Ageism rule is a laugh

Very commendable that employers shouldn’t ignore applications from someone they feel may be ‘too old’ for the vacancy they’re advertising – a UK law that sounded almost sensible: until you think about it.

Employers recruit youngsters a) because they’re cheaper or b) because employers think they can ‘mould them int0 the job.

They prefer not to employ older candidates because a) they think they will have to pay them more or b) because if the candidates were good at their jobs they’d be targeting ‘better’ vacancies.

An ‘old’s’ person CV will give away something about their age – even though age is no longer requested on an application.

Employers got round the rule by stipulating that only graduates should apply – filtering a good many applicants who probably have more to offer but didn’t go to university.

Ageism is still very much an issue in the workplace and no law is going to prevent that problem.

Facebook – what’s the ****** point?

If you can catch me out, I’ve got a page on Facebook – but only because I was invited and I didn’t want to deny those people as friends.

Then what to we do….send accept ‘fish’ for our ‘aquarium’ or ‘flowers’ for our ‘garden’. I don’t take part in that. What’s the point – and I really want to know the answer?

The very worst I’ve experienced was the ‘friends’ comparison’ application. I was asked to rate who was the best company, who I’d had the best laugh with (actually I don’t remember all the questions because I thought the concept was so evil I didn’t read much before ignoring it.)

On the one hand, you don’t want to seem like a social outcast – so reply to the invitations. On the other, you know these people well and don’t need to be registered with them on a virtual friendship mechanism.

I know what you’re thinking – what about the new friends. But who are they??? Why do they need a computer to make friends?

I hsve no probem with dateing agencies, they serve a purpose.

Business networking sites – although not astoundingly recommended – also have a purpose and those in them get to know the strengths and weaknesses.

But Facebook- I just don’t get it. Politely I reply to requests I receive – but I don’t know why I bother. Nobody – including Facebook – has made it clear. Perhaps this is just one network too many or one that’s unecessary.

If you have an anwer, let me know.

Spam, spam – I’m sick of spam

Even as I write, messages will be pinging into my junk mailbox. I’ve trained it quite well so over time it has become to recognise spam for the junk it is.

That’s not the end of it though, is it? Somehow penis enlargement ads filter through to one of my mailboxes while bona fide emails from friends/family/colleagues slip into ‘Junk’. Result: I can’t even delete my junk mailbox without going through it to check that nothing important has fallen through into it. OK, so I end up wasting time – but here’s the question.

Why are these companies bothering? Do they believe it’s simply a numbers game and, if they send out enough messages, somebody, somewhere will have their penis enlarged? Or reply to an email informing them money has been left to them in the will of a person they’ve never heard of – and in the process give away bank details.

Oh and this is a good one: we should all be millionnaires by now from simply doing nothing but blogging – except we have to pay for the privilege of unlocking the secret (I suppose that’s fair) by buying a book that will tell us no more than a good blogging system already explains anyway (That’s not fair!)

I suppose there’s no answer? In the absence of internet police people can post anything they like onto the web. Clicking onto the unwanted link (if you feel so angry you want to reply) only serves the purpose of making you a participating recipient.

So guess the best tactic is to have a cup of tea, remember Mondays shouldn’t start with a rant and return to the computer a little calmer. Put it in perspective, I suppose (and let they who want to waste their money – what’s the trouble in hitting the delete button when you need to…)