[Edward hopes, very dearly, that Sebastian is exaggerating, even if only just a little bit. And that he's missing some further context. This thought is what's helping him keep a firmer leash on his temper.]
For what it might be worth, I'm sorry you were told that.
[Anyway. Yeah, let's focus on the actual work at hand, what needs handling right now. Everything else can wait.]
If I decide I need the details, I'll be sure to ask him. For now, I think broad strokes are fine -- The patterns. Knowing what types of negative thoughts you tend to have. [Because "negative thoughts" is pretty... unspecific. Not much to work off of.]
[From Sebastian's perspective? He's absolutely not exaggerating. Jon Sims is the worst. All right, so maybe he's leaving out some context, but Jon is still the worst.
He doesn't acknowledge the "I'm sorry you were told that" part, but... oddly, hearing that is worth something. It's an alien experience: Sebastian has never cared much about other people's opinions.]
Since this assignment was about spending time with people I like, my negative thoughts largely revolved around how spending time together in unproductive ways is a waste of time. As far as I am concerned, I could just as well spend time with these people cooking, or cleaning, or in other productive pursuits, but instead we had to spend the time doing leisure activities. Mr Sims did explain his reasoning for this, but I will admit I do not quite understand the point all the same.
[Sebastian should, perhaps, focus on the negative thoughts he tends to have about people in general, not the select few he actually likes. But well. Avoid-y bs is a deep-rooted habit.]
[For now, Edward doesn't question this particular moment of avoid-y BS. It doesn't strike him as untrue, in any case, and even if it isn't the whole picture, it's still something to work with, which is enough for him. He doesn't look at it further.]
What was his reasoning? [He can guess, but it's unproductive to assume.]
Since I will need to change things about myself in order to leave this place, it is counterproductive to keep my usual habits, he said. That part I understand. However, I believe Mr Sims erroneously thought I have been hard at work for decades, which is not the case... which I attempted to explain to him, and which he ignored.
He instead suggested that this assignment of spending time with people should, for now, be my primary job and focus. Which is all well and good, but like I said, I do not understand how "work alongside" does not count as "spending time together".
[Edward hums thoughtfully, the noise a low rumble in his chest more than anything else.]
Yeah. I can see his logic in breaking habits. [So he's in agreement there, too. As for the rest...]
Personally, for me, "work alongside" can mean "spending time together." The "spending time" part is about connecting with them, even passively. You can learn a lot about someone based on how they handle the work in front of them. Just the same as you can learn a lot from someone by talking about hobbies, or doing something recreational.
I'll... be the first to admit I'm a workaholic, though. I don't think it negates that there's merit to either idea. But I do think what works is probably different from person to person.
[Sebastian nods thoughtfully. Yes, that makes sense. As for what will work for him...]
Supposing that Mr Sims is correct in his assessment that what I need to change is my self-interest and maliciousness... Personally I cannot see manual labour as a hindrance to working on that. Provided the work is not solitary, of course.
[It's partly a question, and he looks back up at Edward. That's reasonable, right?]
One idea for this is... You could try working your way up towards teamwork. Starting with one person, getting used to it, learning how to see from their perspective -- Actually understanding them, not making assumptions about it. And then slowly adding another person over time.
The manual labor could make thay easier, honestly. In order to properly work together, you need to be able to understand how someone thinks, what their priorities are, how they problem-solve. And manual labor gives you both a goal to work towards in cooperation.
That sounds a very sensible plan, when you put it like that.
The problem is, however, that I already understand how people think perfectly well. I told Mr Sims this as well, but according to him, that is incorrect.
[Yes, Sebastian, lumping "people" into one big pile and claiming to know how all of them think speaks so highly of your understanding of them.]
It's possible you do, generally speaking. I've been alive for over two hundred and thirty years. I'd say that, generally, I understand how people think. But people here keep surprising me, anyway. Once you get on the personal level, generics don't hold up as well.
Oh, dear me. That is quite the respectable age. [Almost not a little baby!]
But please allow me to rephrase that. Obviously I do not think that every single individual has the exact same thought process. Why, back home, I have co-workers whom I must give step-by-step directions on every task or it will not get done correctly. Other colleagues will see what tasks need doing before I have even pointed them out, and will see to them without hand-holding from me.
