Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Old as dirt
My latest social experiment began on Monday afternoon, after we had gotten some potted plants for Earth Day (which is April 21st if you know the song). On Monday afternoon, I noticed a potsworth of dirt at the end of our hallway. Usually, I'd be the first person to call to have it cleaned up, but we've recently changed our "just call the janitor, and they'll clean it up" into a labyrinth-based website where you need to know the subcategory and group class for your request. Seriously!
While I used to be the first person to call the telephone number to get stuff fixed, I don't see this new system as a way of maintaining our building. I do however see it as an excellent way of preventing maintenance from being performed. So, I've decided to stop being the person who calls things in. The first week resulted in the bathroom sink being clogged for several days - and then over the weekend. Eventually, when a spooky white film formed over the edges, it got cleaned up somehow.
This latest hallway experiment is an interesting one. It seems that without my calling, the dirt just remains. I placed some cones around the dirt to prevent people from grinding it into the carpet, but by and large, the dirt has remained untouched.
In a large way, it reminds me of why I'm always the person who goes over to a neighbors house to have him turn his music down. He does immediately, and we part friendly. I've noticed that I'm the only one who has ever attempted to ask him to turn his music down, which tells me that everyone else is completely willing to put up with the noise.
So far, everyone seems to be willing to put up with a pot of dirt on the carpet. D has taken some initiative though - and made little signs.
It's April 21st and everybody knows today is Earth DayMerry Christmas, Happy Birthday to whoever's being born
-- Dramarama's "What Are We Gonna Do"
While I used to be the first person to call the telephone number to get stuff fixed, I don't see this new system as a way of maintaining our building. I do however see it as an excellent way of preventing maintenance from being performed. So, I've decided to stop being the person who calls things in. The first week resulted in the bathroom sink being clogged for several days - and then over the weekend. Eventually, when a spooky white film formed over the edges, it got cleaned up somehow.
This latest hallway experiment is an interesting one. It seems that without my calling, the dirt just remains. I placed some cones around the dirt to prevent people from grinding it into the carpet, but by and large, the dirt has remained untouched.
In a large way, it reminds me of why I'm always the person who goes over to a neighbors house to have him turn his music down. He does immediately, and we part friendly. I've noticed that I'm the only one who has ever attempted to ask him to turn his music down, which tells me that everyone else is completely willing to put up with the noise.
So far, everyone seems to be willing to put up with a pot of dirt on the carpet. D has taken some initiative though - and made little signs.
It's April 21st and everybody knows today is Earth DayMerry Christmas, Happy Birthday to whoever's being born
-- Dramarama's "What Are We Gonna Do"
