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Lets Talk 1 / Part II

Issue 1

Single Mothers Regimen

F: I remember when we upgraded our computer system. We all thought that our work would get much easier once we learned how to navigate1 the new system. M: I gather2 that that did not happen. F: Absolutely not! During the transition phase,3 we had to do everything two times, once the old way that we were used to, and also once the new way. So we work twice as hard! M: Any adjustment to novelty4 is difficult. F: And, of course, it also took a lot of time and trial-and-error. M: But, surely, however long, it was just a temporary situation. When you finally mastered the new system, Im sure everything worked out fine. F: You mean, other than the continuous upgrades that we undergo? M: A minor and relatively infrequent happening, Im sure, and each time the situation improves, doesnt it? F: Of course not! The more technologically advances our office becomes, the more we are all expected to do. It used to be that if business grew, new people were hired to handle the overflow.5 But now the same number of people keep doing more tasks. M: Why is that so, do you reckon?6 F: the way I figure, I used to have X number of things to do every day. Lets day it was X +/- 5, since every day was not exactly the same. But it took about 8 hours to do my job, and then I went home. M: OK, so then you got a new computer. F: Right. So I still did my old X +/- 5 task, but for a while I did it twice, in the same 8 hours. Although usually I had to work late. M: So, this was 2 (X +/- 5)? F: Yes. After a mouth, it was closer to the old task, though, since we didnt have to duplicate all our work anymore. But it never again become X +/- in the old way; we never has the luxury7 of doing our old jobs in less than eight hours, as we thought.
1 2

navigate: deal effectively gather: conclude 3 transition phase: period between two distinct conditions 4 novelty: (sth) new and unusual 5 overflow: excess; too great an amount or quantity 6 reckon: think or assume 7 luxury: anything above the level of necessity

Issue 01 (Dialogue) 123

M: What happened? F: It gradually, though rather quickly, became X + Y + Z. As each task became somewhat simpler because of the computer and other labor-saving devices, we simply had more tasks to do. But the number of tasks, and the amount of support and backup work that each task now requires, kept filling all the time available. More than kept pace,1 in fact. These days, despite all my nifty2 new tools, I never get to leave the office early. Its usually at least an hour later, and most of the time I end up3 taking work home with me. M: Oh? F: Yes, thats another big disadvantage. Since the computer in my house is like the one at work, being at home is more and more like being in the office. I feel more and more enslaved,4 as though Ive lost all touch with my private life. M: It must seem like the job never ends. F: Exactly! M: So, what can you do about it? F: Thats a good question! But I dont like the trends5 of people staying at home to do the work via6 computer. Its true that they save time traveling back and forth to their job, but they just use that same time doing more work! The problem is not so much the amount of time, its the erosion7 of our private lives. M: Maybe we should have more vacations more often. F: That might help. But only if we could get some place far away from the phones and faxes and emails! Otherwise, we would just be expanding the erosion on a global basis. We need to be able to drop out completely for some very definable8 period of time, or were all going to become crazy. M: You know, this reminds me of sleep. F: Sleep! Now, theres a novel thought! M: Sleep is analogous9 to the modern work situation, I think. The amount of time people spend sleeping is relatively unimportant the really vital aspect is the quality. Every day or so, people need to have a period of deep sleep. If they dont have that, they become more and more sluggish,10 and in only a few days they start to lose their sanity.11
1 2

more than kept pace: went faster than nifty: well designed; effective, or easy to use 3 end up: come to a finish or a final position 4 enslave: make (sb) into a servant 5 trends: general direction or tendency 6 via: by means of

7 8 9

erode: lessen or disappear definable: able to be defined analogous: similar or parallel in certain ways 10 sluggish: lacking alertness, vigor, or energy 11 sanity: soundness of mind

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Lets Talk 1 / Part II

F: I think you captured1 the situation perfectly. Its not really the time we spend working that is so much the issue, its our inability to completely and clearly stop working thats the problem.

captured: understand, picture, hold

Issue 01 (Dialogue) 125

Questions
1. Did the man seem sympathetic or indifferent at first? How can you tell? 2. Does the woman think the computer is a labor-saving or labor-making invention? Why do you think so? 3. In your own words, how is sleep like work?

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Lets Talk 1 / Part II

Issue 2

Biggest Lies
M: I dont want to go to work today. F: I can well imagine!1 You havent had a day off in weeks? Why dont you just call in sick?2 M: I cant do that. Im not sick, I just dont feel like going to work today. Im tired. F: But you have sick leave3 accrued.4 it doesnt do you any good if you dont ever use it. M: I know. And it doesnt carry over5 to next year. So if I dont use it, lose it. F: I think thats unfair. Your fellow workers take their sick days off and they still get paid for it, but you never do. M: I just dont think its right. The purpose of sick leave is to deal with a medical emergency, not just take time off. I get vacation time, you know. F: But everyone does it! Except you. M: Just because everyone does it doesnt make it right, you know. That excuse would justify anything, and then where would we be?6 F: Where does your honesty get you? You certainly dont get any rewards for it. Nobody hangs a medal on your chest for never telling a lie or bending a rule7 a little bit. M: We shouldnt do the right thing just because we expect a reward. We should do it because its the morally correct thing to do. Thats the only way a just8 society can operate. F: You call our society morally just? Its full of lying, thieving politicians and crooked9 businessmen. They just love to take advantage of honest suckers10 like you. M: But that doesnt mean I have to be like them. If nobody has standards,11 then there arent any standards at all. F: But theyre certainly not going to change on your behalf12. You might as well get your share of benefits. Nobody cares.
10 I can well imagine: Im not surprised; it is easy to understand (sth) suckers: person who is easily taken advantage of 11 call in sick: telephone to say (sb) is not coming to work because of illness standards: the ideas of what is good or normal that 3 leave: permission to be absent, as from work or military duty (sb) uses to compare one thing with other 4 12 accrue: grow or increase over time, especially by adding gradually on (ones) behalf: for (ones) benefit 5 carry over: continue to exist 6 where would we be?: type of rhetorical question (meaning that the answer is self-evident) 7 bend a rule: do (sth) that is not normally allowed, but will not cause serious problem 8 just: morally or legally right 9 crooked: dishonest 1 2

Issue 02 (Dialogue) 127

M: But I care! Just because someone else is a liar doesnt mean that I have to be one too! I may not get much out of this world, but at least I can keep my selfrespect. Even if Im the only one! Isnt that worth something? F: You can take a load of dignity in one hand and a load of diamonds in the otherwhich one is going to be worth more? M: I guess it depends on which scale you measure them on.

Questions

1. Which person would probably suggest that morality is related to expediency?1 2. What is the value of a moral code that is not universally applied? 3. Why does she call him a sucker? Why doesnt he think he is one?

expediency: what is useful or necessary to do in a particular situation, even if it is morally wrong