Victims
of the Corporate Glitch
Victims
of the Corporate Glitch
This editorial page about the CORPORATE GLITCH was originally part of my matrix editorial page . . . BUT there was so much to cover about this specific topic that I decided to spin it off into its own separate page. My sincere apologies for taking you down another rabbit hole, BUT I would be remiss if I didn’t speak to the “Glitch” reference made earlier within the Matrix movie. I had an epiphany and noticed that the “Glitch” theme actually shows up in at least three (3) movies I can think of . . .
RoboCop (1987) u The Matrix (1999) u Office Space (1999)
EXAMPLES OF VICTIMS OF THE CORPORATE GLITCH
CORPORATE GLITCH VICTIM # 1
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Milton Waddams
Former Employee Of:
INITECH CORPORATION
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Mr. Waddams and Mr. Kinney don’t know it yet, but they are both about to become victims of the “CORPORATE GLITCH.”
And in each case (each movie), the “Glitch” will be detrimental because it will cost one employee his job, paycheck, and livelihood. It will cost the other employee his life.
And the response from Corporate Management in both movies will be a nonchalant “Oh, well – That’s life – It’s just a Glitch.” This is perhaps why most people, in general, have a negative perception of Corporate Management. Turn up the volume, hit the play button, and enjoy both video clips below.
CORPORATE GLITCH VICTIM # 2
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Mr. Kinney
Former Employee Of:
OMNI CONSUMER PRODUCTS (OCP)
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Clip Play Time: 44 sec
"We Fixed The Glitch"
Scene From: Office Space (1999)
* Clip Courtesy Of 20th Century Fox
PLAY VIDEOS
Clip Play Time: 5 min 21 sec
"I'm Sure It's Only A Glitch"
Scene From: RoboCop (1987)
* Clip Courtesy Of Orion Pictures
** Includes Trailer as Well
After viewing the scene from Office Space, we see corporate executives laugh as they are about to destroy Milton’s livelihood by denying him his paycheck without notifying him that he is even laid off or fired. They mention that no one notified him of his layoff five years ago. Then they laugh about not notifying him again five years later as they withdraw his paycheck. They callously mention that they “fixed the glitch” to eliminate his paycheck and that everything else would “just work itself out naturally” without having to tell him anything else.
After reviewing the boardroom scene from RoboCop, we see the top executives appear unphased that one of their fellow associates, Mr. Kinney (portrayed by Kevin Page), was killed right before them. Their response was “Oh, well – That’s life – It’s just a Glitch.” The corporate executives also take no responsibility or accountability for all the bad decisions they made that caused Mr. Kinney’s death in the first place.
First, they loaded the ED-209 prototype unit with “live” ammunition. Second, they provided no “off switch” to the unit in case of a mishap. In their vigor and blind ambition to reach the top of the corporate ladder, they completely neglected to create any safety protocols and disregarded simple basic common sense. They then show no compassion or empathy for their fellow associate killed or any remorse for their decisions that caused his death.
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Unethical CEO
Charles Montgomery Burns
Of The Simpsons
In both movie scenes above, we see the manifestation of unethical behavior coming from the top of the corporate ladder. This is the way many people see corporate America today.
I would argue, however, that this type of culture comes from the top down. If you have an unethical Chief Executive Officer (CEO) running things, they will typically hire other “like-minded” non-compassionate executives around them to insulate themselves from their own bad decisions.
When I evaluate companies, I not only review the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of that company, but I also review the team of individuals that the CEO surrounds themselves with at that company. This will give me some type of idea of how the company is run internally and if there are any possible ethical issues.
I am sure you have probably heard of the following proverb . . .
“A man is known by the company he keeps.”
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The origin of the proverb above is somewhat elusive, as it has been used in various forms across cultures and centuries. It is commonly attributed to Aesop, the ancient Greek storyteller, who lived around 600 BCE. His fable of “The Ass and His Purchaser” contains a similar moral, suggesting that a wise man should be judged by the company he keeps rather than the possessions he owns. Over time, this concept has been reflected in literature, philosophy, and everyday language, emphasizing the idea that “associations hold a mirror to one’s character.”
In a world where connections and relationships play an influential role in both personal and professional spheres, the proverb “A man is known by the company he keeps” remains as relevant as ever. The people we choose to associate with can mold our beliefs, behaviors, and ultimately, our reputation.
By recognizing this, we can make more conscious choices about the company we keep, ensuring that our associations contribute positively to our character and public image.
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Aesop lived approximately 620-564 B.C. and his fables have been in print in English since 1484.