It called “Propaganda”

The actual word for “fake news” is propaganda. I have no doubt that Trump used the “fake news” term because:

a) he probably can’t pronounce “propaganda”

b) he couldn’t spell the word

c) he has no idea what it means

The problem is real and it isn’t the domain of the right, it isn’t the domain of the left; it is a tool used, to great effect, on the intellectually lazy. The people who want their information fed to them, without having to research to any degree.

It is also dangerous. There is, also, no excuse for perpetuating propaganda.

In this world of instant connect, sourcing truth isn’t neurosurgery. When a story is posted, citations should always be available. Hearsay, rumour and tall tales are, easily, debunked. Most citizens of the West are, now, almost surgically attached to their mobile devices. When a situation or an event occurs that is worthy of being shared; it is nothing to take a photo. To record the event as it occurs. If you have no hard evidence that something untoward, something out of the ordinary has occurred, don’t repeat it and claim it as truth. Truth requires evidence or rather should always require evidence, otherwise? It is simply rumour. It is only hearsay and not worthy to be repeated, particularly online.

This is of the upmost importance right now. Accusations of all sorts are flying fast and furious on Facebook, on Snapchat and Twitter. It is time to demand proof. There is no excuse for accusations without proof in this day in age. Were you treated unfairly? Record it, take a pic, take names. Were you the victim of some sort of ill-treatment? Take notes. Don’t just post “Well, this happened to me…yada, yada and another yada.” This kind of claim isn’t worth the time it takes to type or worse, to read.

When a group, political, religious, social or workplace condones the use of rumour, gossip or uncited events; the group loses credibility, particularly if the media gets hold of it and can show the claim as unsubstantiated rumour.

In a perfect world, nothing should be reported without proof, without solid evidence and that applies to Facebook, Twitter and the online world, in general. If you can’t back your shit up, with evidence? Keep it to yourself. I know it is a very high and treacherous mountain to climb, particularly when a pseudo-world leader seems to feel the need to post any and all bullshit that crosses his feed or flickers on his television screen, but we have that responsibility. If we really believe in freedom of speech, then we must take that responsibility seriously. Freedom of speech doesn’t mean freedom to lie, to distort. You can, but it sends a subliminal message; the message is that you are not worthy of the honour of being heard.

If a cause is just, if a cause is truthful, then it doesn’t require lying or exaggeration. It doesn’t require propaganda. Beware the savage jaw…of 1984.

LEAN, 5’s and Corporate Wankers

 

 

If you have never heard of the LEAN or Kaizen programs?  Fall to your knees in supplication and thanks.  It is absolutely and totally ridiculous.  I do give kudos to the sales staff of these programs and their ability to milk millions out of corporate talking heads; it smacks of genius.  Sell them something that is available for free (see http://wp.me/pW4rF-86 ); P.T. Barnum comes to mind “There is a sucker born every minute.”

The LEAN absurdity bases itself on the 5’s.  5 points that should be no-brainers to any walking, breathing and presumably sentient human being; here are the points for those incredibly fortunate individuals who have not had their intelligence and professionalism insulted…as yet…

1.  Sorting
2.  Straighten
3.  Sweeping/shining
4.  Standardize
5.  Sustain

Could this be any more ridiculous?  Millions paid out for the obvious and an absolute personification of the emperors having no clothes. 5’s…this is all just common sense and good work practice.

LEAN and the 5’s are the ways and means to create a world reminiscent of the George Orwell novel “1984”.  A world where there is no individuality, there is no innovation or creative thought process; a world of gray.  Stalin would on the LEAN bandwagon with pom-poms waving.  Imagine, as a professional, as working adult, being told that you require little labels to be put on your desk, identifying where your stapler should be, where your keyboard should be placed and the reasoning given?  So you are aware if something is missing.  I know, gentle reader, that you may think that I exaggerate or that I am having you on, I only wish that I were.  It is the truth.  Labels and shadow boards, as if we are all in kiddie day care and need constant supervision.  Some companies go so far as to require employees to all dress in corporate colours, creating slogans and even jingles.

If one decides that this is not going to happen in their world?  If one stands up and says “I am NOT a corporate automaton!”, they are quickly whisked off and told to toe the line or leave.  I toe nobody’s line and if this means I must leave?  So be it.  Adieu to Big Brother.  I will not be a part of your Oceania.

All this money spent, in an economy that sees entire countries crashing and burning due to debt load, when the solution to creating more efficient workplaces sits in front of these boardroom robots.  All they needed to do was to ask, ask the great unwashed who shore up their ridiculous decision making, their tossing of money away on ill-conceived plans of action.  The soldiers of the front lines have always had a grasp of reality, have always been the place to go for answers but apparently when a human being is bestowed a title, it comes at a cost – common sense, coherent and logical thought processes and yes, even working brain cells are removed.  You don’t crash through the glass ceiling without paying the ferryman.

Innovative thought, creative solutions are banned under the weight of the 5’s and LEAN; companies refuse to admit that the system is ridiculous, that all the money spent was for naught.  How could solutions be found within the employee base?  After all, what do the employees know?  They have no title, they don’t sit at boardroom tables, ergo, they are simply too stupid to understand the BIG PICTURE.  Well, I am one of the great unwashed and I do see the BIG PICTURE and I see it clearly..again, I say – the Emperors have no clothes and if it takes a plebe, a peon to point this out?  Then we are in more financial trouble, as a species than I previously believed.