Vague communication is the downfall of any relationship. When you are giving instructions, please please please be clear. When you are describing something, please be clear. Now, I'm not saying you need to be poetic about it, but you at least need to get the person from point A to point B without missing steps in between.
I love it when a supervisor or teacher gives an assignment and doesn't tell you the steps to complete it. I don't need to know every little detail, but when you expect me to complete an assignment, but don't give me the information I need to do so, you are not a kind person.
A few weeks ago, one of my professors needed us to get together with classmates via an online group video chat system. We were told to use the links provided in order to use this software. We were not told who our group members were, nor where the "provided links" were actually provided. Turns out, that information was buried deep inside another set of folders. It would have taken my professor ten seconds to type out where that information could be found, but instead I took an hour and a half to dig for it. This is bad communication, and I suffered for it.
Another form of vague communication is what my mother deems "Get-Me-a-Rock Syndrome." To explain this, I'll put it in context. You work in a rock quarry. Your boss tells you to go out and get him a rock. So, you go out, pick up the first rock you see, and bring it to him. He then informs you the rock he needs has to be bigger. You go out again and retrieve a larger rock. He tells you this one is too big. After several more times, you finally obtain the correct size rock, only to be informed that the desired rock must be red. After finding a rock with that description, he once again defines the parameters to include blue speckles and a white band.
See what I'm getting at here? 30 rocks later, he still doesn't have what he wants and it is somehow your fault for not bringing the correct rock. You both are pissed, he's about to fire you, and you are about to bash his face in for wasting your time.
People need to just open their mouths and actually give clear directions that can be understood. Those listening also need to have the balls to ask a question if they don't understand any part of the instructions. This will keep so much hassle from happening, and in the end, everyone will be happier!
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Accounting
I hate accounting.
I hate it with a passion that burn brighter than the fiery pits of Hell combined with the righteous indignant fury of the Hosts of Heaven.
I've taken the same stupid accounting class for my university classes hmmm... lets see... oh just THREE TIMES! I hate this class with every fiber of my being. I can't stand not being able to get the concepts, and there is nobody in the world who is able to explain it to me in a way I understand (with the exception of one, who is a Godsend, and may actually be able to pull my butt through this class). Before I found this guy, though, I'd been through everything I could think of to get my brain to wrap itself around the concepts put forth by my professors.
There is an accounting lab on campus, which is supposed to specialize in tutoring morons like me in a way that is understandable. I think "Great! That will allow me to get some help and get the accounting juices flowing!" Not wanting to look like a total doofus, I make sure that I have read the book, looked over the homework, and come with a list of specific questions to ask the tutors there, so I can walk out of there feeling confident that I can last one more day in this nightmare of a class. I finally get the attention of one of the tutors, and he comes over, sits down next to me, and says (Verbatim) "Well, everything is in the book. Why don't you read the book and see if that helps."
Like I haven't already thought of that.
You idiot! I came to you because I've exhausted all the other options I can think of. Don't tell me to just read the book and all will magically become clear! I've done that. Now answer the questions that I've brought to you AFTER having read the book.
By the time I come out of my shock of him having said this, however, he has already stood up and moved on to help another struggling student. I never got help from there. I'd like to say this was a one time occurance, too. Unfortunately, this proved to be the rule, rather than the exception, when it came to the amount of help I recieved from that disgrace of a tutoring center.
I hate accounting.
I hate it with a passion that burn brighter than the fiery pits of Hell combined with the righteous indignant fury of the Hosts of Heaven.
I've taken the same stupid accounting class for my university classes hmmm... lets see... oh just THREE TIMES! I hate this class with every fiber of my being. I can't stand not being able to get the concepts, and there is nobody in the world who is able to explain it to me in a way I understand (with the exception of one, who is a Godsend, and may actually be able to pull my butt through this class). Before I found this guy, though, I'd been through everything I could think of to get my brain to wrap itself around the concepts put forth by my professors.
There is an accounting lab on campus, which is supposed to specialize in tutoring morons like me in a way that is understandable. I think "Great! That will allow me to get some help and get the accounting juices flowing!" Not wanting to look like a total doofus, I make sure that I have read the book, looked over the homework, and come with a list of specific questions to ask the tutors there, so I can walk out of there feeling confident that I can last one more day in this nightmare of a class. I finally get the attention of one of the tutors, and he comes over, sits down next to me, and says (Verbatim) "Well, everything is in the book. Why don't you read the book and see if that helps."
Like I haven't already thought of that.
You idiot! I came to you because I've exhausted all the other options I can think of. Don't tell me to just read the book and all will magically become clear! I've done that. Now answer the questions that I've brought to you AFTER having read the book.
By the time I come out of my shock of him having said this, however, he has already stood up and moved on to help another struggling student. I never got help from there. I'd like to say this was a one time occurance, too. Unfortunately, this proved to be the rule, rather than the exception, when it came to the amount of help I recieved from that disgrace of a tutoring center.
I hate accounting.
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