We're All The Same... Pass it On
The Bumper Sticker Guide To "Somebodies And Nobodies" by Robert W. Fuller.
by whitequeenDecember 9, 2004
I don't want to be accused of trivialising an important social issue so lets be clear. I'm sold.
Wrap it up, don't bother with the ribbon, I'll take it as it is. You can't argue with a book that says that the attainment of rank by virtue of merit and achievement is natural and valuable, but that the abuse of the power inherent in that rank is wrong.
Mr Fuller, Robert, no I'm sensing that here's a man who doesn't care about titles and letters so I'm going to call him Bob. I feel he would approve and should we ever meet, unlikely but not impossible, I want him to feel free to call me Deb.
Bob, a nobody and proud of it, calls his concept Rankism and explains that the failure of those of a higher rank to offer the reciprocal respect and dignity, which is every human beings right, is our next great social issue to conquer.
I hesitate to say I'm a convert, which implies a zeal that I can only muster for Bookcrossing, and the occasional iced coffee with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles. I digress. The point is that the book hits a nerve on several points. One of his most telling points is that the experience of being Somebody or Nobody is mutable. We can be Nobody at work and Somebody at home and vice versa. There might be a cycle during our lives when our perceived rank changes due to education, work or social experiences. We often ask questions of people in order to rank them and perhaps treat them accordingly.
Ouch! I resigned from a 20 year career, as the new millennium began, to stay at home. A change my husband is fond of calling my "early retirement."
He's so funny, and a little confused because the house is no cleaner and the weeds are taller than the flowers in our garden beds.
I had worked my way up in a hierarchy that was firmly established and had no problem with accepting that the attainment of rank within the system brought certain "perks," and double standards. You would be naive if you didn't come to realise that there was a certain grease that oiled the system. I liked my business cards. Of course, even the business cards you received had a ranking. No cards for the front line, cards and titles for the next level. Embossed cards for the managers and gold trim for the executives. Oooh pretty.
Rankism was endemic in the system. It's the school bully who picks on the weak kid who goes home and picks on his little brother. Of course, these guys were wearing ties. Bob explains that you fight any discrimination by naming it and exposing it.
I didn't realise that a lot of my self esteem was tied up in who I was at work. Somebody.
I didn't want to write housewife on forms but leaving a blank space wasn't right either.
I found myself explaining "Well I'm at home now but I used to........"
I began to understand what it was like to feel like a nobody and how that might change how people treat you.
So because I do understand both sides and because I am so....over it, here is my opinion.
1. "You're too heavy!...Get down and help."
I like the cover art, designed by Diane McIntosh and illustrated by Stephen Hayes, Image Artville RF. All those Nobodies holding up the Somebody on the top of the Pyramid who is oblivious to their difficulties.
In my version he peers over the top and says "Life's not fair but I am" and climbs down! Big cheer from the crowd.
2. "Don't They Know You're Supposed to have a Last Name."
I hate to quote Meg Ryan but she's right. Studs Terkel, Pulitzer prize winner, obviously agrees as he is disturbed by servers at restaurants calling him Sir while wearing name tags with only their first name displayed.
I should explain that I'm not a great fan of endorsements in the front of books, so I counted them.
Was that rude?
Well, so that you don't have to be rude too, I'll let you know that on the cover and front pages there were 29. They reminded me of those vanity titles at the beginning of a movie. You know, "A Fred Bloggs Movie", in association with" Blah Blah Corp", presented by "Get On With It Cinemas" and distributed by "Lots Of Bucks." Now Bob I think that was overkill, so lets blame the publisher. Move on, move on!
I read them though, and was interested to hear what Betty Friedan, Founder Of the National Organisation for Women, had to say. I was wondering if I needed to know what Laura Adams, homemaker and mother of three, or John F, teacher who had issues with his principal, thought as well.
Then it hit me.
Mea Culpa, I was ranking the value of the endorsements!
Insidious ain't it.
3. "Nobody and proud of it"
This book states its aims clearly. They offer two words-
Dignitarian: A condition in which the dignity of people is protected and honoured.
Rankism: abuse, discrimination or exploitation based on rank.
The aim is to have the words and concepts enter common usage. The exposure over time to new ideas or concepts often sees them accepted into our culture, and expectations.
All hail the bumper sticker. You have to give 10 points to anyone that acknowledges the power of the bumper sticker. "Make love not War", "Honk if you're good looking", "Save The Whales."
I think they're on the right track with bumper stickers but they need to add a little humour.
The book recommends "End Rankism" or "Rankism" with a line through it. I have a bumper sticker for John F.
" I would have fought Rankism....but my boss wouldn't let me."
Sorry John, I'm sure handing him the book as you left would have made him aware of your outrage too.
You can consume "Somebodies and Nobodies" in a weekend but, as I mentioned to Aussie Bookcrossers, digestion takes much longer. (Burp... Blush)
Well, I've done my bit. Check out the Forum thread looking for the ultimate bumper sticker on Rankism.
http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/26/1357953/5/subj_Bumper-Stickers-for-Rankism..Its-harder-than-you-think.
There seems to be an art to being concise and on topic.
I added Dignitarian and Rankism to my Spell check and Thesaurus and I've spread the word by passing on my copy of Somebodies and Nobodies, like a good Bookcrosser should.
