More from @garius

John Bull

@garius

12 Oct

https://twitter.com/garius/status/1290981224505397254

Sad but not surprised that what I said here has proven to be correct so far about the Spitting Image reboot.

Satire has to reflect the power imbalances of the time, and prey on the worries of its political targets. That's being seen to be crap now. Not shock. They REVEL in shock

https://twitter.com/garius/status/1290981224505397254

Frankly this mob will just be wanking themselves silly over the fact that they've made it onto Spitting Image at all.

They'll remember its peak with Thatcher, Major et al. and be thinking:

"Look at me! I'm big league now!"

This is what they dreamed of in posh school six form.

"Oh yes, delighted to see a good old-fashioned British tradition back on our screens. A real HONOUR to be on it. Oh I don't watch it, but I've seen some clips and it looks terribly funny."

etc. etc.

Guarantee you.

Read 8 tweets

John Bull

@garius

1 Oct

Right. It's 11pm. And I'm a bit pissed. So, given half of you follow me for management tips, gonna tell you about the best manager I ever had. how an ex-army guy sorted my stupid shit out. And how I regret to this day I never got to tell him: "thank you"

So flash back to about 2002 and the web is new. I'd been doing it since 1996 but for fun. You couldn't get a degree in this shit then, because no one cared. But by the time I graduated with a history degree it's hot shit.

I end up being hired by the government. CIVIL SERVANT, YO

I will not bore you with my path through that. WILL say though that if you have non-natural hair colour though and work in the civil service them you have me to thank for that. I had purple hair. They needed to hire me. The Cabinet Office changed the Civil Service code for me. 😁

Read 21 tweets

John Bull

@garius

1 Oct

https://twitter.com/timoelliott/status/1311595375862706177

This is a good point.

Something I'd say on it is that it depends on whether you've managed to cultivate or have inherited a PERFORMATIVE team culture or a PRODUCTIVE one.

That is, do people see the outcome of the meeting as actionable ideas, or as gaining a participation badge.

https://twitter.com/timoelliott/status/1311595375862706177

There's no point doing anything 'Blue Sky' in a performative office. The goal for the majority of individuals will simply be to have said SOMETHING that got written on the whiteboard. Doesn't matter how practical.

You have to flip the culture first. Then they're REALLY useful.

That FT piece on asylum seekers isn't a shocking reveal of how racist Priti Patel is (we already knew that).

It's a damning indictment of how useless the Home Office is, and how locked they are in performative management not actually doing shit to benefit the country.

Read 4 tweets

John Bull

@garius

1 Oct

https://twitter.com/PickardJE/status/1311370480318898177

Pro-tip: One of the things you should NEVER, EVER say at the beginning of a 'blue sky' session is:

"Remember! No idea is too stupid!"

Because then all you'll get are stupid ideas.

https://twitter.com/PickardJE/status/1311370480318898177

Indeed the FIRST question you should actually ALWAYS ask at a 'Blue Sky' session is:

"Have we correctly defined the problem that needs solving?"

Because nine times out of ten, when you step away and reassess things, you discover you're tackling a consequence not a cause.

This is how good teams solve problems during 'Blue Sky' sessions.

Not because someone suddenly has a stunning idea. That only happens in Silicon Valley wankudramas (in print/on Netflix).

It's because SOMEONE spots the real problem is further up the chain, and CAN be addressed.

Read 7 tweets

John Bull

@garius

29 Sep

@CrusaderKings

New @CrusaderKings patch means... NEW PATCH NOTES.

Twitter, let me take you on a brief journey through the beautiful, twisted world of gaming's premier medieval incest and murder simulator.

Let's start here.

"Honey, have you been seducing the Pope again?!" #thread