tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8883177.post115522018677248075..comments2024-01-05T21:31:11.122-06:00Comments on The Town Crank: So, are we really supposed to be ants?Steve Erbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05065643506800242801noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8883177.post-1155510742064005832006-08-13T18:12:00.000-05:002006-08-13T18:12:00.000-05:00***So, what were we arguing about again?***Nothing...***So, what were we arguing about again?***<BR/>Nothing. I used the word "feel" for a reason ;) I only added that part to my comment because it struck me as ironic that the people about whom the author is writing are probably experiencing the exact opposite of the feelings he's attributing to them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8883177.post-1155485853984433152006-08-13T11:17:00.000-05:002006-08-13T11:17:00.000-05:00Jessica,I was with you up to this point:"I suspect...Jessica,<BR/><BR/>I was with you up to this point:<BR/><BR/>"I suspect that, contrary to what the author of the article has said, many workers under this new system do not feel they are being judged as individuals--their dedication is being overlooked in favor of how much money they are noticeably able to make for the company."<BR/><BR/>I can't see how you wound up interpreting the situation this way; particularly in view of the quote at the end of the article:<BR/><BR/>'A spokesman for the Mental Health Institute said that the emphasis on individual performance was driving Japanese workers — particularly those in their thirties — to mental turmoil. “People tend to be individualised under the new working patterns,” he said. “When people worked in teams they were happier." '<BR/><BR/>As you said yourself, "the problem doesn't seem to be caused by communalized people suddenly being forced to be valued as individuals, but rather individuals who had in the past been judged by a certain standard now being measured by a different standard."<BR/><BR/>You are probably right, however, in that while these folks <B><I>are</I></B> being judged on their individual contributions rather than on their loyalty, they may certainly <B><I>feel</I></B> that they're not being judged as individuals in light of the new order of business.<BR/><BR/>So, what were we arguing about again?<BR/><BR/>Steve Erbach<BR/>The Town CrankSteve Erbachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05065643506800242801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8883177.post-1155449219050417062006-08-13T01:06:00.000-05:002006-08-13T01:06:00.000-05:00I think the story's author has interpreted the dat...I think the story's author has interpreted the data wrong. To me, the problem doesn't seem to be caused by communalized people suddenly being forced to be valued as individuals, but rather individuals who had in the past been judged by a certain standard now being measured by a different standard. Traditionally, Japenese workers had been promoted and given pay raises based on seniority; they, as individuals were given value by their devotion to a company. That seems like an individual standard instead of a communal standard. Now, dedication does not matter as much and what is important is if an employee is able to turn out qualitatively better work than other employees. That also is an individual standard.<BR/><BR/>Not everybody thrives in a cut throat environment (just like not everyone thrives in a relaxed environment), and I can very well understand people suffering from high anxiety and mental illness--particularly when their culture has, for so long, judged them by a different standard. I suspect that, contrary to what the author of the article has said, many workers under this new system do not feel they are being judged as individuals--their dedication is being overlooked in favor of how much money they are noticeably able to make for the company.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com