whataboutism

On the last Friday of each month I curate some of the observations and insights that were shared on social media. I call these Friday’s Finds.

B of E: The route back to 2% inflation − speech by Michael Saunders

“The share of the 16-64 population who are outside the workforce and do not want a job because of long-term sickness is a record high, with an especially sharp rise among women. I suspect much of this rise in inactivity due to long-term sickness reflects side effects of the pandemic, for example Long Covid and the rise in NHS waiting lists.”

“There’s a saying: ‘Necessity is the mother of invention’. There’s not one that says: ‘Adequate, properly scheduled time is the mother of invention’. I know. I looked.” —@SimonHeath1

“Don’t buy into ‘cognitive biases’
Academics invented the idea when observed human behavior didn’t match their mathematical models
Instead of thinking ‘maybe our models are wrong’, they assume humans are wrong
Their ever increasing list of ‘biases’ is evidence of this.”
—@alanklement

A story about something I’m still sore about by @trishgreenhalgh

Age 6, my homework was to learn a nursery rhyme.
I went home and applied myself half-heartedly.
My dad got involved. “I’ll teach you a good one”.
He taught me this:

Scintillate, scintillate, globular vivific
Fain would I fathom thy nature specific
Loftily placed in the ether capacious
Strongly resembling a gem carbonaceous

I loved it. Sneaky re-hash of well-known ditty.
Memorised it, skipped into school.
Couldn’t wait for my turn.
Go up and recited it perfectly.
Silence. No applause.

Teacher: you didn’t do the homework.
I explained – it’s a fancy version of Twinkle Twinkle.
“Patricia, you are a proper little madam. Why can’t you obey the rules? Now you’ve spoilt it for everyone in the class by trying to out-do them.”

HEY, teachers! Leave them kids alone.
Don’t punish the student who interprets the assignment creatively.
Don’t define the average as the benchmark.
Don’t tell girls it’s their fault they outperformed.
Don’t crush fun.

NYT: How Jack Welch’s Reign at G.E. Gave Us Elon Musk’s Twitter Feed

“Almost immediately after Mr. Welch retired in September 2001 with a $417 million severance package, G.E. went into a tailspin from which it would never recover.

His pupils, though, went on to run dozens of other major companies, including Home Depot, Albertson’s, Chrysler and Boeing. Most of them failed.”

“The opinion that art should not be political is itself a political opinion.” —George Orwell, via @dangerousmere

Theranos’ values:
– Integrity
– Excellence
– A team approach

Enron’s values:
– Respect
– Integrity
– Communication
– Excellence

It’s not enough to speak to values, you need to embody them.
Culture depends on values expressed in behavior.

Culture = Values + Behavior

—@drrwinters