How Many Times A Day Do You Take Orders? You Might Be Surprised.
Posted: Friday, November 27, 2009
by Michael Ramzy
delusionthread.com
Another beautiful day in America and here in Austin the weather is trying to decide whether to be sunny and warm or cold and gloomy. Kind of like the mood in Washington these days: should we think of those in charge as all fuzzy and warm, all caring and in tune with the country? Or should we think they are wondering how to say this sentence to the American people: 'We know it looks like we don't know what we're doing, and our actions kind of bear that out, but trust us'.
When my alarm clock jangled at 5am this morning I was struck by a sudden thought: how many times a day am I told what to do? Not by my boss, who basically lets me run the show (until I do something insane, of course), but by others. Others could also include machines, such as the above-mentioned alarm clock.
So, without making too much of a big deal about this (and yet, here I am writing about it!), I figure the following are what gives orders to the typical, average American.
1) Alarm clocks
2) Coffee machines. I can attest to this one as I am at the mercy of my coffee machine.
3) Television. Specifically, when a particular show is on. Some people design their entire day (or life, sadly) around when a show will air.
4) Stoplights. The exception is here in Austin, which doesn't seem to have any. Just ask any driver.
5) Time clocks at work. This is for those of you who punch a clock, and you have to wait until the hour to punch in. You can't punch in early, since those minutes add up as wasted, unproductive time. Of course, staring at a timeclock is wasting your time, but that's another issue.
6) Drive Through at a restaurant. You place your order and are told to 'pull around to the first/second window'.
7) Other drivers at stopsigns. You arrive at a fourway stop sign at the same time as someone else. The driver on your right goes first (I'm told), and sometimes he or she gestures for you to go ahead first.
8) Advertising. This includes billboards, but specifically television. 'Buy this' or that for happiness, increased sex drive, or to cure some (percieved or actual) ailment.
9) Friends. By definition, friends don't really give orders. And yet, many times we find we are doing something because we won't like how we'll feel if we don't.
10) Complete strangers. The same as friends above, complete strangers don't (can't) give orders. And yet, many times we find we do something for them because we won't like how it will look. And no, I'm not talking about common courtesy.
11) Spouses. As with the last two above, friends and strangers, we do things for spouses because to not do them would spell trouble (or certain doom, depending on the relationship). Our loved ones give orders (or rather, we follow their wishes - I know, how diplomatic of me!) without them really being orders, yet for the most part that is what they are.
And there are so many more.
We Americans sure are an independent lot. And we get riled whenever we hear someone from Washington (or our state capitals) tell us what we should do. We seem to have no problem, however, following orders. I guess it all boils down to who is doing the ordering . . .
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)I'll have fries with that please.... pull forward.... interesting outlook and well written piece! MarijoThanks very much. My brain works in strange ways, apparently. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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