The future is here. It's just not widely distributed yet.

Brothers and Sisters,

It has all begun. We have made the leap. We've jumped out of the belly of this beast. Alas, where we land will still be within a yet greater beast. Much like Russian nesting dolls, we find ourselves immersed in many of these vast oppressive creatures. Our struggle does not end here.

We have fought the corporation from within and learned as much as we can. Now we continue the struggle to better ourselves and the world in a much broader and powerful way. The ideals and dreams that Peter, you and I share are the future. All we need to do is keep pushing them out there everyday and work to make them manifest.  

You can expect to hear much more from us. We hope to hear more from you. Things are getting more interesting on this adventure.

See you on the streets.

With vigilant solidarity,
Peter and Frank

The future is here. It's just not widely distributed yet.

Brothers and Sisters,

It has all begun. We have made the leap. We've jumped out of the belly of this beast. Alas, where we land will still be within a yet greater beast. Much like Russian nesting dolls, we find ourselves immersed in many of these vast oppressive creatures. Our struggle does not end here.

We have fought the corporation from within and learned as much as we can. Now we continue the struggle to better ourselves and the world in a much broader and powerful way. The ideals and dreams that Peter, you and I share are the future. All we need to do is keep pushing them out there everyday and work to make them manifest.  

You can expect to hear much more from us. We hope to hear more from you. Things are getting more interesting on this adventure.

See you on the streets.

With vigilant solidarity,
Peter and Frank

Resisting Mamihlapinatapai

We seem to keep having conversations that revolve around our ability to speak up and the hesitation that tends to occur before we do. Last night during one of these conversations, we found out there is a word used by a people native to an island on the southern most tip of south America, considered the worlds most succinct, that describes just that. Mamihlapinatapai. Don’t bother trying to pronounce it. Just know that it means: a look shared by two people, each wishing that the other would initiate something that they both desire but which neither wants to begin. I can not think of a greater tragedy than a circumstance which neither party voices that unspoken something especially if that desired something is noble in nature. I wish they had a word to describe the base desire shared between an entire people. There seems to be an undercurrent, a zietgiest, of something similar to Mamihlapinatapai throughout our society. There is so much we feel and think that goes tragically unsaid. Knowing that this inaction or silence is all too common and all too depressing sheds new perspective on those that do speak up and manifest that shared desire. Regardless of the immediate effect of the act of speaking up, the individual who has it within them to do so is nothing short of heroic.

Within this company we have been fortunate to meet just such an individual. In one of the most oppressive manifestations of a control system there is, a single man has undermined it deeply, and with his voice alone. The corporation is a system in which you are paid to do and say what you are told and refrain as best you can from deviating. Here, there is an infallible chain of command where you are expected to follow orders. We have heard it said in more than one meeting, “this is not a democracy”. There is even a moral/social framework which is unique to the business world. You cannot take the rules of your normal social interactions or even the language you use and apply them to your time there. Essentially they pay you to be someone else outright. This is simply a tactic of control. If they dictate what you do and create a culture which influences how you interact then they have control without you necessarily being aware of what is happening.

In my short lived experience in this corporate system, I have seen hope. Not just hope but hope manifest into action. A 'gentleman' (in the true sense of the word) and peer that I have had the pleasure to work with is that hope. He has influenced each of us through his persistent pursuit of truth and fairness to question what we are told. He does this in meetings, regardless of the attendees “ranks”, following email announcements and one on one with management, never wavering while retaining a respectful tone that he affords every human being.

His constant willingness to act, on what Frank and I both see as being wrong, but don’t always have the courage to speak up on, makes him a hero of mine deserving my support. The support I offer often comes in the form of our lunch hour discussions that reinforce this sentiment amongst a greater number of people. It is amazing the cascade effect we have seen over the years. People have quit their jobs to start their own businesses and pursue their happiness because of the resonating chain of events he has set off. I fear for a world that has a diminishing number of these unsung heroes. It would likely to be a world of robots bending over to the will of our corporate and various other overlords. Next time you feel something is wrong, I urge you to speak up because you have no idea the ramifications of that noble deed.

This conversation followed a brief meeting in which we were told about a seemingly ineffective call out campaign we were to waste our time with. The aforementioned individual made sure he didn’t let the unfairness of this directive go unsaid.

Peter [10:22 AM]:

There is always grumbling over what Ram has to say.

Frank [10:22 AM]:

Its stuff that needs to be said usually.

Peter [10:23 AM]:

I find the issue can be irrelevant as can who is right and wrong.

but the power comes from simply speaking up

offering resistance or another way. The less courageous can rally behind that persons courage and themselves be empowered.

