|
|
07-23-2018, 04:46 PM
|
#1
|
Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 821
|
The erosion of ideals
As I approach my retirement age, I recall the halcyon days when I was graduating college and preparing to change the world.
Things were clear .... there were so many opportunities ... awesome careers awaited!
Now after about 40 yrs ... it's clear that it has all been about the dollar, specifically the dollar in the pocket of MegaCorp. So many decisions were made based on financial return to the company, rather than being the right thing to do.
The optimism and idealism of youth is fleeting and easily undermined by capitalism and greed.
Anyway .. just venting ....
__________________
“Earth is the insane asylum of the universe.”
― Albert Einstein
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
07-23-2018, 05:27 PM
|
#2
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 7,054
|
Totally agree!
|
|
|
07-23-2018, 05:27 PM
|
#3
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Chattanooga
Posts: 3,895
|
Unfortunately we have been conditioned from early childhood about the questionable importance of acquiring material things and keeping up with the Joneses. More often than not we understand later in life the most important things are love of family, friends and being decent human beings. I was fortunate enough to work a career that allowed me a good work/life balance and got out of the rat race at fifty four years of age to enjoy family, friends and pursue my hobbies. I have know more than a few individuals that they were their jobs and had no interest in anything outside of work. Most have either passed away from coronaries, cancer, strokes or are still working into their sixties and seventies not because they have to but it is all they have ever known or pursued. The most boring humans you will ever encounter.
__________________
Earning money is an action, saving money is a behavior, growing money takes a well diversified portfolio and the discipline to ignore market swings.
|
|
|
07-23-2018, 05:36 PM
|
#4
|
Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 821
|
The thing that has kept me working has been the fear of being destitute when I am older .. a burden on family. I am well past that but, the work ethic remains and I find it hard to break from the yoke.
__________________
“Earth is the insane asylum of the universe.”
― Albert Einstein
|
|
|
07-23-2018, 05:44 PM
|
#5
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 8,968
|
That's another reason I chose to work at MicroCorp
|
|
|
07-23-2018, 05:53 PM
|
#6
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: the prairies
Posts: 5,049
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by albireo13
The optimism and idealism of youth is fleeting and easily undermined by capitalism and greed.
|
Unfortunately, for many young people, optimism and idealism has been replaced with "gimme, gimme, gimme". Greed has always and will always be around, but when people are taught from a young age that someone owes them something then the only possible scapegoat are those who create the wealth.
|
|
|
07-23-2018, 05:58 PM
|
#7
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,890
|
I wonder how many times a similar conversation has come up over the last 200 years?
"Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" - David Glasgow Farragut
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!" - Hunter S. Thompson
|
|
|
07-23-2018, 06:11 PM
|
#8
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 18,085
|
I found a pocket of worthwhile (IMO) idealism in the late stages of my career. It is still riddled with cynicism on both the institution's and my parts. Just seems to be the way things are. It certainly does not help to live in a fundamentally corrupt society.
Oh well. Keep your head down, watch out for you and yours, and be prepared for the occasional BOHICA situation.
__________________
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."
- George Orwell
Ezekiel 23:20
|
|
|
07-23-2018, 06:16 PM
|
#9
|
Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 821
|
MegaCorp demands its daily dose of protoplasm. Your future and dreams are inconsequential and outside its realm of concern.
__________________
“Earth is the insane asylum of the universe.”
― Albert Einstein
|
|
|
07-23-2018, 06:20 PM
|
#10
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County
Posts: 1,433
|
The great and consoling realization I've had as I've gotten older is that big ideals aren't all that important anymore. Live your own life, treat the people around you kindly and the rest doesn't really matter.
|
|
|
07-23-2018, 06:24 PM
|
#11
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,788
|
Capitalism is a lousy system, but it's a lot better than the alternatives.
I'm glad I never worked at a "Megacorp." The stories around here make me grimace.
|
|
|
07-23-2018, 06:27 PM
|
#12
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,544
|
wow! You guys are depressing me.
For the most part I was pragmatic in my life. A to B.
I do remember thinking those in power, teachers, cops, CEO's, politicians, were all smart. Then I grew up and realized they were all (mostly) FOS. Full Of S...!
Oh well. I will and have thoroughly enjoyed life.