I've also got a bumper sticker for you-
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Wait a minute haven't I read that somewhere else?
Wrap it up, don't bother with the ribbon, I'll take it as it is. You can't argue with a book that says that the attainment of rank by virtue of merit and achievement is natural and valuable, but that the abuse of the power inherent in that rank is wrong.
Mr Fuller, Robert, no I'm sensing that here's a man who doesn't care about titles and letters so I'm going to call him Bob. I feel he would approve and should we ever meet, unlikely but not impossible, I want him to feel free to call me Deb.
Bob, a nobody and proud of it, calls his concept Rankism and explains that the failure of those of a higher rank to offer the reciprocal respect and dignity, which is every human beings right, is our next great social issue to conquer.
I hesitate to say I'm a convert, which implies a zeal that I can only muster for Bookcrossing, and the occasional iced coffee with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles. I digress. The point is that the book hits a nerve on several points. One of his most telling points is that the experience of being Somebody or Nobody is mutable. We can be Nobody at work and Somebody at home and vice versa. There might be a cycle during our lives when our perceived rank changes due to education, work or social experiences. We often ask questions of people in order to rank them and perhaps treat them accordingly.
Ouch! I resigned from a 20 year career, as the new millennium began, to stay at home. A change my husband is fond of calling my "early retirement."
He's so funny, and a little confused because the house is no cleaner and the weeds are taller than the flowers in our garden beds.
I had worked my way up in a hierarchy that was firmly established and had no problem with accepting that the attainment of rank within the system brought certain "perks," and double standards. You would be naive if you didn't come to realise that there was a certain grease that oiled the system. I liked my business cards. Of course, even the business cards you received had a ranking. No cards for the front line, cards and titles for the next level. Embossed cards for the managers and gold trim for the executives. Oooh pretty.
Rankism was endemic in the system. It's the school bully who picks on the weak kid who goes home and picks on his little brother. Of course, these guys were wearing ties. Bob explains that you fight any discrimination by naming it and exposing it.
I didn't realise that a lot of my self esteem was tied up in who I was at work. Somebody.
I didn't want to write housewife on forms but leaving a blank space wasn't right either.
I found myself explaining "Well I'm at home now but I used to........"
I began to understand what it was like to feel like a nobody and how that might change how people treat you.
So because I do understand both sides and because I am so....over it, here is my opinion.
1. "You're too heavy!...Get down and help."
I like the cover art, designed by Diane McIntosh and illustrated by Stephen Hayes, Image Artville RF. All those Nobodies holding up the Somebody on the top of the Pyramid who is oblivious to their difficulties.
In my version he peers over the top and says "Life's not fair but I am" and climbs down! Big cheer from the crowd.
2. "Don't They Know You're Supposed to have a Last Name."
I hate to quote Meg Ryan but she's right. Studs Terkel, Pulitzer prize winner, obviously agrees as he is disturbed by servers at restaurants calling him Sir while wearing name tags with only their first name displayed.
I should explain that I'm not a great fan of endorsements in the front of books, so I counted them.
Was that rude?
Well, so that you don't have to be rude too, I'll let you know that on the cover and front pages there were 29. They reminded me of those vanity titles at the beginning of a movie. You know, "A Fred Bloggs Movie", in association with" Blah Blah Corp", presented by "Get On With It Cinemas" and distributed by "Lots Of Bucks." Now Bob I think that was overkill, so lets blame the publisher. Move on, move on!
I read them though, and was interested to hear what Betty Friedan, Founder Of the National Organisation for Women, had to say. I was wondering if I needed to know what Laura Adams, homemaker and mother of three, or John F, teacher who had issues with his principal, thought as well.
Then it hit me.
Mea Culpa, I was ranking the value of the endorsements!
Insidious ain't it.
3. "Nobody and proud of it"
This book states its aims clearly. They offer two words-
Dignitarian: A condition in which the dignity of people is protected and honoured.
Rankism: abuse, discrimination or exploitation based on rank.
The aim is to have the words and concepts enter common usage. The exposure over time to new ideas or concepts often sees them accepted into our culture, and expectations.
All hail the bumper sticker. You have to give 10 points to anyone that acknowledges the power of the bumper sticker. "Make love not War", "Honk if you're good looking", "Save The Whales."
I think they're on the right track with bumper stickers but they need to add a little humour.
The book recommends "End Rankism" or "Rankism" with a line through it. I have a bumper sticker for John F.
" I would have fought Rankism....but my boss wouldn't let me."
Sorry John, I'm sure handing him the book as you left would have made him aware of your outrage too.
You can consume "Somebodies and Nobodies" in a weekend but, as I mentioned to Aussie Bookcrossers, digestion takes much longer. (Burp... Blush)
Well, I've done my bit. Check out the Forum thread looking for the ultimate bumper sticker on Rankism.
http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/26/1357953/5/subj_Bumper-Stickers-for-Rankism..Its-harder-than-you-think.
There seems to be an art to being concise and on topic.
I added Dignitarian and Rankism to my Spell check and Thesaurus and I've spread the word by passing on my copy of Somebodies and Nobodies, like a good Bookcrosser should.
I've also got a bumper sticker for you-
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Wait a minute haven't I read that somewhere else?
