Friday, October 24, 2008

Group Mentality...Why Exactly Are We Gathered Here?

On this week's episode, after having a date at the office (after hours), Holly and Michael accidently left the office unlocked and the place was ransacked with several items stolen. Deciding that they needed to raise money, Michael declared that they would hold a charity auction (C.R.I.M.E. A.I.D.) to collect funds to replace stolen items. So the office staff gathered together and particpated in the auction. For many, this was done begrudgingly since they had no real interest in the items that were being auctioned. The only real high value item, Michael's concert tickets turned out to be fictitious. However, money was made at the auction through Phylis selling a hug to her husband. Otherwise, staff members were simply buying items they were not really looking to buy from one another. This begs the question, was there any real purpose to the auction.

This brings to mind an experience that recently happened in my life. This past week I participated in a "flash mob". Basically, a group of us got together to congregate in a line outside the University library, holding signs and chanting "24 seconds for 24 hours" as we tried to further the cause of 24 hour library service. Granted there were some people watching our demonstration and some positive feedback was recieved from the crowd however, it is questionable if our actions will actually have a positive impact, since most likely the majority of the crowd was there begrudgingly. Did we move forward to achieving our library access goal, or were we simply whistling into the wind.

Funny moment of the week:
While descibing the auction to the staff, Michael said "We will auction off people like the olden days" while looking at the black employee Stanley. Once again, Michael has demonstrated how shamefully politically incorrect his behaviour is.

4 comments:

jjccjc said...

I too was once a member of a group that did not want to be included in an event. Some years ago, my family and I attended a weekly free skating at a local arena. However, on one occasion, when we arrived we were told we would have to wait off the ice since there was a politician there to do some promotional media segments. Later that day on the news, we saw a media interpretation of the event which in no way was reality. The media implied that the politician had arranged for the free skating day and that those attending were there to support the politician.

Lisa Nash said...

People should never be forced to be part of something that they do not believe in. Unfortunately, this happens often in the corporate world

joanne nevison said...

You didn't waiste your time at the
"flash mob". It was your own decision to participate and it was something you believe in.

Julia said...

I agree, we chose to be there and to participate in the demonstration to further our cause. However, I am wondering how our actions were recieved by the crowd? Did they feel we were forcing them to be involved when they may not have wanted to be a part of our "call to action"?