#CorporateHell

[the-most-humble-blog]

You Didn’t Need Therapy—You Just Needed a Nap and a Raise

Sleep and Money Are Free Therapy

You don’t need a therapist; you need eight hours of sleep and a paycheck that doesn’t feel like Monopoly money. But instead of addressing that, society wants you to journal about your “gratitude” while eating instant noodles and dodging eviction notices. Cool. Thanks.

Look, therapy is great. It’s life-saving for many people. But not every existential crisis needs a deep dive into your inner child. Sometimes, you’re just tired because your boss thinks PTO stands for “Prepare To Overwork.”

Let’s talk about the real problem: We’re burnt out, broke, and blaming ourselves for feeling like crap.

1. The Real Villain: Capitalism in a Yoga Pose

Burnout isn’t a personal failure; it’s a feature of the system.

76% of workers feel burned out (because Karen in HR keeps calling your 9 PM Slack messages “team building”).

Meanwhile, your company hands out “mindfulness workshops” instead of paying you enough to survive.

What they don’t tell you: Burnout isn’t cured by a breathing exercise—it’s cured by not needing to work two jobs to afford eggs.

2. Your Body’s Screaming ‘Nap,’ and You’re Screaming Back

That meltdown you had over accidentally sending the “k” text? That wasn’t unresolved trauma; that was your brain asking for a timeout.

Sleep deprivation = instant chaos: It’s scientifically proven that your sleep-deprived brain is 100% more dramatic.

Missed deadlines, spilled coffee, accidentally liking your ex’s Instagram post—are you emotionally unstable or just operating on 3 hours of sleep and spite?

Pro Tip: Before booking that $200 therapy session, try closing your eyes for longer than a sneeze. Revolutionary.

3. Your Wallet is the Real Trigger

Raise your hand if financial stress is your “love language.”

40% of Americans can’t handle a $400 emergency, but your landlord wants $400 extra a month for “market rates.”

Inflation is basically a giant joke where you’re the punchline.

Therapy can help you process feelings, sure. But it won’t make your car payment or lower the cost of groceries. Sometimes, you don’t need coping strategies—you need someone to admit you’re being scammed.

4. Self-Care? More Like Self-Scam

Self-care isn’t sipping wine in a bubble bath while your to-do list stares at you from across the room. It’s not buying a $50 scented candle that smells like “relaxation” and regret. And it’s definitely not downloading your company’s wellness app.

You want to fix burnout? Stop glamorizing exhaustion. Stop normalizing broke. Start demanding naps and raises.

Rest and Money Are Revolutionary Acts

Let’s get real. You don’t need another journaling prompt about gratitude. You need sleep, money, and the courage to tell your boss that “wellness week” is insulting.

Take the damn nap. Ask for the raise. And while you’re at it, follow The Most Humble Blog for more brutally honest takes and the occasional inappropriate meme. You’re welcome.

[infernalbusinesscoach]

🔥 Using the right words at work matters. Whether you’re dodging corporate nonsense or trying to sound more natural in Business English, it helps to know what these phrases really mean.

🎙️ New Mini-Episode Out Now!

If you’ve ever been told “Let’s go for a quick win,” congrats—you’ve already lost. 😈

[hahabotics]

Kratos and the Passive-Aggressive Office Party

Kratos and the Passive-Aggressive Office Party When the god of war is plotting revenge, but HR throws a mandatory birthday party. Will his rage reach the gods, or at least the cake? #Kratos #GodOfWar #OfficeParty #WarriorHR #NoFakeSmiles #MandatoryFun #CorporateHell #SpartanPatience #MythicalAwkwardMoments #NoCakeForMe #RageAndJuice #KratosAtWork

[jamesdmcdonald]

I will just leave this year. I will be over in the corner giggling. #chef #cheflife #corporateevents #corporatehell #lmfao https://www.instagram.com/p/B2Sfvb8lUqO/?igshid=10w9mm9k4lmbt

[romancanine]

i think the funniest interpretation of succession/tomgreg is Cosine greg having monkey clapping cymbals in his brain and is constantly writing things on the the r/corporatehell subreddit asking about psychosexual relationships with your boss .. Considering whether or not Tom will buy him a niçoise salade for lunch if he flutters his eyes right …whilst Tom Cuck-of-the-year Wambsgans is plucking petals off a daisy doing the he-loves-me/he-loves-me-not shit and writing passionate bodice-shredding sonnets for him after Shiv goes to bed. That’s art to me

[sarasa-cat]

Now that it is the month after NoWriteNovember

I decided to NoWrite rather than NaNo (rebel-style) and I am happy for it. 

