Numbing or Soothing...
January 16th 2007 20:37
At certain times in the evening, in this data entry job I'm doing, a hush comes over the place: everyone is racing through 'amount keying' at a great rate, entering numbers on the screen as though their lives depended on it. All you can hear is the gentle clicking of keys. It has the same soothing effect as standing in a great forest listening to the trees rustling. No one is making jokes, no one is telling the latest news, no one is gossiping. All is at peace...
Your mind strays at the same time as it's taking in numbers and conveying to the fingers (at extraordinary speed) which buttons to press. A strange feeling of something going in a circular fashion through you, from the eyes to the brain to the fingers and round again is present. But even while you're sensing that you're also aware of the speeds of the people beside you, of their posture, of what you're going to do when you get home tonight, of what the day has been like (dull or interesting), of your sense of frustration that you're doing a job you're certainly capable of and yet you're also capable of a good deal more, capable of doing something that's more creative, more interesting, less mind-soothing - however pleasant that may be for a time...
Your mind strays at the same time as it's taking in numbers and conveying to the fingers (at extraordinary speed) which buttons to press. A strange feeling of something going in a circular fashion through you, from the eyes to the brain to the fingers and round again is present. But even while you're sensing that you're also aware of the speeds of the people beside you, of their posture, of what you're going to do when you get home tonight, of what the day has been like (dull or interesting), of your sense of frustration that you're doing a job you're certainly capable of and yet you're also capable of a good deal more, capable of doing something that's more creative, more interesting, less mind-soothing - however pleasant that may be for a time...
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Comment by David my David
Work? Got no idea what you're talking about. If I ever retire I might get a job. *
I can relate to tapping the keyboard though.
Just upping the vote count, mate ...
David ...
Comment by Mike Crowl
Webitz
Work Report
I'm in a sort of retired state at present - between jobs. It's rather odd, to say the least, but gives me lots of time to write/play on the Net.
Comment by David my David
No probs, man.
I love posts that are conversational ... They're easy to respond to ... (and I have to say ... the comments section is where some of the best stuff is on this site ...
I'd find it odder to have a job than to be between jobs ... So, what do you normally do, occupation-wise? ...
David ...
Comment by Mike Crowl
Webitz
Work Report
I don't 'normally' do anything, since I've never been a career man: I've worked in offices a few times, been a professional musician (a repetiteur, to be precise) for about three years, an assistant pastor in a Pentecostal church, a postman (twice), a Bon Brush salesman (a NZ company), and, for the last seventeen years, a Christian bookshop manager.
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I like your post, it gives a vivid glimpse into your world.....
Tracy
Comment by mcrowl