On Muppets
I believe it was 3 years ago today, after reading this article on Writing for the Web, that I posted remarks about my work place on this weblog. I was immensely frustrated at what I saw as a complete apathy towards being (most) excellent (dude). I was surrounded by talented people who I felt could do more if they were given the room and encouragement to do so. This frustration had gone on for a considerable length of time, the result was I published something less than complimentary about the managers of BlackStar to a public place, this weblog.
Writing about how I felt here was a stupid thing to do, I gained nothing from it, lost my job and got into some fairly serious financial trouble as a result. The hole in my CV wasn’t great either.
It wasn’t all bad at BlackStar, I did learn an awful lot there and the 3rd floor of Alfred House was, at it’s best, pretty good. (Though I tend to look back now and think with the talent there we should have something more to show for it than a tacky video store.)
I am still frustrated by the same things today as I was then, I am still no closer to the ideal (or even being able to fully articulate that ideal), I still see talent wasted, I still rant and I still rage. The difference now is that instead of getting into fights I can’t win I just turn around and leave people to it. I don’t know if that means I’m wiser or if it just means I’ve given up.
«2 CommentsAugust 16, MMV»
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You've arrived at the homepage of Stephen Stewart. The archive is available here for those who want it. This site is happily hosted by Dreamhost. Click for more?
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I work as a web designer in Belfast, and I live by the sea in a shoe. You can see me here, doing my livejournal pose as idoru called it. If you need to you can email me at carisenda -at- gmail -dot- com.
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Recommended Viewing
- 300
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Does exactly what it says on the (comic book) tin. Loved it. - Little Miss Sunshine
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Very funny, disturbing (the beauty pageant) and completely messed up -- but in a good way. - Laputa: Castle in the Sky†
Story great, characterization a little on the weak side -- though the big robots are cool. - Porco Rosso
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Stylish, funny, exciting. - Grave of the Fireflies†
Very sad, which was a little unexpected since I didn't know much about it before watching it. Can be a little too slow in places though, otherwise it's very good. - Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind†
The story can get a little dense at times what with the various factions, but still really enjoyable, inventive and engaging. - X-Men: The Last Stand
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Opportunity, talent, money - all blown. Over 3 films X-Men has hinted of something great that could have been, this last one says "No, sorry - not going to happen". Bah.
*sigh* They were good times. At least, I (mostly) enjoyed myself.
What means a lot to us even five years ago seems irrelevant now. It isn’t so much apathy, nor the loss of intensity, just the realising that shallow and simple things are just that.
Yeah, there will always be frustrating people out there and frustrating experiences. The thing to remember is that very few of them are important in the long run, especially the workplace.
A year or two ago, I went to a seminar for entrepreneurs. One of the speakers talked about his ‘big’ first job after University. His first month in post, he worked his ass off (he was American) and came out with a pretty good wage. The second month he didn’t work so hard, but received the same wage. He continued in the same vein for some time, doing the bare minimum and getting well paid for it.
I had the same thing in my job. I innovated. I thought outside the box. I delivered consistently good results for my firm. No-one noticed!
I learned my lesson from that speaker. I stopped working so damned hard. I allowed myself time to relax during the day and sometimes to go vacant for hours at a time. There are more important things than the drudgery of a job. Your parting from Blackstar may have been a blessing in disguise!