Failed system has failed ; Degrees.

Greetings readers, Welcome to the first posted ranting of TC, the other, other blogger here on IYD. RDub keeps telling me I'm on the clock, I say you can't rush greatness. So, having said that,

Welcome to the first installment of "Failed system has Failed".
A blog where I highlight a 'failed system' and theorize as to why it had or will fail.

I work in Information Technologies, I've worked in an IT related capacity since 1996.
(for those of you who can do basic math, that is 13 years of experience) I was fired by a sad shill of a man in April of 2008, basically for knowing how best to do my own Job. Since then, I've easily applied for 500 jobs, and In every single one of these job postings, in big bold letters, typically written twice is "Requires a minimum of an Associates Degree, or equivalent work experience."

Now, As you have no doubt surmised, someone who's been working in Information Technologies since 1996 would have a great deal of 'work related' experience. And I do, I've been an IT Manager, a Help Desk Tech, a Field Tech, and a System Engineer in that time. Yet, apparently, because I don't hold an Associates degree, all that "work related" experience is worthless to Employers. Which is funny, because most of the jobs I see posted seemingly get re-posted every 4 weeks. I wonder why? Maybe because these 'fresh out of college' degree holders don't really know anything at all about what they're doing... yet I digress.

A Friend of mine is a good example of what is going on right now in our economy. Two years ago, he bit the bullet and signed himself up for an Associates Degree program in Information Technologies Management at ITT Tech. For the unreasonable amount of nearly $40,000 he got his 'paper' saying he is a person "Qualified" to be an "Information Technologies Manager". Before he went to ITT, he had ZERO experience in the IT field. In fact, before that, he was a Bartender (and damned fine one at that). Now, He's done a fine job learning things, but it's clear if you set the two of us in a room, Who among us has the most knowledge and experience in the field. Yet set the two of us in front of a prospective employer, and the employer wouldn't even talk to me at all, No degree. The degree holder is their choice, experience implied, by the paper, yet unseen.

So dear reader, what is the malfunction of this system? Why is our economy flat lining? For many reasons, no doubt, but one chief among them is that, Many people holding positions right now are either grossly under qualified, or grossly lacking in actual experience, and their mistakes are now coming home to roost. Their 'paper' was their only "credential" and, well, anyone willing to indebt themselves to the system can get a job these days, and it really has very little to do with actually knowing anything about what you're doing. Further, and a little known fact, Corporations get tax credit and kick-backs from our government for 'perpetuating the degree culture'. Ie, it's a 'scratch our back we'll scratch yours' sort of thing, indebt yourself to the system for ever, and we'll reward you with lucrative opportunities to pay us back. Then, once you have, we'll cast you off and use someone else to get a generous tax break. But the biggest problem is that the paper has become an excuse for hiring personal to abdicate responsibility in due diligence on prospective employees. (You’ll see the abdication of responsibility as a common theme in this series btw.)

Failed system has failed.

Now, I'll leave this here with a counterpoint and that is ; "Well TC take that experience and put it to work and get yourself a piece of paper, problem solved!" ... See, there-in lay my biggest problem. I see the 'system' as broken. First of all, I reject the 'debt' game at it's core. It's unsustainable, and even with a Degree, there are no guarantees in today’s economy. So why would I want to buy into a system that's broken in the first place if it solves nothing long or short term, and bury myself in debt at the same time? They'll simply use me till I prove they're all idiots, make too much money, or they can get a bigger kick-back by sending me out the door, and hiring someone else.

No dear reader, what we should demand of our employers is that they put the same amount of due diligence into finding qualified employees as they require of any perspective employee. I always thought it was funny that most app's require excellent communication skills, an attention to detail, and accountability, yet these people in charge of looking through apps and finding qualified candidates don't even do that much. I'm required, before even getting a job to fulfill all these requirements that the people already working there don't even follow or do. And I ask, who really wants to work for people like that, and do you really think that people that do carry on this way are doing things right, and going to last through this current market?

They wonder why their business' are failing, why these degree holders they hire need to be replaced every 4 months when it's discovered that they don't actually have any damned clue what they're doing, rinse repeat... I know why they are failing, but I don't have a piece of paper so no one is listening.

This Just In

(I wish I had a screenshot for "AUTO INDUSTRY BANKRUPT!")

Truth and Lies

Greetings. First, I'd like to thank RDub for making me a part of "Internalize Your Demise". Glad to be here, and I hope my assorted ramblings provide some entertainment and some food for thought. Not necessarily in that order.

Where to begin? I'm J. Some of you know me, or think you do - or some combination of those two. I'm an anti-intellectual intellectual. I love technology, but don't own a cellphone. I love many persons, but can't stand people. I'm a professional bad influence, and an unconditional lover. I'm a dilettante and a sensualist. A hopeful cynic. I'm a walking, talking study in duality and tension of opposites. Pleased to meet you, hope you've guessed my name.

Talk, talk, talk ... talk is cheap. But we knew that already, right? Whether we really internalize it or not.

A rich man doesn't have to tell you he is rich. So, if you have to tell me how smart you are, how smart your friends say you are ... well ... it's like your mystique; once you talk about it, you have none.

Everyone knows the famous lies:

1) The check is in the mail.
2) Of course I'll respect you in the morning!
3) I won't come in your mouth.
4) I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you.

I propose adding the following:

5) I'm an excellent judge of character!
6) It's not you, it's me.
7) I'm a maverick!
8) With me, things will change.

Truth and lies ... a slippery proposition. Everyone says they want the truth, right until they get it, in which case they tend to wish they'd never heard it and want to shoot the messenger to boot.

And does truth have much of a place in our society? How many lies did you have to tell to make it through the day today? How many lies are told to us by those in power (government, employers, etc.)?

I propose that lying comes right along with our instant-gratification lifestyle. Tell whatever lie you need to tell to get said authority figure out of your face so you can keep on doing what you'd prefer to be doing, rather than addressing the reality of the situation. Basically, you push the problems back, adding a little interest on to the debt that will eventually come due. And it always comes due. Is the small amount of time you gain worth the snowball effect?

Your word is a precious commodity. Once you break it, it's almost impossible to regain. Once "liar" becomes a part of your reputation, your every word is questioned.

It's one thing to lie to others, but do you lie to yourself?

Do you lie to the ones you love?

I tell my young daughter to be honest with me, because if she lies, I will be acting from incomplete and incorrect information, and therefore, I cannot truly help matters. It's like the ancient GIGO law of computing: "Garbage in, garbage out." In return, I have to meet the same standard of honesty, else I'm a hypocrite and my talk is cheap, and I should not be surprised when she discards what I say and loses respect for me.

I tell myself all the time that there is no such thing as too much information, and that I would rather know the truth and hurt than be blissfully ignorant. I suppose I must remember that there are exceptions to every rule.

Having said all that, are there necessary - even beneficial - lies?


Quote of the Blog: "What are the facts? Again and again and again - what are the FACTS? Shun wishful thinking, ignore divine revelation, forget what 'the stars foretell,' avoid opinion, care not what the neighbors think, never mind the unguessable 'verdict of history' - what are the facts, and to how many decible places? You pilot always into an unknown future; facts are your single clue. Get the facts!" - Lazarus Long