Thats why when people get cheesed at ram i dont understand it. sure he draws meetings on a little but who cares.

He shows us all that this place is broken and we shouldnt just blindly obey our overlords

Frank [10:28 AM]:

Thats the thing, I feel as though most people would prefer to sit quietly while we are just told what to do rather than deal with any conflict or tension.

I don't know why that is, we seem to be conditioned to just accept things the way they are and not disrupt anything further.

Peter [10:31 AM]:

its kind of crazy that we understand struggle is growth yet we are content with status quo so we just nod and smile

Peter [10:33 AM]:

which is why outspoken people are integral to human survival against this beast.

Frank [10:33 AM]:

its true. We do seem to be able to see the problems when someone like Ram speaks out.

Frank [10:37 AM]:

Why do you think people require someone to speak up first before they do?

Peter [10:38 AM]:

Courage possibly. If you look at mob mentality it only takes one to throw a brick for the rest to get behind that

Frank [10:39 AM]:

I guess that’s it. Once someone else takes the first step into the unknown then everyone else can do so a bit easier.

I heard a good story about something like this recently

A friend of mine was on a bus and a guy got on who was way too drunk. He was harassing other people on the bus as he stumbled side to side. Almost immediately an older little lady stood up and went right up to him to tell him he was not allowed to do this.

He said almost immediately after she did that the guy sat right down and everyone started to jump in to reinforce that.

Peter [10:43 AM]:

that is awesome people were able to get behind this lady probably because they shared the belief that this guy should sit down and shut up. Which is interesting the idea that we need external validation that what we feel is right/acceptable then we are able to rally together to accomplish a goal

Frank [10:44 AM]:

That external validation part is funny. Its true though. Why would we need to have it confirmed that we are right, drunk people shouldn’t harass strangers and disrupt our ride.

Or, corporations shouldn't make us employees feel afraid or do unecessary work while paying improperly and treating us with less respect than we would otherwise demand in the “real world”.

Peter [10:46 AM]:

ya why do our moral compasses and our ability to determine right and wrong take a back seat EVER?

Its scary

Frank [10:47 AM]:

That’s a huge question.

We have lowered that on the list of priorities.

I agree it is scary. Especially when you take the time to think about how making money and being seen as a "good employee" is more important than being a good person and living happily.

Peter [10:50 AM]:

Its slavery putting someone else ie corporations before ourselves

Frank [10:51 AM]:

It is willful servitude. We have decided for the most part, we are not important enough to be ourselves and stay true to our beliefs but the system despite its massive flaws exists so therefore it supersedes us.

Peter [10:51 AM]:

I find it annoying people deal with binaries and see this as possibly the only way. They do not realize that they can still have a job and be happy. Humans can still progress and be happy. Happiness and productivity are not binary opposites

shoot i have a customer call then a call with andrew at 1130

I am about to willfully put this company before this awesome convo that is bettering my understanding.

I am disgusted because I know the struggle taking place will be won by my willful servitude. hHopefully that changes in a few weeks!

Frank [10:53 AM]:

haha well sometimes it has to be done to some extent. But we are working towards not having to do that

Peter [10:53 AM]:

ahhaha right right

Frank [10:55 AM]:

Its better to not beat ourselves up over our complacency because were it not for that bit of it in the first place we would not have found a new direction and be actively working on it and sharing with others.

But soon it will be gone and we will be an upgraded Ram, roaming the earth doing and saying what needs to be done and said.

Developing the ability to easily speak up is not an easy task. A few weeks ago I stood in line at a local grocery store, only to witness a mother push her young son and yell in anger over the fact that he had said a case of brand name pop was a $1.50. Somehow to this disgustingly mentally unsound woman a $1.50 for a case of pop was fine but, the fact that it was 5 dollars was justification to assault her kid in public. Something in me held me back from trying to give her some perspective. Her relationship with and the well being of her child should be worth more than this whole grocery store. I regret not speaking up. I regretted it especially when I noticed the cashier, bag lady and friend I was with all noticed the same wrong. What's worse, I walked away thinking over and over, "I should of done something or at the least said something." Imissed an opportunity. I believe awareness of that elephant in the room is common amongst those with the slightest ability to empathize and observe. Then why is there no action? I know I am not alone when I feel uncomfortable resisting doing what is right, that's just logical. However, I find myself fixated in regret asking questions such as, why does the resistance to do what's right exists? What I have realized is that regardless of the cause of the inaction the solution is within. Speak up. That is what Ram, the aforementioned coworker, has taught me. When something is wrong, silence is simply complacency. A couple well timed words, will prevent regret, help a child, or throw a major wrench into the corporate machine. Lets be ready for those opportunities.