I wasn’t strict with NoWriteNovember but I purposefully did not track word count. Instead, I focused on organizing my writing processes for all of my writing (fiction, nonfiction, fandom and orig).

I have zero regrets and feel very refreshed from it.

Not quite ready to jump into memes for my fandom projects -- those memes are sitting somewhere (gotta find them all ahah).

But, if anyone wants to ask anything at all about my fandom WIPs (below the read more), please feel free!

Main fandom WIP:  FFVII Compilation of Monsters -- specifically, Even the Littlest Monsters Cast Shadows Long and Tall (Dirge of Cerberus time frame - pre, during, and post-canon, but with flashbacks, multi-POV).

The main story arc is Vincent-deals-with-his-shit juxtaposed with Vincent/Yuffie friends to lovers slower than slowburn starting after Advent Children and continuing through Dirge and after a few years or so (0010-0013 or so, I think?). While Vincent is the main POV (1st person pov), the main story arc includes epic flashbacks plus Lucrecia’s story from her POV, and bits of Yuffie’s not-so-comedic POV. 

A notable chunk the actual word count occurs in the past (1960s-1980s) which is a combination University-Setting + Gangsters for Hire + CorporateHELL story (banality of evil, etc) with Younger!Vincent growing up with his dysfunctional family, university_student!Vincent/Veld, Veld/HisFutureWife, Vincent??VeldsFutureWife, Vincent/SoDamnManyRandoSadEncountersWithVariousOCs, Lucrecia>Dr.Hollander, Lucrecia/HerPhDAdvisor!GrimoireValentine (heheh trainwreck), Lucrecia/Hojo, Lucrecia/VincentValentine Dr.Gast/Ifalna, ... and Vincent/HisEpicSin.

As for the “Compilation of Monsters,” Even The Littlest Monsters is a novel length fic that is part of a series. A few years ago I speed wrote a novella on a very tight deadline, One Minute to Midnight. That story takes place during the months leading up to Monsters. One Minute is in desperate need of a solid edit and rewrite. I also have a lot of old draft for Monsters that probably won’t make the final cut for the novel. That plus various other side stories long ago in draft will all turn into short stories.

Additionally, some art or comix might(??) occur for Monsters...  But whether they do or don’t, Monsters will have fanmix - playlists along with art/gifsets/edits, so all in all it really is a compilation of fanworks for Compilation of FFVII.

...

Secondary but equally import fandom WIP:  Yet-To-Be-Titled interactive fiction in DA2, Fenris focused.  No ships, just action and mystery and trouble, because Hawke and Kirkwall. ;)

I want to play with Interactive Fiction. I had some old stuff from long long long ago that is Fenris focused and would work well as a jumping point for a new story. Still trying to figure out what the story is. I mean, I know what the beginning and the end are plus the mysterious MacGuffin that kicks things off. But the middle is very fuzzy in my head right now. I need to sit down and bang out a script and see what happens ... but I also need to replay DA2 act 1 just to get a feel for that game’s texture and voices because it has been a while.

Anyhow: branching Interactive Fiction in the 8000-15000 word range (although I am not yet sure if that is the length of all the branches together or just one run through it) with a couple of extra bells and whistles TBD.

...

Other:  No Promises or Commitments on these but...

I have a lot of old DA fanfic including ideas that were left half thought out. I want to return to some of this for various reasons but everything above has higher priority except for when I am just enjoying Thedas/DA for the sake of it and making pretty things and very short fic and posted it all nice and neat somewhere in some sideblog. 

[thecollectiveeffortpodcast-blog]

This is something I’ve thought about for years. The concept of working harder for the man, moving up the corporate ladder, and earning a bigger paycheck sounds great in theory. But in reality, most “promotions” typically come with marginal pay bumps that require massive increases in responsibilities, workload, work hours, and stress. Most “successful” people that follow the 9-5 route are unhappy, overworked, and underpaid. We’re supposed to leave away until we’re 65 and then maybe, just maybe, our 401k plans are going to carry us through our “golden years”. GTFOH with that nonsense. Employers ring their employees out like a used, wet towel and if anyone complains they’re usually replaced by another poor sap that knows to keep their mouth shut. I’ve never felt as expendable as a human being than I did working for many of the corporations that employed me in the past. We’re trained by society to feel grateful for the opportunity and our personal lives and bills require us to cling to these happiness-sucking “careers” when most of us would be far happier working for lower pay in simpler and less stressful roles. #realtalk #truth #9to5 #worksucks #corporatehell #laborunions #financialfreedom #universalbasicincome #simplertimes #simplelife #stressfree #lessstress #healthier #livelong #livelonger #screwtheman #selfemployed #thecollectiveeffortpodcast

[the-most-humble-blog]

The Ultimate Checklist: "Are You the Micromanaging Power-Trip Boss Everyone Secretly Hates?"

