My first encounter with 'unemployment Tv' occurred many years ago, back when I was in secondary school. I was the unfortunate victim of a football accident that left me 'bed bound' with a broken clavicle. 'Ouch' I hear you say, it was 'ouch' at the time, but after being patched up and then told "It will be 6 weeks before you can return to school" it was a 'Yippie Kiyay' from me! 6 weeks of being waited on, hand and foot. 6 weeks of watching the TV that I've not seen for years DAYTIME TV.
My fascination with daytime television was similar to the 'what happens when I go to bed' phenomenon that saw so many of us coming up with schemes to 'stay up late'. No matter how many times you were told that 'nothing' happens once you've gone to bed, you still had a serious desire to be up to see this 'nothing'. Equally I would be at school on occasion wondering what was on TV, what else was going on in the world, well now I have the chance to see!
Unfortunately I was disappointed back then. I dubbed daytime TV 'Unemployment TV', as back then I considered school to be my employment. My argument was, I wake up at the same time as my parents (who go to work), I spend 6 and a half hours 'at the office'. I have a number of 'managers' and the headmaster is 'the boss'....that to me was 'work'. Anyway the disappointment came about from program content... unemployment Tv was crap! Why in Jesus am I all bandaged up in front of a TV and all that's on are Antique Auctions. Where are all the good programs?!?!?!?
Fast forward to 2010 and I'm now at home again during the day, which ofcourse = 'Unemployment Tv'...so what has changed?
Well for starters antique auctions are still there, but now they are joined by Heir Hunter, Homes under the Hammer and Cash in the Attic and some other property investment programs. Now initially with that line-up, I automatically thought the programme schedule was out of kilter with the audience, I mean what does an unemployed person want with a property investment program...they don't have jobs so property investing won't be on their 'to-do' list.
It took days of contemplation before my simple brain came to a conclusion that could/would explain the daytime programme schedule. 'Unemployment Tv' was NOT especially for the unemployed! A damning realisation for me, because it leads to the notion that unemployed people are forgotten in the eyes of society. Its all good and well doing statistical reports on them and using them (us) as political tools when it suits the regime. Instead daytime Tv is aimed at the small/medium business owners who are looking to dabble in a little property investment, or mature citizens who have a few antiques they wish to have appraised.
So why isn't there any TV programmes for the unemployed? I mean, I have Sky at home, there are 1000 channels. Channels centred around almost every subject or idea you can think of. From News to Sport to Religion to Music to WildLife, conspiracy theorists have their own channel. There are porn channels, DIY channels, Radio channels, Advertising channels...there are channels for virtually everything BUT employment...
Imagine for a moment, that there was a channel dedicated soully to employment, I mean from am to am just about employment, from advice about CV's to interview techniques, advice and access to agencies/recruiters. Advice about starting up your own small/medium business, access to graduate schemes, I'm talking all the tools that are required to have an individual generate legal revenue via employment or via business means. Surely this would go a long way to combating unemployment and would give those who genuinely want to work a fighting chance of getting back on the 'money train' once falling off.
Am I the only one that sees this gap in the market?
iMoan because I have an eerie feeling that the conspiracy may in fact be a plan, maybe the government needs to maintain an unemployment tally...
Thursday 16 September 2010
Monday 6 September 2010
iMoan: Unemployment
I'd like to start by issuing my apologies to every/anyone who looked to this site for 'updates' only to be met with the last post from July. Your forgiven for thinking the site was 'dead' and by all means 'short lived'. I have no real excuse for why there hasn't been any posts, instead I have a true statement "I refuse to rant about things I don't actually want to rant about". What I mean is, if I have no genuine feeling about the subject, I find it very difficult to rant about it. That said, I have come to a point where the truly annoying issues in my life have been discussed and I've given sincere account of my distaste and where possible, the reason behind the distaste.
*Drum roll please* - Here marks the beginning of the 'iMoan' series. You may be looking at your screen with tilted brow as you seek to justify the difference between a 'Rant' and a 'Moan'. Normally I would dig up the dictionary definition of both words then post it, in order to aid the process of highlighting the difference, however on this occasion I will just tell you what the difference is from my point of view.
