Subterfuge at work, a fun subject to study.
Some of my favorites from a declassified WWII “simple productivity sabotage” manual:
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Insist on doing everything through “channels.” Never permit short-cuts to be taken in order to expedite decisions.
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Make “speeches.” Talk as frequently as possible and at great length. Illustrate your “points” by long anecdotes and accounts of personal experiences.
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When possible, refer all matters to committees, for “further study and consideration.” Attempt to make the committee as large as possible — never less than five.
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Bring up irrelevant issues as frequently as possible.
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Haggle over precise wordings of communications, minutes, resolutions.
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Refer back to matters decided upon at the last meeting and attempt to re-open the question of the advisability of that decision.
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Advocate “caution.” Be “reasonable” and urge your fellow-conferees to be "reasonable"and avoid haste which might result in embarrassments or difficulties later on.
When I first saw these I was like goddamn, psyops got to my executive director!
david@feddit.uk 1 year ago
I don’t know who you are, or what you write, but thank you.