A comment from Viekivie on my post "What drives me away..." My initial statements in orange, Viekivie's response in green and my new comments in black.
I must be really bored but here it goes.
* A slow march in implementing technology, moving ahead only when forced to.
Nothing is wrong with slow. Actually I think slow is better. Despite what "technology" can do, computers only spit out what is put into them. Humans have life stages. Can you make an eight year old into an adult in two years with special training?
No, we need the gift of time.
What I meant was that there is technology available, and necessary to society, but the pace of implementation is staggeringly slow. I did not mean only computers. I also include the airport security system, the air traffic equipment, the X-ray machines, medical equipment, sporting equipment, telephones, internet, etc etc. By and large, new technology is implemented only when the last legs of the old has collapsed, or when the shame of public embarrassment is called into play. WHY MUST WE WAIT FOR BASIC CARE? Or indeed, why must we always play catchup to the rest of the world?
* A recalcitrant approach to innovation, especially in the various arms of the public service.
We will never have the resources to fund true innovation, as such we will continue to adopt.
I meant innovation in the sense that people can use their brains to find solutions to problems, not necessarily technological inventions. How many times have you gone to a public office and you know the answer to your problems are simple, yet the dunceys put red tape and attitude rather than assist you? That is what I mean. For example, how many times has the Licensing Office failed to issue permits because 'the camera not working'? At my registration for Uni, my photo was taken by a simple webcam and embedded in the ID instantly.
The question we must ask ourselves is adopt from whom?
As my answer above; we need to think for ourselves.
* A lazy and impolite customer care attitude.
Whilst this is true, it is also part of Trini culture to engage in banter. Did you never end up spending an entire afternoon ole talking at the shop, when you just went for a bread.
I would like to continue to live in a place where time is elastic.
Banter is okay, however, look at the attitude and you will realise its not banter I meant either. I am talking about the surly, ill-mannered treatment generally dispensed. Or the fact that you can also be ignored as if you don't exist.
* Rude and power-craven public servants (the majority, there are some who genuinely try).
Take you best novel and sit and wait or better make paper cranes for every child and put on a puppet show.
I did the latter last time I had to get my driving license renewed.
My time is valuable... why should I have to waste it when these people are being paid to work, same as I am?
* Fellow citizens mulishly stuck in traditions and not willing to see the world as needing change.
Some people chose to live here. To return. Because we like it.
Adaptability is necessary, and change is certain as the sea tides... is it so bad a thing to want to see my country progress? I know, not all change is good, but we can choose the best and leave the rest...
* A traffic situation on par with any in world, and regressively worse than many First World countries.
This I will give you and I walk to work and I chose jobs within walking distance of my home. Also I take taxis, even though I have a car. It will only change if we change the car culture.
I will grant living in England for five years for having changed me in this respect.
You have that opportunity, so many other people do not. They have to grin and bear it.
* Crime and kidnapping higher than the majority of countries in the world.
Concede Trinidad is part of Latin America. And note the direct correlation with escalation of violence in Venezuela. Will not comment further.
Crime in Trinidad may resemble that of other countries, but it is of our own making, and comparing as you do is feeble, really feeble. Our culture alone is so different, and I'm suspicious that in itself assists in breeding the criminals... thus our criminal mindset differs from any other country.
* Police considerably more stupid than most in the world.
The possibility is more sinister, that they are one in the same and a state of emergency is what they want- extraordinary powers which they will never give back.
We need to teach more Latin American history.
I don't know that these dunceys could learn history or how to put a sinister plot together. After all, they fail in secondary school, only scraping 3 subjects - as I point out many a time, they cannot learn. This was demonstrated from way back... you have high hopes if you expect them to change. Me? I'll stick with my 0.01%.
* A legal fraternity more concerned with obtaining fat contracts and briefs than to protect the society.
Most lawyers are not in the protect society business. This is not a reasonable expectation.
This is a very reasonable expectation. We all live within the same society, and what affects one, affects the other. Do you think if laws are changed, for example that lawyers will be immune? I have expectations of them because they have the expertise and training to see more clearly where we are being shafted. They have the expertise and training to know how best to stop the rail-roading. You won't go to a carpenter for representation in a court case, nor a mechanic for a medical diagnosis.
* A medical fraternity concerned with milking the meagre pockets of the population by ransoming healthcare.
I think this is unfair.
How? We can see from the actions over the past years, and the present actions of the medical board that what I said is true. I know some doctors who are very conscientious, but they are in the minority.
* A dwindling supply of intellectuals and increasing supply of intellectually challenged.
You must chose to live here. It is an individual choice.
It is an individual 'choice'?. Ask the people who were victims of rape, murdered relatives, kidnapping etc if they felt they had a 'choice' in leaving. What about the more highly trained who seek adequate compensation and higher living standards... do they see themselves as having a choice? I think the ones who remain are the ones without the choice, mate.
* A parasitic oligarchy intent on self preservation.
Name me a country without this.
