"Never offend people with style when you can offend them with substance" -Sam Brown, Washington Post, 1977


A good friend of mine wrote to me the other day saying that he had read my previous blog entry. After I got over my initial surprise, I digested the very valid point that he raised: I was negative and somewhat critical of office work.

By nature, I don't believe I am a negative person. However, after enduring a fair degree of bullying and teasing during my formative years, I learnt how to be cutting and derogatory to great effect when provoked. This tone can sometimes make an unintentional appearance in my day-to-day life, and this seems to be the case here.

When I speak of my experiences and attitude towards the 9 to 5 office life, it is only meant to reflect my feelings as it relates to me, and in no way is it meant as my opinions of other people who live that lifestyle. Some people may feel the same as I do, and obviously I relate with them. For those that don't, hey, I can relate with those people as well.

For many years I found working in an office enjoyable, and there are many aspects that agreeable. I may even find myself returning to it one day, because as a person I'm still changing, and that includes my opinions and values. It's just that at the moment I'm glad I'm doing my own thing, and though it hasn't been going too well for me this year, I'm still fiercely proud of the alternative life I'm leading.

All of this said, I'm really glad my friend got in touch with. Firstly, he's an old friend, and you can never have enough of them in your life. Secondly, he let me know that I could inadvertently be causing offence to some people, and that is never on my agenda. Life is too short to stir things up, projecting negative views on other people or the way they choose to live. I'm a pacificist after all.

So for the record, please let me state my feelings plainly. If you work hard to provide for yourself or your loved ones, then you have my respect. Whether you care for the elderly, clean windows, or sell cars, as long as you try to do a good job and work with people rather than against them, then you provide a valuable service. I'm not sure the same can ever be said of what I do, but I will try and do my best with it....