Ritualistic puffery

Isn’t it annoying when people make broad generalisations about nationalities or professions because of the good or bad experiences they may have with just a few?

Well let me warn you, I'm about to do just that and commit the dreaded generalisation sin.

Here goes.

I find tradespeople to be more transparent and less complicated than your average white collar professional.
Mechanics, builders, plumbers, painters. You name it. I have never had a bad experience with any of them.

Sure, you might get those who want to charge you more than they should, but usually they engage in the negotiation process in a more ethical and straightforward way than many other professions. I so like a person who calls a spade a spade and can have a laugh without the presence of strategic mind games.

Over the last week I've been helping my sister, who has Parkinson’s disease, move house. In doing so, I've been observing how different people she's come into contact with have treated her during her move. From real estate agents, banks to phone companies and removalists.

Not surprising to me, it was the big burly removalists who were the most sensitive and caring. They were three young guys, well over 6 feet tall, with tattoos up and down their arms, who were not so particular about their ps and qs but who couldn’t do enough for her.

Even though it wasn’t in their remit, they wanted to unpack for her and rearrange the furniture. If they saw her lift anything they fell over each other to go and help her.

They moved more than the quote indicated they should and gave me a wink when I mentioned it.

It made my heart smile. Sometimes the gift is not always in the packaging we expect is it?

Tomorrow I finally sit down to a meeting with some of those white collar professionals. The same Bank I told you about months ago. Yes, it’s taken some time for a meeting hasn't it? They don’t respond as fast as a plumber might. Or speak the same language in fact.

I will just have to remember what an old plumber told me when he came to fix my leaking taps years ago. “You just remember girl, bullshit baffles brains,” he said, as he was trying to teach me how to see through the line of patter that often gets dished out by anyone selling services or products or protecting their interests.

So I guess I will watch out for the bullshit. Ritualistic puffery is not my language of choice (apart from on my blog!). Particularly when it's delivered by people in suits who have allowed a leaking tap to drip unattended for a long, long time.

I do not have the patience to dance around the obvious when it is just as easy to cut to the quick. It will be a collision of the practical and the theoretical I fear.

Send some positive thoughts out into the universe for me.

I wonder if my generalisations about bankers are going to change any.

We shall see.

Have a great week everyone!