Experiment...

[feren]

I've been reading JWZ's rants again. He's made me remember how much I hate the traditional corporate mindscape. To celebrate the complete Charlie Foxtrot (that's polite code for "cluster fuck") that permeates my workplace and prevents individual thought, I recently hit upon the unoriginal idea to make a statement about the way a company that prides itself on teaching technology has become firmly lodged in 1970. I think it would be fun to mock the anti-progressive group-think by dressing up as a faceless drone, an IBM employee, a Man In Black. I want to do the full black suit with black tie and impeccable white shirt. I want to have five of them that I wear, one per day. I will print the day of the week that each suit should be worn on the tag, so I can complete the conversion of my brain into little more than a heat sink for the rest of my body.

The problem is I don't know if it'd draw any attention. Worse yet, I'm frightened it might garner me praise.

Help.

Comments

[jdm314.livejournal.com]

so I can complete the conversion of my brain into little more than a heat sink for the rest of my body.

Wow, I didn't know you studied Ancient Greek medicine!

[frostyw.livejournal.com]

I think it would be fun to mock the anti-progressive group-think by dressing up as a faceless drone, an IBM employee, a Man In Black.

Hey, now. I take exception to that remark. I don't dress up in a black suit. IBM has become a more free-thinking organization with a less formal dress code.

And my boss comes in with solid color t-shirts (and sometimes prints) with an open button-down shirt. And our manager doesn't call him on it.

[aynjel.livejournal.com]

Just because they've done away with the uniform doesn't mean they've done away with the mindset...

Color me cynical.

Re:

[frostyw.livejournal.com]

Possibly. We're coming from a Global Services "managed operations" account ,which means we've never set foot in an IBM facility, and we may never. IBM's take on dress code in our instance is akin to "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." (within reason)

[aynjel.livejournal.com]

Actually, to be fair, most of the IBM folk I've worked with are from Global Services' J.D.Edwards practice. And they're mostly pretty laid back and cool. And the "When in Rome..." thing applies. I just think that Big Blue does have "corporate drone" inertia going in aspects that may not display in the individuals (especially not in the individuals who are going 'out into the world' so to speak), but that are definately apparent in other aspects of how they do business.

[sylverfox.livejournal.com]

I could see you doing the black suit thing. Hell, get some sunglasses, you'd be a dead ringer for Agent Smith. :) I'll go sit down now.

[feren.livejournal.com]

"Welcome to DeVry, Mister Anderson...."

Suit-uated

[mistletoe.livejournal.com]

I don't know if your employer will appreciate such attire, but I think Jen would. ;)

*walks off, plotting to get Tremaine to dress up soon*

[brianblackberry.livejournal.com]

Far too many corporate types may be linear in thinking to figure out what you are trying to say.

I suggest a black hat and black sunglasses in addition, maybe just maybe they will get your point.

maybe...they are still corporate types after all.

[feren.livejournal.com]

If I'm going to do the sunglasses and a hat I might as well do a pinstripe suit with a fedora and go "Chicagoland Gangster" style.... ;)