Flaming Out In America

It's happening everywhere:
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/02/wal-mart-worker-immolates-self-in-parking-lot.html

The above story is not an isolated incident. I deeply relate to the man's pain and understand his motivations. There is no room for jokes. This is incredibly sad.

I can tell you, the mind unravels fast. For years you are the cheerful worker bee, proud of your efforts, being a part of a team. Then a seed begins to grow about how deeply unhappy this state of voluntary wage slavery is. How many little slights of tongue directed your way, ignored at first, but brought back with ferocity by a personality you just put up with everyday. You've done your best to give him or her their space, try to avoid perhaps, certainly ignore, but some people get a kick out seeing your button pushed. It's a perverse joy of the workmates.

"He just went crazy" they say, like this happens without their involvement. Miserable home lives lead to miserable work places and vice versa. The daily grind of the 5 day work week never gives enough time to sit and talk with your spouse. It's all work when you get home -storm windows, cut the grass, paint the living room - then back to workplace for some more hurry up, what took you so long. There is no escape as you turn the new yearly calendar plotting the 2 weeks management may approve in December.

Work is tormentable hell when you don't respect the people you see everyday. When their attitudes are money-grubbing self centered and mean spirited, and they are the Boss' pets, everyday is cruel. Trying to add creativity or a better idea is only returned with an acknowledgement of how unnecessary and replaceable you are, everyday being reminded you are overpaid, reminding you that you are stealing "their" time, being watched by secret cameras, being ignored by managers is as bad as too much instruction, finding fault with the mundane, day in day out will make you explode.

I can sense this story will be comic grist around the lunch table at work sites all over the country, as the insecure defensiveness of workers' particular 'paradise' of wage slavery kicks in. To be a long term employee anywhere, dis-compassion and an ego driven chauvinism is almost mandatory. Having empathy is not a sterling quality in the corporate setting. A subordinate must be as big or bigger an asshole than the boss in order to gain attention and recognition. Every team needs a scapegoat mascot to make fun of and heap their venom.

I'm sure this man was a nice guy. I would have enjoyed working with him. What a shame.