can not tell the difference.

Whether it's design. Whether it's music. Whether it's an argument. Whether it's talent.

There are those who can classify and categorize - those who can tell the difference. And I have no interest in working with those who can't.
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January 31, 2012

I am a Cynical Optimist

I was called a cynic the other day.

That's a fair assessment. After all, I have a general distrust in human motivation, and therefore any and all institutions headed by said humans.

But, I am not a pessimist. In fact, I have incredible hope.

The world is not getting worse and worse. The evolution of technology, transparency and thought is overwhelming human ignorance, by definition. The world will get better and better. In fact, it's already started.
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January 30, 2012

And Life Still Goes On…

Today, I will attend the wake of my friend's father. Tomorrow, my friend will be induced into labor, and has been told to prepare for incredibly low odds of survival for her precious baby boy.

I don't know what to do with these things. Before leaving for work this morning, I had fun with my daughter. I felt guilty about it.

If I internalize the pain that currently exists in this world, it will paralyze me. Yet, if I ignore it altogether, I may go my entire life without working to remedy it.
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January 27, 2012

Politicians Use Attack Ads Because They Work

"I hate negative ads. Why don't politicians just explain why they're the best person for the job, rather than tearing down the other guy?"

Well, that's an easy answer. Politicians use attack ads because they work.

They work because of our gross ignorance. We like people because they're funny, attractive and can deliver zany one-liners. Attack ads remind us who these people really are.

"Oh, he killed a guy? Wow, I'll guess I'll vote for the other one."

These ads usually remind us about voting record hypocrisy that reveal a person's true self. Most importantly, they work.
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January 26, 2012

The Class Warfare Inside My Mind

Ever hold the door open for a janitor and realize you're still the same helpful, polite person you always were?

How you don't consider yourself better than anyone else. How you're all in this together.

Just wait until they don't thank you for the gesture.

If you're anything like me, you'll immediately revert back to, "Who does this lowly janitor think he is?!"
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January 25, 2012

Happy vs. Hope-y

Circumstances are temporary.

I can handle long periods of temporal suckiness, given I believe I'm on course for future escape.

But when those ladders collapse before my eyes, my happiness instantly deflates. Yet, my circumstances haven't changed?

So, what am I looking for? Happiness? Or hope-yness?
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January 24, 2012

Diarrhea, Cha Cha Cha

Receptionist: "Mrs. Smith canceled her appointment."
My Wife: "Why?"
Receptionist: "Take a wild guess...."
My wife works as a physical therapist within the blue collar suburbs of Chicago.

It is common for patients to call up and cancel their appointments because of diarrhea.

Now I just heard this story yesterday, and still haven't fully internalized this. These patients could say anything. "Upset stomach." "Have the flu." "Just not feeling well."

But instead, they're willingly offering up this information. And this isn't just one person, but is SO common, it's become an inside joke among her staff.

I'm trying to understand the social norms behind this story. For instance, I don't believe I've ever used the word in public before. I was under the impression that this was an unmentionable.

Who's the weird one here? Them or me?
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January 23, 2012

The Questionable Value of Learning a New Language

Today, technology exists that allows me to speak into a phone in English, have the phone translate my words, and have it speak to another individual in their own language.

In the purest sense of the idea, communication with other peoples no longer requires I learn a foreign language.

Now, if you are an English-speaking physician working in a largely Hispanic-populated city, this communication "solution" isn't good enough. Likewise, if you plan on moving to a foreign country one day, it's simply more practical to learn that country's specific language.

But, for the rest of us? It taking two years of French in high school a good thing? Sure. But, is it of more value to me than learning how a carburetor works? I'm not sure. I want to know "how much value" learning a foreign language has in a world where, in terms of sheer communication, it's no longer necessary.
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