Comments on Why Is There Such Terror About Rising Above Mediocrity?

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Azur
It sounds as if the editor is in fear of his job, and I think your friend should find a new path which uses his skills.

posted by johnmacnab on February 6, 2006 at 6:13 AM | link to this | reply

This happens in the low end jobs much more often because people are
really easy to replace.

posted by Bud-Oracle on February 4, 2006 at 10:34 PM | link to this | reply

All very sad but true

stranger things do happen,

Jo

posted by brisbane_artist on February 4, 2006 at 8:13 PM | link to this | reply

Azur--- Awhile back, a friend lost his "dream" job because he was too
good and threatened the status quo of a career bureaucrat. Not right, not fair, but it happens. And just as someone can not be hired--- or fired--- because he's overqualified or too good, so too can someone succeed--- even if he's completely incompetent--- if he knows the right people. Much of the success in the publishing world, by the way, is attributable not to talent and/or writing skill but to knowing the right people or, finally, bumping into the right people.

posted by Jazwolf on February 4, 2006 at 3:34 PM | link to this | reply

Hello, Azur.....Yeah, sad to have to even think about dumbing down.....
I think it's a shame. Tell your pal to hang in there until the right place comes along. Yes, I think there are some outfits that would rather deal with mediocrity because it seems safe...Good post.

posted by MedusaNextDoor on February 4, 2006 at 11:41 AM | link to this | reply

There's your answer...rather be employed than over-average.

Been there. Pisses the boss off when you're hired to lug the boxes off the shelf, but you start figuratively oiling the gears and sanding the rough edges and sketching the next iteration of widget.

One of my personal touchstone pieces of fiction is "Flowers for Algernon". It addresses that question. I hope another writer does that story again for the coming generatins. Or maybe we have done it again when we write stories about robots and computers which get too uppity.

posted by majroj on February 4, 2006 at 11:32 AM | link to this | reply

Passionflower
I think sometimes we have to create something better

posted by Azur on February 4, 2006 at 11:03 AM | link to this | reply

Majroj
I think I'd rate being over-qualified over being unemployed

posted by Azur on February 4, 2006 at 11:02 AM | link to this | reply

Renigade3
Yes it is lame

posted by Azur on February 4, 2006 at 11:01 AM | link to this | reply

Yeah, I've been turned down for a few jobs because of "overqualification."
I think it's a lame excuse, myself.

posted by Renigade on February 4, 2006 at 6:14 AM | link to this | reply

This is happening alot these days...very sad, huh!
Maybe something better will come along for your friend.

posted by Passionflower on February 3, 2006 at 10:14 PM | link to this | reply

Gotr a phantom post there?
Ever see someone who IS overqualified work at his or her job? Isn't pretty.

posted by majroj on February 3, 2006 at 10:08 PM | link to this | reply