Thursday, September 02, 2004

real cog, real machine

yes, I started working for the Man. Not just any Man, a huge churning machine of a Man. I won't say who, but in essence, it doesn't matter. The cog in the machine phenomenon is real and - as I found out on my first day on the job - far reaching.

Go here, get this person to sign, then take the form here and have this person sign. turn in the form here. Do that for 3 more forms. Wandering unaccompanied through rows and rows of cubicles that are all complimentary shades of eggplant where a person on one side of the room doesn't know the names of anyone on the other side.

Calling an extension for tech support and having someone in another timezone, nay another COUNTRY answer and completely take over my desktop. It's not that I didn't know this could be done, I'd just never had it done to me. Watching the mouse move on it's own over my desktop, I think I started hyperventilating. I can't otherwise explain why I felt so lightheaded through the whole phone call. I mentioned to the person on the other end of the phone that the experience was a little scary. He ignored the comment completely.

This sounds so cliche, I know. But I think I've just infiltrated a sick and fascinating world. Maybe it's finally time for me to read Microserfs. Undoubtedly there will be more stories...

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