Has satire and cynicism gone too far where you work … ? Do these mental gimmicks ... as you see it ... promote well-being or bust for business? Some who laughed at satire at one time ... are beginning to question its place more recently. I am one who fears we've gone too far when I think of what satire does to buisness and to our brain's health. Maybe … if you buy into the idea that juicy news brings more customers … satire can fatten your bankroll. But at what cost to business and to your community? Ireland's media raised this issue last week ... for business everywhere....
Just before kickoff time at the Ryder Cup… The Dubliner… an Irish magazine … ran falsely created nude photos of a woman it named as Tiger Wood’s wife. The Dubliner and The Irish Daily Start … cynically linked Elin Woods… “Most American golfers are married to women who cannot keep their clothes on in public. Is it too much to ask that they leave them at home for the Ryder Cup? Consider the evidence. Tiger Woods' wife can be found in a variety of sweaty poses on porn sites.”
Woods reacted with the anger and disgust you might expect … but also tried to keep the spirit of the Ryder Cup Tournament alive as a champion event. The magazines have lamely apologized … but they suggested that the article was simply done as satire.
Has satire … where you work … created any such outrageously inaccurate pictures of people you care about …? What do you think …?
We've gone too far! The satirical pokes and witty comments to some may seem like "terms of endearment" - but I don't.
It's not healthy in the short- or long-term. Leaders have excused this locker-room behavior has a way to show fondness. While it may be a mask for fondness, why the mask? Find something positive and say that - sincerely.
Do we discuss this enough in the workplace? Not that I've seen - but we should. Thanks for bringing it up.
Posted by: Mike Sansone | September 24, 2006 10:22 AM | Permalink to Comment