If you have been reading my Rants, I hope you will agree that they are largely 'fact based opinion' (I said 'largely' not all but majority). Well my Moans, will be 'conspiracy based opinion', that is not to say that I am a conspiracy theorist but there will be many submissions that will probably have some damning implications. What will be evidently clear, is the lack of links/charts/diagrams giving statistical basis to the Moan.
Right those are the formalities out the way!
I am UNEMPLOYED! Yes....JOBLESS!
It is such an un-alluring status, I'm not sure if that is because it actually is, or if we have been taught to appreciate it as so. All I know for sure is, the declaration "I'm currently unemployed" sounds like an excuse, even when its a genuine circumstance and believe me, I'm not happy that I think/feel this way. I'm not happy for a number of reasons but the one that is most prominent is that fact that I'm not entirely sure the reason is one I've come to appreciate for myself or come to accept from society....
What I mean is, when you tell someone "I'm unemployed", I sincerely believe that a majority of people will consider it an excuse and as such consider you a 'fibber'. Now I'm in the situation, I know its not necessarily the case that you are making excuses for being "unemployed"....there are genuine circumstances that could proceed the status.
Circumstances like being made 'Redundant'. Now, at this particular moment in time, I feel incline to inform you that the reason for this post/post series, purely originates from the word 'Redundant'. I mean what in Jesus is someone supposed to take from being made 'Redundant'?
Now if you are looking at the screen, puzzled and wondering what has got my goat this day, I would urge you to take a quick peek at the dictionary definition 'Redundant'....don't worry, no need to go search for it here it is:
(Now before you jump to arms at the fact that I've only quoted one reference for the term, I urge you to asses the others listed and then consider whether they are suitable or indeed in context of an employment situation....?).
Call me sensitive, but depending on the way this sentiment is sold to you, is dependent on how
a) you feel about it
b) you feel about the company
c) you feel about yourself
Example:
If you are called into an office and told: "We have identified the possibility that you may be made redundant" please take heed and note that either the company, or the person who is delivering the news does not like you
If however you are called into a office and told "We have identified the possibility that your position may be made redundant" Chances are there is a genuine need for the business change or the company/message deliverer doesn't like.
As you can see from my two examples, the difference is two words. These two words dramatically change the impact and meaning of the message. That is a matter of English and is common in the language, what is damning however is the term 'Redundant'. In employment terms it means the above, but as a general term it means
On their own these words are completely harmless, put in context however and it would seem your employer (soon to be ex) is suggesting, there are either to many people committing your role, or you are in fact no longer required.
These are both concepts that directly contradict your early doctrine. Now I say this based on the assumption that in your early years, you had loved ones and these loved ones in their infinite (inherited) wisdom, would make declarations on to you:
"What's wrong those statements"..would be my guess at what your thinking. You will be happy to know that I don't consider anything to be 'wrong' with either statement.
Your parent, carer or loved one did make a mistake with the above statements though, the mistake has little to do with the words or the underlying sentiment. Your loved one's forgot to tell you that you are all those things in their eyes, not necessarily anybody else's...
So multiply all the comments by a few years and ingrain it in your mentality, then fast forward to being told your being made 'Redundant'....see the conflict? Now although your love one will hold an irreplaceable point of importance in your life, somewhere subconsciously you've cemented the image of your 'employer' to be of greater importance on matters of your career progress. As your employment is responsible for keeping that roof over your head and that food on your table, the weaker mind would start to believe that they are indeed 'Redundant'.
Now I'd admit on a single ocassion my 'theory' (if it can be called that) would seem extreme, but if one was to be made 'Redundant' from their last 3 or 4 jobs, it could be a different story....
With a language so eloquent, so well equipped for all scenarios and situations, telling someone they are 'Redundant' seems archaic. I mean there must be at least 100 other ways you could pass the message on without using a word, that is associated with other themes, which in turn are associated with the ideas of surplus or 'waste'.
iMoan because I am not Redundant, I've merely outgrown your limited role...
*Drum roll please* - Here marks the beginning of the 'iMoan' series. You may be looking at your screen with tilted brow as you seek to justify the difference between a 'Rant' and a 'Moan'. Normally I would dig up the dictionary definition of both words then post it, in order to aid the process of highlighting the difference, however on this occasion I will just tell you what the difference is from my point of view.