__________________
-Big Dawg-FI since 9/2010. Failed ER in 2015. 2/15/2023=DONE! "Blow that dough"-Robbie
" People say I'm lazy, dreaming my life away Well, they give me all kinds of advice designed to enlighten me When I tell them that I'm doing fine watching shadows on the wall "Don't you miss the big time, boy. You're no longer on the ball" -John Lennon-
|
|
|
07-23-2018, 06:39 PM
|
#13
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,561
|
Shortly after starting work for the employer I would retire from a little less than 30 years later (1985) one of the 'old guys' told me that "everyone's a liberal, until they buy a house"
I didn't pay any attention at the time. I was 23 years old & knew it all
And besides, to be perfectly honest, I didn't even know (or care) what a liberal was @ the time.
About 9 years later, I bought my 1st & only home, & slowly began to realize what he meant.
__________________
"No beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity, but I know none, therefore am no beast"
Shown @ The End Of The Movie 'Runaway Train'
|
|
|
07-23-2018, 06:48 PM
|
#14
|
Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 821
|
Work at MegaCorp, at first glance, is nice. But you soon realize you might as well check your brain at the door.
The stuff that goes on flies in the face of what we learned in college and even high school. Corporate politics and bad brains in high places takes its toll.
__________________
“Earth is the insane asylum of the universe.”
― Albert Einstein
|
|
|
07-23-2018, 07:01 PM
|
#15
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,890
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by albireo13
Work at MegaCorp, at first glance, is nice. But you soon realize you might as well check your brain at the door.
The stuff that goes on flies in the face of what we learned in college and even high school. Corporate politics and bad brains in high places takes its toll.
|
One man's point of view.
|
|
|
07-23-2018, 07:14 PM
|
#16
|
Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 821
|
yup. you seem to have a different viewpoint. That's fine
: )
__________________
“Earth is the insane asylum of the universe.”
― Albert Einstein
|
|
|
07-23-2018, 07:19 PM
|
#17
|
gone traveling
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 3,508
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by albireo13
Now after about 40 yrs ... it's clear that it has all been about the dollar, specifically the dollar in the pocket of MegaCorp. So many decisions were made based on financial return to the company, rather than being the right thing to do.
The optimism and idealism of youth is fleeting and easily undermined by capitalism and greed.
|
I feel bad for you.
Not all of us chose that path.
Quote:
Originally Posted by albireo13
Work at MegaCorp, at first glance, is nice. But you soon realize you might as well check your brain at the door.
The stuff that goes on flies in the face of what we learned in college and even high school. Corporate politics and bad brains in high places takes its toll.
|
You chose the wrong employer(s).
Quote:
Originally Posted by frayne
Unfortunately we have been conditioned from early childhood about the questionable importance of acquiring material things and keeping up with the Joneses.
|
Some of us. Not all of us.
|
|
|
07-23-2018, 07:22 PM
|
#18
|
Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 821
|
Yup. I apparently chose the wrong path.
Pray for me.
__________________
“Earth is the insane asylum of the universe.”
― Albert Einstein
|
|
|
07-23-2018, 07:30 PM
|
#19
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 4,373
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by ownyourfuture
Shortly after starting work for the employer I would retire from a little less than 30 years later (1985) one of the 'old guys' told me that "everyone's a liberal, until they buy a house"
|
Or as I have heard it "Everyone's a liberal until they have to pay taxes".
Back to OP's question. I do think that megacorp does require some amount of conformity to succeed. While the main reason for existence of MC is to make money, or at least use taxpayer money for the best results, I always viewed the job as my path to personal success. So if the MC was doing good, it would also benefit me. I was never in a situation where I was forced to reduce my ethical standards or do anything that was not what I felt was the right thing to do. The technique to do what was needed is where the conformity was needed.
Only once in my career did MC crap on me and treat me unethically. But in the end that MC is not doing well and recently got removed from the Dow 30. The stock price is in the dumps, and karma is a bitch! I came out better in the end, so for now I'm the one laughing at their situation.
__________________
The problem isn't artificial intelligence, it's natural stupidity.
You can't spend yourself to prosperity.
Semi-Retired 7/1/16: working part-time (60%) for now [4/24/17 changed to 80%]
Retired Aug 2, 2017; age 53
|
|
|
07-23-2018, 07:36 PM
|
#20
|
Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 821
|
Nothing is wrong with MegaCorp on its own.
You have to realize that MC is its own entity, with no interest in your welfare,
besides what what HR might tell you.
Take care of yourself.
__________________
“Earth is the insane asylum of the universe.”
― Albert Einstein
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
» Quick Links
|
|
|