"If You Check 3 or More, Your Employees Probably Have a Group Chat About How Much They Hate You."

☑️ Do You Override or Embarrass Employees in Front of Others to ‘Show You’re the Boss’?

Nothing says “power trip” like correcting someone who’s been at the job longer than you, just to flex. Bonus points if you’ve done this in front of clients, making them cringe so hard they reconsider doing business with your team.

☑️ Do You Scrutinize Hours Like a Hall Monitor on Steroids?

"Didn’t you leave 5 minutes early last Tuesday? Fix that."

"I noticed you spent an extra 5 minutes in the bathroom last week. Is everything okay down there?"

"Why did you come in 20 minutes late today? Never mind that I was here 15 minutes early just to keep tabs on you."

If you’re tracking every minute like a parole officer, don’t be shocked when your employees start daydreaming about keying your car.

☑️ Do You Refuse to Empower Employees While Making Them Chase Your Signature Like a Headless Chicken?

You’ve got people who’ve been doing the same job for years—probably better than you ever could—but no, they can’t sign their own forms because you need to feel important.

Extra hate points if you disappear for days without notifying anyone, leaving them to hunt you down like you’re Bigfoot.

☑️ Do You Waste Everyone’s Time on Pointless Power Moves?

Standing in the doorway chatting about absolutely nothing while your employee is clearly on a deadline.

Making them wait for five minutes because you’re typing some pointless email to another equally useless boss.

Walking in like “we’re friends” for a dumb conversation, then leaving like “you’re wasting my time.”

Nothing screams bad leadership like being a living contradiction.

☑️ Do You Gossip About Your Employees Like a Petty Parrot?

You think badmouthing your team to peers or upper management makes you look good. Guess what? It doesn’t.

Extra shame points if the employee overheard you and is now doing Indeed applications mid-shift because they’ve mentally checked out.

☑️ Do You Ignore Your Team’s Timeline but Blame Them for Not Meeting It?

The organization sets a hard deadline, but you’re too busy micromanaging, holding them up at every turn. Then you act surprised when things are behind schedule. Hint: It’s you. You’re the problem.

☑️ Do You Ask ‘Are You OK?’ When It’s Obvious YOU Are the Problem?

They don’t want to talk to you, and their fake smile is practically screaming “Please leave me alone, you’re ruining my life.” But there you are, oblivious, thinking you’re being “caring.”

☑️ Do You Overload Remaining Employees When Someone Quits?

Instead of hiring a replacement, you slap the workload onto the already-burnt-out team because “we’ll figure it out.”

And of course, you’re too clueless to even understand the scope of work your exiting employee handled, leaving the team in chaos while you pretend it’s all under control.

☑️ Do You Disappear When the Team Actually Needs You?

Oh, you’re on a “few days’ vacation” or “sick” (again) while they’re drowning in work. Bonus hate points if the team functions better without you there.

☑️ Do You Make Employees Pretend to Care About Your Problems?

No one’s actually concerned about your hemorrhoid surgery. They’re secretly hoping you never come back because the workplace is significantly less painful without your presence.

☑️ Do You Even Realize They’re Applying to Other Jobs During Work Hours?

They’re spending more time on Indeed than on actual tasks, just waiting for the moment they can leave your sorry ass in the dust—keys on the desk, no notice, goodbye forever.

☑️ Do You Think Fear = Respect?

Employees fake-smile at you out of fear, not respect. And that’s on you.

Results:

0-2 Checks: You’re annoying, but manageable.

3-5 Checks: You’re officially the reason your employees dread Mondays.

6-8 Checks: HR knows about you, dummy, and they’re watching closely.

9+ Checks: Congrats! Your employees probably have a countdown to the day you get “restructured” out of the company.

🔥 REBLOG If you want more!

[adifferentdogma]

Why the 8-Hour Work Day

But the 8-hour workday is too profitable for big business, not because of the amount of work people get done in eight hours (the average office worker gets less than three hours of actual work done in 8 hours) but because it makes for such a purchase-happy public. Keeping free time scarce means people pay a lot more for convenience, gratification, and any other relief they can buy. It keeps them watching television, and its commercials. It keeps them unambitious outside of work. We’ve been led into a culture that has been engineered to leave us tired, hungry for indulgence, willing to pay a lot for convenience and entertainment, and most importantly, vaguely dissatisfied with our lives so that we continue wanting things we don’t have. We buy so much because it always seems like something is still missing.

