Sunday 21 March 2010

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!

57 comments:

  1. Yes the removalists sound so so so wonderful!

    And yes banks can be so painful! I have a good little one though and they've been SO fantastic to me through my divorce and various funding issues!

    Best of luck with your sorting!!! xxx

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  2. aww, what a good sister you are. and you are so right, its always interesting how the big macho men always seem to have the biggest heart. (ever seen one in line at the grocery store with a coooing baby next to them, seriously precious the way they will be the first to baby talk!!) Great post as always!! xoxo LA

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  3. I'm praying for you Lilly with the bankers. I honestly know what you mean. The "suits" and the degreed are not always the nicest or most straight-forward. Many people like your Dad and the movers and the plumbers are educated in the ways of life and the proper ways to treat their fellow humans.

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  4. I found my banking experiences are changing, for the better.

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  5. good luck with the bankers, Lilly

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  6. Lilly,

    While none of these suited banker types are a patch on the tattooed movers that came to help your sister, sometimes these bankers use words to just confuse and intimidate you, when they actually dont know anything about it themselves.

    If anyone in your bank utters the words "due diligence" in your meeting, I hope you remind them that if they had been half way diligent in their banking operations regarding your transactions, you wouldn't be sitting in the meeting and pointing out their shortcomings, and that they give diligence a bad name.

    Praying for a positive outcome of your meeting ....

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  7. Thank you everyone. And a big thank you to you Ugich, you have been so helpful and Thanks for that comment - shame you didnt live closer I would be getting you to come with me!!

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  8. I have always thought the same too. Good luck with you know who, all talk and no action. Do what Ugich says, listen to what they are saying, it will be repetitive and gobbledygook. Take Care you.

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  9. Lilly Dear ...

    I must say the 'bullshit baffles brains' is maybe the best line I've ever heard. You go girl.

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  10. People with any power (like banks) are often too quick to try and protect it.

    Your story of the removal men is heart-warming! Keep that in mind as you battle the bankers...

    Good luck.

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  11. Everything you say is so true..in my experience anyway. Excellent post!
    Good luck with the bank x

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  12. The story of the removalists made me cry, bless their big burly hearts.

    We've had great experiences with removalists (we move every three days) except the last lot who ripped us off. And my last experiences with St George bank were wonderful.

    I remember a funny incident that happened when my older girls were little. We were in the ladies lounge of a country pub with family when a big burly blue singletted truckie came in a said "schooner of new thanks....and two Freddo Frogs". Everyone in the bar looked up, and he turned around and silently handed them to my girls.

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  13. I am so keeping my fingers and toes and anything that I can cross, crossed for you. Good luck! You're gorgeous! You're organized! You're smarter than any banker around! You'll do great!

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  14. I so get what you are saying Lilly....It feels as if there is nothing personal in The White Collar Workd anymore.....There used to be, when I was a young person. The Bank my mother 'nanked' at, knew us all and all the Teller's were friendly and always very helpful. That kind of caring ended around 1970!!!---Maybe even before that.
    Now? You cannot even reach anyone at "The Branch". I will pray for you, my dear and HOPE that your experience will be very much better and surprisingly good!

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  15. The very best of luck at your meeting...

    Just remember that the current WORLD econimic crisis appears to have been caused almost entirely by the greed, dishonesty and stupid ineptitude of some (many?) banks, bankers, finance houses and people of that ilk.

    Additionally, THEY are the only ones who can be certain that THEIR industry is no longer (and barely ever WAS) in recession - and WE gave them the money to achieve that.

    If it were anyone else with less money to sue, you'd have to say they are mostly very devious, if not downright crooked people - or possibly both.

    Beware the recent Ides of March, eh? Not a propitious time for Ceasars (or little Hitlers, one hopes) ;)

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  16. Yes! I completely agree. I think blue collar workers are more connected to the realities of every day life. I bet they even make charitable donations without expecting a wing of the hospital to be named for them. Plus, their jobs are REAL and they know what they are doing, inside and out. I can't think of any executives who could say that.
    Lindsey Petersen

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  17. Scots are quite often - and unfairly - tagged as alcoholics. I would add more but I've just cracked open a can...

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  18. @ Mike, I know a fair few Scots and most of them are big drinkers so that would mean that Scots are alcoholics right? lol!! I hope your can was a Tooheys or Fosters at least!!!

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  19. Hi Lily,
    I didn't know about your sister's condition until now. So good to know that she has a great family support. I send her my best wishes. Bless those young men's hearts for their kindness toward your sister as well.

    And as for you my dear friend, may all the positive energies and karmas in the world be with you as you meet with the bankers tomorrow.

    Tasha

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  20. Hi Tasha, yes my sister is very young to get this and copes really well all things considering. Does this mean you are back to blogging? Yay!!!!

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  21. Best of luck with the banker suits. Bankers currently should be seeking any positive PR they can get. Their risk taking and greed have been highlighted in many books and TV reports lately.

