<p>HooRach
Unfortunately -- and I have been in government service as well as private industry; self-employed as well as the owner of a business; beginner as well as manager -- much of what you say can be said of the "real" world. </p>
<p>You are probably being exposed to more of a real world experience than you might even know.
From a certain perspective, civilian colleges might be accused of not preparing students at all for the "real" world.
Its tough out here.</p>
<p>interesting.</p>
<p>I see that after being confronted with an absolute truth, you can do nothing but agree. Don't lie to these people and say you are one of the most respected people in your company. If this was true, there wouldnt be thirty of us on here refuting your every ultra-conformist statement. In a way, I look at you the way many Germans must have looked at the Nazi youth. Before you take offense, let me explain. Young and simple-minded, the Nazi youth would literally attach themselves, in body and mind, to an ideology that, upon actual scrutiny, was beyond flawed. To be honest friend, its unfortunate that you have blindly subscribed to a system that will ultimately lead to ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Deepthroat said it best, don't be a joe. Maybe you can send that up in feedback. </p>
<p>On a side note, feedback is the naval academy's system of internal review and "change". I put change in quotes because the only people who think changes actually occur are moms on parent's networks and people like jadler. Lets be honest people, what are you expecting from a place like the naval academy. It brews ****ed off people. Just read my posts, I think you will concur. </p>
<p>On a final note, lets all breath. Unless you are being inspected by an upperclass midshipman, and per midregs sect. 1 article 2, "breathing during inspections shall be performed with minimal movement of the diaphragm" CASE CLOSED, because i guarantee jadler is looking this up right now, because GOD FORBID, he breathed to forcefully last thursday. NAPS05MOM, since you went here, you know our inspection schedule. </p>
<p>Very Respectfully,</p>
<p>MIDN 4/c Highandtight</p>
<p>Just to offer perspective . . .
I once worked for a very respected government agency that had inspectors who would come around and count -- I am not making this up -- the number of pens and pencils you had in your desk.
Each person was authorized to have two pencils and one pen in his desk. Prior to inspections -- and we generally knew when this was going to happen -- people would spend time clearing their desk drawers and hiding pens and pencils so as to not violate regs.</p>
<p>I am serious . . . you are learning more about life than you can imagine. THIS is the absolute truth.</p>
<p>I am not a JOE who lives by the books, I am a Mid who likes the Academy and Navy's standards. I am not lying, I was selected Midshipman of the Month by my classmates; but I am respected throughout the company. It is posted in company area for you to see. I am agreeing with HooRah on the fact that Mids don't treat each other professionally or uniformly and thus thats why I stress to come to USNA to do the right thing. That is exactly my point. Like I have said, no where can you find that I have said the Academy is flawless.</p>
<p>4/C Highandtight, who are you? Are you willing to identify yourself? You know how to email me.</p>
<p>Look the comments are getting ridiculous, lets stop that now.</p>
<p>Of course the academy isn't flawless. IT LET YOU IN.</p>
<p>Bill, I think you just proved my point. WAY too many people here buy into it all, and think that YES, we should only have 2 pens and one pencil, or whatever it is. Thats the problem. The word JOE here has a negative connotation, don't be fooled. It's someone who blindly follows the rules, not as a quiet, respectful person who wants to blend in, but as a flamboyant, rule-spouting, "motivated", Joe-bag.</p>
<p>Perhaps . . . but what I really want you to understand is that there are mindless regulations that you will have to enforce/tolerate throughout your life. Get used to it. Not only that, but there will be mindless pinheads above you [at least until you get a chance to be a mindless pinhead] for much of your career.</p>
<p>The pencil regulation seemed silly at the time [and still does to some degree] but, if you stop and think about it, the gov't has millions of desks. If each person has additional writing utensils in their desk, then those are that many more pencils the government buys.
It was annoying to have to worry about pencils but, in the end, we just followed the reg more or less.</p>
<p>Bill, I of course understand that mindless rules and regulations are everywhere. The difference is some people, like you, openly admit that the rules, even if on some distant level serve a purpose, are ultimately absurdly anal, extremely irritating, and mindnumbingly frustrating, while others openly accept the rules, embrace them, and take it upon themselves in a self-righteous, holier-than-thou blitz on all the "non-believers".</p>
<p>I think what highandtight is trying to say is that the joes here are the kind who would go aroundto yell at anyone who had more than those two pencils and pen at anytime, just because he is so dependent on the rules. He says that he is trying to lead by example, but really he is just indoctrinated to the point of complete dependence. This doesn't really happen in the civilian world because there is on boot camp or plebe summer to wash away the individuality. Those joes need to take those pencils and put them somewhere where they will never be found.</p>
<p>Thank you . . . I appreciate your perspective better.
One last story and then its time to go to bed.</p>
<p>I worked as a clerk for a less respected government agency. </p>
<p>The higher ups had all job functions timed. My task, for a period of time, was to take empty carts to the loading dock. We had twelve minutes to accomplish this task. Of course, it being the government, it only took about three minutes to actually take the carts to the dock and two minutes to return. So . . . we took the carts to the dock and then sat on the dock, hidden among the carts, for six minutes and then returned to the place where more empty carts awaited us.</p>
<p>Incidentally, there was one supervisor for every ten employees and they would hide behind pillars spying on the employees to ensure you were working. That's why we had to hide among the carts. Ever heard of "going postal?" There is a reason for that saying . . . </p>
<p>Good night and good luck.</p>
<p>jadler, it seems i have offended you. In fact it is obvious. If i have, I apologize. I am merely presenting differing opinions, and a much different perspective. So perhaps you should calm down, clearly you are on the defensive, and step back from collegeconfidential for a while. I know im going to.</p>
<p>Joes aren't necessarily people who scream or yell just because the rules have been broken, in fact I find yelling/screaming usually ineffective. Yes, some rules do suck and yet are pointless, but you came to the Academy to do a job (for which you are paid) so do it. This is part of your job description...to be a plebe (for 4/C year). So like I have said you have to suck it up. Whether it's pointless or not....it could be very well, but thats not the point. I think Bill has kind of been pointing that out. In fact a lot of things seem pointless and team work is non-existent from what I have seen after the 1st semester.</p>
<p>Alright enough said. If any candidates still have questions, feel free to post and I will answer, straightforward.</p>
<p>To all the mids-</p>
<p>Are you guys really unhappy with the life there? And is it just because of so many rules? </p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>geez the negativity in here is overwhleming.</p>
<p>IMHO
I think this thread has gotten way off topic. The point is to offer advice and encourgement to the incoming Class of 2009. Regardless of what your personal opinion is, it might be a good idea to remember why this thread was started...general information only and stick to that. Let these new plebes form their own ideas of the Academy is all about...the current mids were given that chance and it's only fair to give the newbies the same chance.</p>
<p>Let's get a fresh start in a new thread and maintain a more professional and courteous tone, please.</p>