tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post8563208108563053801..comments2023-11-22T09:11:01.567+00:00Comments on George Szirtes: Being professionalGeorge Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889600788146987089noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-83151672153909258532009-12-13T13:51:01.724+00:002009-12-13T13:51:01.724+00:00I do think trust is the main issue, combined with ...I do think trust is the main issue, combined with the idea of competition in defined terms, terms subject to constant redefinition, that are meant to put the fear of God (or whoever is the funding agent) into those defined by it.<br /><br />As regards trust, sadly,I cannot quite believe that the obsession with getting everyone on CCTV, on a genetic database, onto a list of those considered not too untrustworthy (what convicts call trusties) is entirely unconnected to such evidences of public disposition as I see and read. There are plenty of people who support the vetting of volunteers for anything, who are indeed suspicious of anyone who volunteers for anything. 'Why would they volunteer?' they wonder. 'I wouldn't.' <br /><br />The taste is cultivated by those who have the power and means to implement it in policy. But that is only partly because they want to control absolutely everything. It is, partly, also because they too are afraid that the technological revolution will eat its own children, meaning themselves. The fear of God is in them too.<br /><br />I half suspect that one of the reasons people like to get drunk is because it is a trust exercise of sorts. To get drunk together is to trust that you will get each other home one way or another. It is the bonhomie of drunkenness that people reminisce about with fondness.<br /><br />Otherwise the message is, don't trust anyone, any time. In the case of the sex offenders register (30,000 currently) there's only a one in 2000 chance of you meeting one, and much less of them harming you or anyone you know, but you don't want to take that chance. Cross a road instead.George Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08889600788146987089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-20433896545759132322009-12-13T12:17:19.943+00:002009-12-13T12:17:19.943+00:00There is one advantage. It has created a deadly a...There is one advantage. It has created a deadly and usable insult. If I accuse my managers of being dickheads they ignore me. If I say they are 'unprofessional' they fly into rage. Marvellous.The Plumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09244528534476387323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-2409465434896879552009-12-12T15:08:20.214+00:002009-12-12T15:08:20.214+00:00'And what the hell is that above the young lad...'And what the hell is that above the young lady's head?! '<br /><br />I suspect that's some kind of projector Dana. Either that or a giant Dalek's dildo. <br /><br />I am glad to say that I have rarely had to deal with the kind of professionalism George has had to endure. But then the only regular third level teaching I do is poetry/creative writing for the Adult Education Department, and my beginners' course does not involve grading work, etc. A good friend of mine who emigrated to England worked as a full-time primary school teacher in London before giving up in despair; he and his wife home-educated the children (something I wouldn't think of attempting; far too demanding). I am not sure if the broader Irish education system is quite as bureaucratic and emasculated as the UK's appears to be, though such procedures will probably arrive here eventually, if they haven't already.Mark Granierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09899629187771913398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-43906105348955555962009-12-12T12:17:19.831+00:002009-12-12T12:17:19.831+00:00yes, the lack of trust in people to do their job i...yes, the lack of trust in people to do their job is offensive - the way everything has to be done in a particular way to be regarded as successful. 'Learning objectives', must be met 'targets' and 'percentages' achieved - and has all this led to improvements in education? I don't think so!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-42973069374583458642009-12-12T11:30:12.590+00:002009-12-12T11:30:12.590+00:00You've made me remember why I was so glad to r...You've made me remember why I was so glad to retire from my 'profession' 7 years ago. Even now though, I still have to jump through hoops - disclosure, public indemnity insurance, health and safety audits etc. What's that got to do with writing? But it's unprofessional to question their necessity.<br />ColinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-5869857076069884102009-12-12T11:23:31.330+00:002009-12-12T11:23:31.330+00:00Just been re-reading Matthew Sweet's book &quo...Just been re-reading Matthew Sweet's book "Inventing the Victorians" in which he asks what about our era future generations will feel the most disgust and shake their heads over.<br /><br />It's going to be this sort of thing, isn't it? Distrust. The imposition of a system of control too big and complex for anyone to control it.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08360751538780910643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-23219759474557052852009-12-11T23:26:50.516+00:002009-12-11T23:26:50.516+00:00George, thank you. I knew my knees were giving out...George, thank you. I knew my knees were giving out for some reason. And what the hell is that above the young lady's head?! I guess asking means I'm not a professional, either. Sigh.danahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09902311224633734779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-13532760041075205972009-12-11T20:32:56.082+00:002009-12-11T20:32:56.082+00:00Exhaustion. Despair. Old age. You name it. In othe...Exhaustion. Despair. Old age. You name it. In other words nothing special just the things the post is actually angry about.George Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08889600788146987089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-67973112927835760842009-12-11T19:02:01.910+00:002009-12-11T19:02:01.910+00:00Excuse my ignorance, if appropriate, but what brou...Excuse my ignorance, if appropriate, but what brought all this on?Rachel Phillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16053924416805878169noreply@blogger.com