    Yes I don't like generalisations much but yours might have some real truth to it.

    Just wondering do you commonly call movers removalists?

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  22. @ Lisleman - yep thats what we call them here. I love how different language etc is. And thanks for your comment, it helps!

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  23. I agree and its hard not to make generalisations. Sweet about the removalists and its nice to hear stories like that. As for the banketrs well they are doing their jobs for pretty greedy corporations. The staff must be under enormous pressure too to toe the line even though they know half the time what they are doing is rather untoward. All the best, I will have my fingers and toes crossed that they talk sense and the truth.

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  24. although i havent met much executive people in my life, i can honestly say that your observation about regular workers to be true. I've met a lot of people who look like they can kill you if they want to but with such soft hearts, and they show their genuine concern with the littlest gestures. isn't it nice to know that the world is still filled with loving people, despite the others?

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  25. When I read the first line of this post I felt guilty, because i had done just that (see my post from today).
    I know there are exceptions, but from my experiences I totally agree with you too!
    I love this sentence you wrote: Sometimes the gift is not always in the packaging we expect is it?
    So true!
    Hope your meeting goes well!

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  26. Yes, the concern shown by the packers-and-movers (as we call them in India) was really uplifting and faith-restoring.

    Have that thought as a good-luck charm when you sail off to battle with the bank. All the best!

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  27. Getting caught up on my blog reading....Happy Monday!

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  28. So how did it go?

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  29. Hope you had a good meeting.

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  30. Sending positive thoughts your way. I work in the finance industry. Greg says it's not a field he would think suits me. It's family owned and operated, so it's not the cold calculations of a bank. And I'm not good at the BS stuff, so I'd rather just say it up front what I'm thinking.

    Your post reminded me of something... slightly off topic. One of my cousins didn't want her daughter to marry a construction guy. Her daughter graduated from college and she told her daughter that she wanted her to marry "better." My thoughts were, "The job doesn't make the person. The person makes the job." Be good at what you do and do it with integrity and care, that's what matters. She did marry the guy, by the way, and he treats her like a princess! (Not saying she's spoiled, just that he loves her dearly.)

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  31. Pretty much spot on! I especially hate those who work at job agencies, always using acronyms, asking "deep" questions when they have no clue what they're on about.

    Yea, I'm job hunting and have to put up with their BS....

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  32. My wife is a university professor and I am a mechanic. It works. Aleta is right and spot on.

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  33. Today's forecast. SAGITTARIUS going by recent advertising fairydust about how much more banks really care about us nnhhooww, Lilly, you should not have any further problems with these crafty organisations.

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  34. I'm so glad that the movers were helpful.

    My mother has parkinsons. It's a nasty disease.

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  35. Hey I know why Barry had to postpone the OZ visit. It takes a long time to sign a bill.
    Guess how many pens it takes to sign a bill.
    many pens

    thanks

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  36. Hi Lilly
    I am still in NZ having a blissful holiday. I asked the dolphins to sort out the bankers for you when I swam with them on the 22nd. So I am hoping all went well.
    Love you mate.
    Pegs xxxx

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  37. You tell the bankers that its your way or the highway. If they choose the highway, so be it the fury that may curse upon them! Good luck!

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  38. Lovely post that appeals to my anthropolgical interests. Most professionals, in my experience, cannot effectively communicate, and are often motivated to obfuscate, for many reasons. Too complex!

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  39. Hi Lilly,
    Am reading "The nature of happiness " by Desmond Morris who reckons that 'being helpful' is our nature- it brings us happiness because biologically we are programmed to help ourselves by helping others. Interesting. Hope the bankers realise this !

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    can we link x-change? tell me

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  41. I am married to a plumber and he is very ahndy lets say. And so I totally agree with what you are saying. As for the financial industry they have a long way to go, they would not exit without customers but they are a law unto themselves it seems. I prefer community banks or credit unions.

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  42. so Lilly days have passed... how did it go?

    hope all is well& the wankers behaved themselves.

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  43. Thanks so much Lilly for your visit and all those fabulous comments. It is ALWAYS a joy to see your name and to read what you have to say....!

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  44. OK Missy! Where are you and those posts?

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  45. Oh sorry Helen, I shall be posting again soon, so much for posting every day in March, it did not quite turn out the way I planned....

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  46. I'm so glad Helen asked! When you disappear for a while, I get this nervous twitch in my eye. hehe

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  47. Hi Lilly,

    Bullshit baffles brains huh? Love it, Love it !!

    Cheers, Kate x.

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  48. Hi Lilly, I'm back from vacation and catching up on my reading.

    Ahh Bankers.... They really do speak their own language-- I think money does that to business people. I sincerely hope your problems are solved with a minimal amount of BS. I'm cheering you on and hoping for the best.

    As for the guys helping your sister move-- High Fives to all of them! That makes my heart smile too.

    Have a great weekend.
    xo

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