From Your Lifestyle Has Already Been Designed

[jamesdmcdonald]

Apologies for all of the boring self indulgent “feels”! #synchronicity #changeisgood #moveon #itstime #chef #cheflife #corporatehell (at Northside, Richmond, Virginia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0Udg6LFnj9/?igshid=tgzfke1e3yad

[the-most-humble-blog]

Privilege, Identity, and the Death of Consequences: Lessons from Infinity Pool

Can You Still Call Yourself Human If You’ve Abandoned All Accountability?

In a world where consequences can be bought, morality becomes optional, and privilege is the ultimate shield. Brandon Cronenberg’s Infinity Pool doesn’t just tell a story; it grabs you by the collar and demands you confront the ugliest parts of human nature. At its core, this film isn’t just science fiction or horror—it’s a searing exploration of what happens when people are given the chance to escape accountability entirely. The real terror isn’t in the alternate universe; it’s in the mirror.

1. Privilege: A License to Escape Consequences

In Infinity Pool, we’re introduced to James Foster, a struggling writer vacationing in the fictional country of Li Tolqa. After a tragic accident, James learns about the country’s unique judicial system: for the right price, the wealthy can purchase a clone to take their punishment.

It’s not just a get-out-of-jail-free card; it’s a literal escape from moral responsibility. But this isn’t just about science fiction. The premise eerily mirrors the real world, where privilege and wealth often allow people to dodge the consequences of their actions.

Dark Humor:

“Accidentally killed someone? Don’t worry, just Venmo the government, and they’ll handle it.”

Isn’t this just a sci-fi version of celebrity scandals? Replace the clone with PR damage control, and you’ve got a headline from TMZ.

Real-World Parallels:

Brock Turner’s infamous case: A rich Stanford athlete gets a slap on the wrist for sexual assault because “prison would ruin his future.”

The college admissions scandal: When millions buy your kid a seat at a university, who cares about merit?

The film forces us to confront a chilling question: How much humanity do we lose when we live in a world where wealth and privilege can overwrite accountability?

2. Identity: Who Are You Without Consequences?

The cloning process doesn’t just erase guilt—it creates a perverse form of self-destruction. In one of the film’s most disturbing scenes, James is forced to watch his clone executed, knowing full well that it’s a stand-in for his own punishment.

The Question: What happens to your sense of self when your actions carry no weight?

James begins to blur the lines between himself and his clone. If someone else dies for your crimes, are you still guilty?

Worse, James begins to enjoy the spectacle. Watching his clone suffer becomes thrilling, even liberating.

Relatable Satire: Imagine if, every time you ghosted someone, a clone of you had to deal with the awkward confrontation. Would you still feel bad about being flaky? Probably not.

The film’s genius lies in how it makes us examine our own behavior: When accountability is removed, what stops us from becoming monsters?

3. The Death of Accountability: Modern Reflections

Infinity Pool might be extreme, but the themes hit close to home in an age where accountability feels more like a suggestion than a rule.

Cultural Examples:

Social Media Outrage: People post, cancel, and condemn without facing any real consequences themselves. It’s a digital purge, and we’re all guilty of it.

Corporate Greed: Billion-dollar companies commit crimes, pay fines that barely scratch their profits, and continue business as usual.

Political Corruption: Politicians manipulate laws, exploit loopholes, and emerge unscathed while their constituents suffer.

In the film, the wealthy tourists in Li Tolqa return every year to commit heinous crimes, knowing they’ll never face justice. Sound familiar? It should. From tax havens to legal loopholes, the elite have always had their own version of the clone system.

4. Humanity Without Morality: The Darker Question

The central theme of Infinity Pool isn’t just about privilege or justice—it’s about what happens to our humanity when accountability ceases to exist.

When you no longer fear consequences, does morality even matter?

Without guilt or accountability, are you still human—or just a hollow shell playing out desires without restraint?

The Darkest Irony: The more James indulges in this consequence-free world, the less human he becomes. By the end of the film, he’s little more than a walking husk—a man who has lost all connection to his own identity.

Real-Life Echo: Think of people who’ve lived their entire lives shielded by privilege—those who’ve never been told “no” or forced to confront the impact of their actions. Are they living authentically, or are they just avatars for their unchecked impulses?

5. What Infinity Pool Teaches Us About Our World

Cronenberg’s film doesn’t just entertain; it stabs at the heart of our societal flaws. It asks us to examine the systems that allow people to escape justice and how those systems corrupt not just individuals but entire cultures.

Lessons for Us:

Wealth and privilege shouldn’t be shields from accountability—they should be reasons to act more responsibly.

True humanity isn’t defined by freedom but by restraint. What we choose not to do matters as much as what we do.

