I'm sure many people here could post stories about the mistakes they made at work in their youth. Sure if your superior is breaking the law, you are honor bound to blow the whistle and stop it.

However, in most companies most disagreements are more about policy, personality and power. These are not matters of law, health or safety, but learning maturity.

Learning how to funtion in a public forum with many different types of people and with RULES. Real rules that affect not only your ability to survive at that job and pay rent, but your future reputation that will influence your entire life.

Learn to be mature, professional, patient and cooperative. Find someone you respect in your company and observe them. They don't explore and call everyone a shallow jerk just because they disagree with them: they work within the system, and earn respect so people WILL listen to them.

You have to learn to cooperate, to get your goals acheived in concert with other people in the system. Or quit a live off the grid in a yert, but if you want a job, you have to learn to cooperate and be polite and understand the rules. Just like when you were a kid, as much as you don't like some rules, they still RULE, so you have to work within them or get sent up to your room without dessert. no kidding, this is real. This is your life, there's no second chances. Learn how to survive and respect others and respect the WAY the system lets you operate or get out of the way, cuz they'll fire you.

I'm not saying drop your values for the sake of working. I'm saying EVERY human has to learn to cooperate to get their values heard since no two people are the same. Wherever you go, you'll have to learn to cooperate. It's not about corporate structure, but human behavior once you get more than 3 people in a room. Learn to get along or live in a cave.

No, it's not illegal to tell inquiring prospective employers the truth. The only reason companys get vauge in references is to avoid the possibility of being sued for slander. But it's not illegal to state any facts or even opinions (as long as you're confidant it can't be proven to be slanderous in court).

That myth that companies only say dates employed is way out of date. My boss told me what my last boss said about me in my refernce (pretty smart but sometimes afraid to take risks) and he said my cube neigbor's former boss said he was "a good worker but always late."

and went to live on a peace loving commune, you'd face the same problems. Getting along with the different people in the group. Humany dynamics rule, be it in a cubicle farm or a commune. You'll always have the slacker, the know-in-all, the whiner, the power freak, the consensus builder, etc.

This isn't about soul-sucking corporate American, but being a human animal who needs to function in a group to survive. The same behavior patterns emerge in any group no matter the ulterior goal.

It's not 'corporate.'

It's human nature.

I've had freinds who lived on communes go through the same thing. You get a group of people together and different personalities emergy, conflict, confusion, lack of communication. EVERY social group from corporations, to small businesses, volunteer organizations and communes ALL must deal with the same requirements for cooperation, flexibility, respect and effort.

pathetica

PATHETIC

women are NOT interested in druggies.

That is one of the most consistant deal-breakers I've observed over the years.

First I agree with Myerslaw's post. EXCELLENT. READ IT>

I try to support all folk's right to practice their own religion. I do not believe one is better or more right than the other.

HOWEVER, I draw the line at symbolic and literal supression of Women. And headscarves are in that category. I balked when the Baptist Church said women should be subsurvient to their husbands, and I balk when Islam tells women to cover their hair. NO.

It is not American to cover your hair. We fought for FREEDOM in America and ALL people should be free, including Muslum women. A material item can NOT influence your peity or morality. Take off the scarf and be free. I will not support the scarf or any other item meant to chain women.

No, it calls your independance into question.

I honestly question if you vote based on your own beliefs or just do what your husband and iman tell you to do.

Yes. It tells the world you don't believe in women's right to act and think for themselves.

It tells the world you think women are inherently evil.

It tells the world you think men should not have to chose to act morally around women, that they can't help themselves and if a woman is attractive, SHE DESERVES IT. You're now like the old crackers who think women in miniskirts DESERVE to be raped.