If you have been reading my Rants, I hope you will agree that they are largely 'fact based opinion' (I said 'largely' not all but majority). Well my Moans, will be 'conspiracy based opinion', that is not to say that I am a conspiracy theorist but there will be many submissions that will probably have some damning implications. What will be evidently clear, is the lack of links/charts/diagrams giving statistical basis to the Moan.
Right those are the formalities out the way!
I am UNEMPLOYED! Yes....JOBLESS!
It is such an un-alluring status, I'm not sure if that is because it actually is, or if we have been taught to appreciate it as so. All I know for sure is, the declaration "I'm currently unemployed" sounds like an excuse, even when its a genuine circumstance and believe me, I'm not happy that I think/feel this way. I'm not happy for a number of reasons but the one that is most prominent is that fact that I'm not entirely sure the reason is one I've come to appreciate for myself or come to accept from society....
What I mean is, when you tell someone "I'm unemployed", I sincerely believe that a majority of people will consider it an excuse and as such consider you a 'fibber'. Now I'm in the situation, I know its not necessarily the case that you are making excuses for being "unemployed"....there are genuine circumstances that could proceed the status.
Circumstances like being made 'Redundant'. Now, at this particular moment in time, I feel incline to inform you that the reason for this post/post series, purely originates from the word 'Redundant'. I mean what in Jesus is someone supposed to take from being made 'Redundant'?
Now if you are looking at the screen, puzzled and wondering what has got my goat this day, I would urge you to take a quick peek at the dictionary definition 'Redundant'....don't worry, no need to go search for it here it is:
Redundant - deprived of one's job because it is no longer necessary for efficient operation: he has been made redundant
(Now before you jump to arms at the fact that I've only quoted one reference for the term, I urge you to asses the others listed and then consider whether they are suitable or indeed in context of an employment situation....?).
Call me sensitive, but depending on the way this sentiment is sold to you, is dependent on how
a) you feel about it
b) you feel about the company
c) you feel about yourself
Example:
If you are called into an office and told: "We have identified the possibility that you may be made redundant" please take heed and note that either the company, or the person who is delivering the news does not like you
If however you are called into a office and told "We have identified the possibility that your position may be made redundant" Chances are there is a genuine need for the business change or the company/message deliverer doesn't like.
As you can see from my two examples, the difference is two words. These two words dramatically change the impact and meaning of the message. That is a matter of English and is common in the language, what is damning however is the term 'Redundant'. In employment terms it means the above, but as a general term it means
surplus to requirements; unnecessary or superfluous
On their own these words are completely harmless, put in context however and it would seem your employer (soon to be ex) is suggesting, there are either to many people committing your role, or you are in fact no longer required.
These are both concepts that directly contradict your early doctrine. Now I say this based on the assumption that in your early years, you had loved ones and these loved ones in their infinite (inherited) wisdom, would make declarations on to you:
"You are special, don't let anybody tell you different, no matter what people say you are special, unique, irreplaceable"
"The world is your oyster"
"Anything you work hard for and give your best effort, you will achieve
"What's wrong those statements"..would be my guess at what your thinking. You will be happy to know that I don't consider anything to be 'wrong' with either statement.
Your parent, carer or loved one did make a mistake with the above statements though, the mistake has little to do with the words or the underlying sentiment. Your loved one's forgot to tell you that you are all those things in their eyes, not necessarily anybody else's...
So multiply all the comments by a few years and ingrain it in your mentality, then fast forward to being told your being made 'Redundant'....see the conflict? Now although your love one will hold an irreplaceable point of importance in your life, somewhere subconsciously you've cemented the image of your 'employer' to be of greater importance on matters of your career progress. As your employment is responsible for keeping that roof over your head and that food on your table, the weaker mind would start to believe that they are indeed 'Redundant'.
Now I'd admit on a single ocassion my 'theory' (if it can be called that) would seem extreme, but if one was to be made 'Redundant' from their last 3 or 4 jobs, it could be a different story....
With a language so eloquent, so well equipped for all scenarios and situations, telling someone they are 'Redundant' seems archaic. I mean there must be at least 100 other ways you could pass the message on without using a word, that is associated with other themes, which in turn are associated with the ideas of surplus or 'waste'.
iMoan because I am not Redundant, I've merely outgrown your limited role...
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