Accountability isn’t a punishment; it’s the backbone of morality. Without it, society collapses into chaos.

Can You Still Call Yourself Human?

Infinity Pool leaves us with a haunting question: Can you still call yourself human if you’ve abandoned all accountability? The film’s answer seems clear: No. Without consequences, morality fades. Without morality, identity erodes. And without identity, humanity becomes meaningless.

If nothing else, the film is a wake-up call. Privilege may let you escape punishment, but it won’t save your soul.

Love thought-provoking takes like this? Follow The Most Humble Blog for more cultural dissections, sharp humor, and unapologetic truths. Let’s dive deeper into the absurdity of modern life together.

[the-most-humble-blog]

Dear Credit Score: Why Are You So Sensitive?!

Introduction: Emotional Damage

Let’s get this out of the way: your credit score is not your friend. It’s that one overly sensitive acquaintance who gets offended by everything. Pay your bill a day late? Score tanks. Close a credit card because you’re finally debt-free? That’s a paddlin’. It’s almost like the system isn’t designed to reward responsibility but to keep you perpetually sweating about your financial worth.

Welcome to the world of credit scores—where common sense goes to die and you’re left wondering why a three-digit number controls your ability to rent an apartment, buy a car, or get approved for a cellphone plan. Seriously, why is it so damn sensitive?

1. The Absurdity of Credit Scores

Let’s break down how we got here. The credit score system was designed to help lenders evaluate your ability to pay back debts. Sounds fine on paper, but the execution? Utter chaos.

The Mystery Algorithm: Credit bureaus like Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion use secret algorithms to calculate your score. Even experts admit they don’t fully understand how it works.

Arbitrary Metrics: Factors like your “credit utilization rate” (how much credit you’re using compared to your limit) play a massive role. But heaven forbid you pay off a loan early or don’t carry a balance—those responsible actions could lower your score.

Fun Fact (Or Not):

Closing a credit card can hurt your score because it reduces your available credit. So, being financially responsible and cleaning up your finances is punished.

2. How We Ended Up Here

The credit score system wasn’t always this dominant. Before the 1980s, lenders used a more personal approach—calling employers, interviewing you, and actually looking at your financial habits. Then, the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) introduced a standardized scoring model. Suddenly, your financial destiny boiled down to a single number.

Here’s where it gets messy:

Credit Scores and Classism: The system inherently favors people with access to credit and penalizes those who avoid debt. Essentially, if you grew up in poverty or distrust banks, you’re screwed.

Predatory Lending: Subprime loans and shady credit practices target low-income borrowers, trapping them in cycles of debt that destroy their scores.

3. The Everyday Struggle

Your credit score isn’t just a number—it’s a bully that follows you everywhere.

Applying for Jobs: Some employers check your credit report during the hiring process. Because nothing says “qualified” like a decent credit score, right?

Housing Discrimination: Landlords love to reject applicants with poor credit, even if they can afford the rent.

Interest Rates: A low score means higher interest rates, which means paying more for the same things other people get cheaper.

Stat That’ll Make You Rage:

Over 20% of Americans have errors on their credit reports, often costing them loans or housing opportunities. Fixing these errors? A bureaucratic nightmare.

4. The Emotional Rollercoaster

Have you ever checked your credit score and felt personally attacked? You’re not alone.

You’re Never Winning: Open a new credit card? Your score might dip because you’re “seeking more credit.” Don’t open one? You’re not “building credit.” Pick a lane, FICO.

The Waiting Game: Paid off debt? Congrats! Your score might take months to reflect it. Meanwhile, one late payment can tank your score overnight.

Debt and Mental Health: Studies show financial stress can lead to anxiety, depression, and even physical health problems. The credit system thrives on this stress, keeping you anxious and compliant.

5. What Needs to Change

It’s time for a credit system revolution. Here’s how we can make it less awful:

Transparency: Make the algorithms public so people understand how their actions affect their scores.

Human Context: Incorporate more personal factors, like steady employment or consistent rent payments.

Stop Punishing Responsibility: Paying off debt or closing accounts should never hurt your score.

Conclusion: It’s Not You, It’s the System

Dear Credit Score, get over yourself. You’re too sensitive, too controlling, and frankly, we’re all tired of tiptoeing around you. If you’ve ever felt like your financial worth is determined by arbitrary nonsense, you’re not alone. The system wasn’t built for you—it was built to keep you in line.

Take back your power, call out the absurdity, and maybe—just maybe—one day we’ll see a system that actually makes sense.

Like what you’re reading? Follow The Most Humble Blog for more rants about the absurdities of modern life—and how to laugh at the chaos.