Thursday, May 15, 2008

A mini-rant will have to do.

You know, I had a whole rant ready to go. Then I nixed it. It was too personal. Too directed at someone I don’t even know who has upset me time after time over the past few weeks. A fellow blogger.

Don’t worry, it’s not any of you. This blogger doesn’t read or comment here.

Here in university-land I deal with a lot of student leaders. Year after year I watch hard-working, nice students work their way up the ranks of student government. At the lower rungs, they are involved in charity work and advocacy, performing good deeds across the land for no pay and little credit. Once they reach a paid executive position, however, there is often a shift. These dedicated servants gradually become egotistical, power-drunk snots who like to give themselves inflated importance. Their behaviour is reinforced by students still working their way up the ladder who need their support and university administrators who manipulate and stroke their egos to get what they want. They get nominated for awards they don’t deserve; they get praised for hard work they haven’t done; they are given descriptors like “bright” and “innovative” as they take credit for work done by people who actually are bright and innovative. I’m not saying all student leaders follow this path (some of my favourite people in the world are former student leaders), just that it is a phenomenon that happens often.

Anyway, that story is kind of related to my original rant. It's about noticing a shift in style that is not flattering. About forgetting what got you to where you are now. I’m done now, but feeling only moderately better.

12 comments:

Cass. Just Curious said...

Being a student leader in college I have to say that I saw a lot of this and tried really hard to not let it happen to me.

Jess said...

I have always believed this to be true of power in general. But it makes me sad to see that it applies at the student level as well.

Chantal said...

Yuck

Nowheymama said...

You know me so well--thanks for saying it wasn't any of us. I would have worried.

SLynnRo said...

OOOOOOOOOOH, but now I want to know!

This is why I do my best to be mediocre at work. Keeps me real.

LoriD said...

slynnro - ha ha! me too!

Family Adventure said...

Do you read Derfwad Manor by Mrs. G? She is the antithesis to what (I think) you are describing. She's still all about community, inclusion and friendship. I wish everyone who experienced a bit of success were like that :)

Have a good day, Lori,

Heidi

email said...

I know EXACTLY what you mean. Some people become absolute tyrants when they get a little power. All those people are doing is proving that they are crappy leaders.

Misty said...

I always want to rant about stuff but then end up not doing it. Because I am afraid of judgement...and of getting found out by the person I am ranting about.

Heh.

Tess said...

AHH! I'm with slynnro! What if you just EMAILED ME the rant?

You would feel so much better! And so would I!

CP said...

I'm going to apply what you said re bloggers to what I think about a lot of the so named "mommy bloggers" out there who are too "good" to read all of their comments, reply to emails, read other bloggers' posts, etc. It took me a long time to take the plunge into blogging (prob 3 years or more) and now I am disillusioned on a daily basis with the lack of community in the community I thought I was joining.

We're going to BlogHer this year and I was so excited at first. Now I'm worried that all of the "big bloggers" will remain secluded in their own clique and the rest of the bloggers will have formed their own group and I'll be sitting over in the corner by myself.

OK- so maybe I'm projecting some of my own social anxiety issues onto others here but my first comment is something I've been surprised to experience.

(Deep breath) Rant Over. Thanks for letting me hijak your comments! :)

Mandy said...

I serioulsy need to figure out how you did that .. I have many rants I want to go on but dont how to "not do it" like you just did.. thanks for the inspiration and glad it made you feel a little beter...