I'll give you this one. I suppose my grouse is really when the government pampers them to the point of ignoring the rest of us.
I must be really bored but here it goes.
* A slow march in implementing technology, moving ahead only when forced to.
Nothing is wrong with slow. Actually I think slow is better. Despite what "technology" can do, computers only spit out what is put into them. Humans have life stages. Can you make an eight year old into an adult in two years with special training?
No, we need the gift of time.
What I meant was that there is technology available, and necessary to society, but the pace of implementation is staggeringly slow. I did not mean only computers. I also include the airport security system, the air traffic equipment, the X-ray machines, medical equipment, sporting equipment, telephones, internet, etc etc. By and large, new technology is implemented only when the last legs of the old has collapsed, or when the shame of public embarrassment is called into play. WHY MUST WE WAIT FOR BASIC CARE? Or indeed, why must we always play catchup to the rest of the world?
* A recalcitrant approach to innovation, especially in the various arms of the public service.
We will never have the resources to fund true innovation, as such we will continue to adopt.
I meant innovation in the sense that people can use their brains to find solutions to problems, not necessarily technological inventions. How many times have you gone to a public office and you know the answer to your problems are simple, yet the dunceys put red tape and attitude rather than assist you? That is what I mean. For example, how many times has the Licensing Office failed to issue permits because 'the camera not working'? At my registration for Uni, my photo was taken by a simple webcam and embedded in the ID instantly.
The question we must ask ourselves is adopt from whom?
As my answer above; we need to think for ourselves.
* A lazy and impolite customer care attitude.
Whilst this is true, it is also part of Trini culture to engage in banter. Did you never end up spending an entire afternoon ole talking at the shop, when you just went for a bread.
I would like to continue to live in a place where time is elastic.
Banter is okay, however, look at the attitude and you will realise its not banter I meant either. I am talking about the surly, ill-mannered treatment generally dispensed. Or the fact that you can also be ignored as if you don't exist.
* Rude and power-craven public servants (the majority, there are some who genuinely try).
Take you best novel and sit and wait or better make paper cranes for every child and put on a puppet show.
I did the latter last time I had to get my driving license renewed.
My time is valuable... why should I have to waste it when these people are being paid to work, same as I am?
* Fellow citizens mulishly stuck in traditions and not willing to see the world as needing change.
Some people chose to live here. To return. Because we like it.
Adaptability is necessary, and change is certain as the sea tides... is it so bad a thing to want to see my country progress? I know, not all change is good, but we can choose the best and leave the rest...
* A traffic situation on par with any in world, and regressively worse than many First World countries.
This I will give you and I walk to work and I chose jobs within walking distance of my home. Also I take taxis, even though I have a car. It will only change if we change the car culture.
I will grant living in England for five years for having changed me in this respect.
You have that opportunity, so many other people do not. They have to grin and bear it.
* Crime and kidnapping higher than the majority of countries in the world.
Concede Trinidad is part of Latin America. And note the direct correlation with escalation of violence in Venezuela. Will not comment further.
Crime in Trinidad may resemble that of other countries, but it is of our own making, and comparing as you do is feeble, really feeble. Our culture alone is so different, and I'm suspicious that in itself assists in breeding the criminals... thus our criminal mindset differs from any other country.
* Police considerably more stupid than most in the world.
The possibility is more sinister, that they are one in the same and a state of emergency is what they want- extraordinary powers which they will never give back.
We need to teach more Latin American history.
I don't know that these dunceys could learn history or how to put a sinister plot together. After all, they fail in secondary school, only scraping 3 subjects - as I point out many a time, they cannot learn. This was demonstrated from way back... you have high hopes if you expect them to change. Me? I'll stick with my 0.01%.
* A legal fraternity more concerned with obtaining fat contracts and briefs than to protect the society.
Most lawyers are not in the protect society business. This is not a reasonable expectation.
This is a very reasonable expectation. We all live within the same society, and what affects one, affects the other. Do you think if laws are changed, for example that lawyers will be immune? I have expectations of them because they have the expertise and training to see more clearly where we are being shafted. They have the expertise and training to know how best to stop the rail-roading. You won't go to a carpenter for representation in a court case, nor a mechanic for a medical diagnosis.
* A medical fraternity concerned with milking the meagre pockets of the population by ransoming healthcare.
I think this is unfair.
How? We can see from the actions over the past years, and the present actions of the medical board that what I said is true. I know some doctors who are very conscientious, but they are in the minority.
* A dwindling supply of intellectuals and increasing supply of intellectually challenged.
You must chose to live here. It is an individual choice.
It is an individual 'choice'?. Ask the people who were victims of rape, murdered relatives, kidnapping etc if they felt they had a 'choice' in leaving. What about the more highly trained who seek adequate compensation and higher living standards... do they see themselves as having a choice? I think the ones who remain are the ones without the choice, mate.
* A parasitic oligarchy intent on self preservation.
Name me a country without this.
I'll give you this one. I suppose my grouse is really when the government pampers them to the point of ignoring the rest of us.
