So? And What Does THAT Have To Do With Anything? - [Niedermeyer's Dead Horse]

Remember Ace's caution about not destroying careers over one's personal opinions? Well, in this case, he used Olbermann as an example thus I'm not sure many agreed, but his point stands: We cannot micromanage the lives of those around us.

When outside the context of work, and when not specifically conflicting with the terms of a contract or causing direct harm to the organization by which one is employed, one's personal statements should not be used as a hammer to destroy his or her career.

Now, of course, as in most things in life, there are exceptions:

You believe in animal sacrifice and apply for a job at a pet store? Nuh uh.

You have swastikas tattooed on your arms and now want to serve kosher foods? Nope.

You've actively perpetrated a lie which resulted in great loss to property, and frightened an entire community, but want to be trusted with national news? Apply to MSNBC!

See, I told you there were exceptions.

I don't need to rehash Ace's more articulate post, but I do want to provide an example of just what it is he has been talking about.

A few days ago I was waiting for my takeout pizza and killed the time by doing something I rarely do: I picked up the local indy rag and was immediately drawn to the cover story.

Meet Jacksonville's Newest Port Consultant: Dr. Dr. Herbert Barber Jr. (that's not a typo) thinks the country's going to hell, really dislikes the "ugly" poor, and believes Obama is "more anti-American than any ten thousand terrorists." Now he'll help decide the fate of one of the most important (and expensive) infrastructure projects in Northeast Florida.

I snorted upon reading it, and that's just the cover. Literally, it was sort of a choking and snorting sound all at once. And I said to myself, "So? What the hell does that have to do with anything?"

Intrigued, and thinking that there must be significantly more to the story for even an indy rag to be so jacked about the guy, I continued to read the entire piece. It was at this point that my snorts became a smirk, then a smile, then outright laughter and I heard the words "Here's your pizza!" so I decided to finish reading it at home.

It's a good thing I did. Otherwise, I would have missed out on one of the most rollicking fits of laughter that I've experienced in some time.

The author literally hates this guy.

It seems that Dr. Dr. Herbert Barber (Dr. Dr., funny, eh?) has written a book about how America is going to hell in a handbasket and openly hates Obama with the fierceness of a thousand raging infernos. Still, what does that have to do with his contract as a port consultant?

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing. And, if you read the entire FIRST piece (please do) you'll find that the author, essentially, admits as much: The Dr. is eminently qualified for his position and brings an impressive resume' to bear, yet he is an "asshole" and the author resents his tax dollars being used to enrich him.

Which brings me to... "First" piece?

Yes. The author wrote this piece on February 11, expending 1,781 words on it then wrote a second piece, which was published in print and online, dated February 18. In the second piece he no longer uses the word "asshole" to describe Dr. Barber but expends another 2,171 words on him.

I'm beginning to think maybe the author doesn't care for this consultant fellow.

This author has a soapbox from which to preach his point of view. He can scream at the masses that "assholes" should have no place on the government dime and be assured that, mostly, the only readers who will ever cast their gaze upon his words are the regular readers of Folio who are, by and large, leftist hipsters and those desperate enough to seek out their horoscopes (or wish quietly to themselves that someone might mention them in the "I Saw You" section). But, as a "reporter", he also has access to our city leaders to not only inquire of their views, but to attempt to shape them. I find THAT, to borrow his own words, "patently offensive."

If you have the time, read both pieces. I found them both interesting because, let's face it, it seems Dr. Dr. Barber had Obama pegged long before many Conservatives did. I also find the piece wildly entertaining because the author is all about the feels and writes with the emotional clarity and intellectual maturity of, well, a leftist hipster who would be published at an indy rag.

See there, that's ME judging a fella by his personal beliefs. The difference, of course, is that they are reflected in his work product.

So, eff him. The hypocrite.

UPDATE and thanks to Frankly for finding it: The Consultant has been terminated though will likely keep most of the $60k.

Now, this strikes me as playing rather fast and loose with the taxpayer's money AND it shows how thin-skinned and partisan city government has become here in Jax.

It also proves that Folio Weekly is precisely what most of us have known all along, a Social Justice Warrior with cheap ink.

posted by Open Blogger at 11:55 AM

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