Ok, a little vent and a general question

[BostonTigger]

I work in a copy center for a large law firm, and I've come to a conclusion...the more education you get, the more stupid you get. Ok, maybe that's a little harsh, how's this... the more education you get the more you loose a grasp on common sense. How's that? Has anybody else noticed this or is this just me? We had an attorney come down with a fairly large job, and he says, "Boy, do I feel stupid. This should have been done last week, so now it's a rush." Which means we have to drop everything just for him. Can you tell I'm really rushing to start his job. Well, I guess I should get going. Thanks for listening everyone.


BT

 

[Growin'upDisney]

Being an attorney myself, I guess I should take offense to your comment I have never worked in a firm but I undertand wher eyou are coming from. But understand that most times there are so many different things the lawyers are trying to keep track of that the minor details seem to slip our minds sometimes. Now granted, a major copy job does not sound like a minor detail but you get what I am saying.

Also. I have noticed that lawyers and other professionals tend to rely on their suppor tstaff almost oo much. They can't get up and make their own copies or send out fedex. I work in-house and do a lot of this myself - I don't expect my admin to have to do it all.

so bottom line - I don't think it's the more education - it's just simply the mentality of the people. Hope this helps.

 

[flaps]

Well, if less education makes one less "stupid," then maybe I ain't quite so dumb afterall.

On the other hand, I've never had much common sense, so I guess an education might not have hurt me much.


Sorry 'bout the work pile-on. Hope you have a good weekend.

 

[orvilleair]

Engineering offices are the same way with the specifications (couple hundred pages). Do you like it when someone drops the ball and says that there is a deadline today, and all of these specs have to be ready. Sometimes it is client driven, other times it is due to a lack of organization in the staff.

 

[Otimon]

I would have put his "rush" job right at the bottom of the pile and do it when his turn came up. A most inconsiderate person.

You could also point out to him, in your most pleasant voice, where the copier is located.

 

[Val]

I am a faculty member at a large state university- I do neuroscience research, which is pretty esoteric and theoretical. With 4 kids and a prof husband, however, I am FORCED to have common sense. OTOH, my DH is a complete and total space cadet....great on theory but short on common sense. Many of my colleagues are the same way- in particular the men (okay, shoot me, it may be sexist but it's true!). In addition, I am amazed at the ability of academics to make an argument out of anything- committee or faculty meetings are long and tedious while we argue Robert's rules of order. Forget the topic we were arguing over or what decision we were supposed to come to- its more important that we know WHICH rule was violated and how to fix it. Maybe its because I was in the "real" world for many years as a clinician working with severely mentally ill institutionalized patients, and that I am forced to maintain a sense of real world having 4 kids, but some days I want to strangle my colleagues- or at least lock them from greater society!

 

[WDWLVR]

I use my brother as an example of someone who is book smart, but has no commen sense. Just because you have a Master's Degree doesn't mean you grasp basic things

 

[minniecarousel]

I run a copy center at a high school. I've noticed that the teachers who come in for an ASAP (meaning: right now! - I'll wait) are the ones who are hardest on the kids who come to class ill-prepared. They don't cut the kids any slack - yet if I'd had a flat tire on the way to work - they'd be SOL!

 

[CALIFLADY]

I certainly can sympathize with the OP. Some of my professional collegues are rather short on common sense most of the time. Especially when it comes to dealing with office staff. I'm abhored by the way some treat the staff, as though they weren't human! It's really not fair.

OTOH, as a professional with many years of experience, I'm simply not allowed to make copies or hunt for documents or make my own travel arrangements or bundle up DHL packages. They pay me too much to do this stuff. I feel bad many times, asking staff to do these menial tasks, but that's what I've been instructed to do.

I think what's important is the way in which you address the staff and ask for tasks to be completed. To assume that your rush job should be the staff's most important task is small minded. I treat our office staff with respect and dignity. For instance, I go to lunch with them every now and then (not just on secretary's day) to talk to them on a more personal level and find out what's going on in their lives, as people. When I bring them a job, I ask them when they can complete the task and we jointly determine a schedule for completion that suits both of us.

I think the OP wouldn't have to vent this issue if the professionals around her/him treated all others with respect. Maybe that's the real issue here...

 

[rdrjj5]

Originally posted by WDWLVR
I use my brother as an example of someone who is book smart, but has no commen sense. Just because you have a Master's Degree doesn't mean you grasp basic things

Sounds just like my sister's husband.

 

[Shelle&Dave]

I work in a hospital. When I am busy it seems like I am constantly waiting for an elevator. What really gets me is the amount of people that come over and see that the down button is already lit up, so obviously I already pushed it, and they push it again anyway. Sometimes they push it a couple of times just for good measure. The vast majority of the people that do that are doctors. Do they really think if they hit the button again the elevator will come any faster? Sometimes they just stand there jabbing their finger into the button until an elevator comes and the door opens. I just want to tell them if they are in that much of a hurry to take the stairs. The hospital only has 4 floors it's not going to kill them!

Maybe some people have such fast-paced, important decision making types of jobs that their brain concentrates on the hard stuff and forgets about the common sense stuff.

 

[LuvTigger]

This reminds me of what a friend told me about her oldest son who is a sophomore in high school (my friend is a college graduate and a licensed CPA)...she said he is so smart that he could quit school right now and be smarter than she ever was. However, she feels that his brain is so full of knowledge that there is no more room for common sense!