This is the ninth post from The Nooner, a (very short) daily newsletter slash podcast that has its very own section within Dispatches from Inner Space. To see the first post, which doubles as an explainer, click here. People are complicated They are good and bad at the same time. Most of their decisions are, at least on some level, well-intentioned. When people do bad things, it’s often out of some perceived necessity, or genuine misunderstanding. Everybody wants to believe they are good at heart, even when they are doing the most villainous things.
I agreed with Mitt on a lot of things, but his corporations are people line was pretty tone deaf. I get what he was driving at, but talk about indelicate wording. Corporations are soulless social machines, comprised of complex-souled individuals.
The individuals within organisations identify with the prevailing aims of the organisation, and fall over each other to prove their devotion and commitment, no matter how heinous their decisions and supporting rationales. Or they find another job. Drinking the Kool aid is essential to personal survival.
Organisations, and the people in them, protect the organisation, and demonise or sacrifice individuals when it occasionally becomes necessary.
Very true. And I'd also say that it's important to remember this universal human tendency, so that we can hold a lot of grace for the individuals entrapped by villainous organizations, and continue to attack the machine, rather than the people caught inside it. In general, people need (and therefore deserve) liberation and enlightenment. Evil corporations, on the other hand, need (and therefore deserve) to be destroyed.
What a fine essay. But, careful—if corporations are people, you wouldn't want to hurt their feelings...
I agreed with Mitt on a lot of things, but his corporations are people line was pretty tone deaf. I get what he was driving at, but talk about indelicate wording. Corporations are soulless social machines, comprised of complex-souled individuals.
Haha fun business lessons? Did not have that on my bingo card
I'm not sure this post actually contributes anything tangibly useful to the pursuit of actual business, but who knows!
The individuals within organisations identify with the prevailing aims of the organisation, and fall over each other to prove their devotion and commitment, no matter how heinous their decisions and supporting rationales. Or they find another job. Drinking the Kool aid is essential to personal survival.
Organisations, and the people in them, protect the organisation, and demonise or sacrifice individuals when it occasionally becomes necessary.
Very true. And I'd also say that it's important to remember this universal human tendency, so that we can hold a lot of grace for the individuals entrapped by villainous organizations, and continue to attack the machine, rather than the people caught inside it. In general, people need (and therefore deserve) liberation and enlightenment. Evil corporations, on the other hand, need (and therefore deserve) to be destroyed.
I've worked for decades in those places, the individuals aren't trapped, they're willing perps.
Good to know even though I’m “evil at heart,” I still have some virtues. Thanks bro.
I am truly baffled by this comment.