[See? He even has the teamwork thing down already! He doesn't. He is, in fact, a terrible manager.]
It has generally not been a problem where my coworkers are concerned, thankfully, but... I would not allow such a thing? If a dispute grew into a serious disruption to the work, I would make an order that it would be laid to rest. I would provide a solution, if necessary. Regardless of what every individual thought of that solution, they would be obliged to accept it.
Edited (discrepancy, disruption... same word) 2023-06-25 23:27 (UTC)
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undisguised) wrote2022-08-27 09:17 pm
no subject
For what it might be worth, I'm sorry you were told that.
[Anyway. Yeah, let's focus on the actual work at hand, what needs handling right now. Everything else can wait.]
If I decide I need the details, I'll be sure to ask him. For now, I think broad strokes are fine -- The patterns. Knowing what types of negative thoughts you tend to have. [Because "negative thoughts" is pretty... unspecific. Not much to work off of.]
no subject
He doesn't acknowledge the "I'm sorry you were told that" part, but... oddly, hearing that is worth something. It's an alien experience: Sebastian has never cared much about other people's opinions.]
Since this assignment was about spending time with people I like, my negative thoughts largely revolved around how spending time together in unproductive ways is a waste of time. As far as I am concerned, I could just as well spend time with these people cooking, or cleaning, or in other productive pursuits, but instead we had to spend the time doing leisure activities. Mr Sims did explain his reasoning for this, but I will admit I do not quite understand the point all the same.
[Sebastian should, perhaps, focus on the negative thoughts he tends to have about people in general, not the select few he actually likes. But well. Avoid-y bs is a deep-rooted habit.]
no subject
What was his reasoning? [He can guess, but it's unproductive to assume.]
no subject
He instead suggested that this assignment of spending time with people should, for now, be my primary job and focus. Which is all well and good, but like I said, I do not understand how "work alongside" does not count as "spending time together".
no subject
Yeah. I can see his logic in breaking habits. [So he's in agreement there, too. As for the rest...]
Personally, for me, "work alongside" can mean "spending time together." The "spending time" part is about connecting with them, even passively. You can learn a lot about someone based on how they handle the work in front of them. Just the same as you can learn a lot from someone by talking about hobbies, or doing something recreational.
I'll... be the first to admit I'm a workaholic, though. I don't think it negates that there's merit to either idea. But I do think what works is probably different from person to person.
no subject
Supposing that Mr Sims is correct in his assessment that what I need to change is my self-interest and maliciousness... Personally I cannot see manual labour as a hindrance to working on that. Provided the work is not solitary, of course.
[It's partly a question, and he looks back up at Edward. That's reasonable, right?]
no subject
One idea for this is... You could try working your way up towards teamwork. Starting with one person, getting used to it, learning how to see from their perspective -- Actually understanding them, not making assumptions about it. And then slowly adding another person over time.
The manual labor could make thay easier, honestly. In order to properly work together, you need to be able to understand how someone thinks, what their priorities are, how they problem-solve. And manual labor gives you both a goal to work towards in cooperation.
no subject
The problem is, however, that I already understand how people think perfectly well. I told Mr Sims this as well, but according to him, that is incorrect.
[Yes, Sebastian, lumping "people" into one big pile and claiming to know how all of them think speaks so highly of your understanding of them.]
no subject
no subject
But please allow me to rephrase that. Obviously I do not think that every single individual has the exact same thought process. Why, back home, I have co-workers whom I must give step-by-step directions on every task or it will not get done correctly. Other colleagues will see what tasks need doing before I have even pointed them out, and will see to them without hand-holding from me.
[See? He even has the teamwork thing down already!
He doesn't. He is, in fact, a terrible manager.]no subject
Sure. But how do you handle when disputes arise between them?
no subject
It has generally not been a problem where my coworkers are concerned, thankfully, but... I would not allow such a thing? If a dispute grew into a serious disruption to the work, I would make an order that it would be laid to rest. I would provide a solution, if necessary. Regardless of what every individual thought of that solution, they would be obliged to accept it.