DUmmy Goldbugnumbers Brags About Lunch With The Big Boys

[GOBUCKS]

So a vendor takes a client's employee, in this case DUmmy Goldbugnumbers, to a nice club for lunch. A common occurence that happens thousands, probably tens of thousands of times every working day. But DUmmy Goldbugnumbers is a DUmmy, for whom a "nice" place would be at the level of, say, Chili's, or TGIFriday's. So DUmmy Goldbugnumbers is awestruck. DUmmy Goldbugnumbers lives in Alaska, but these are successful Alaskans, and his frame of reference is the igloo of his Eskimo in-laws:

Goldstein1984  (1000+ posts)        Sun Jan-10-10 02:31 AM
Original message
My Close Encounter With Power 
I work as an internal environmental, safety, health, science and engineering consultant for a company that would be classified as a "contractor." Nothing on the scale of Halliburton. We do all kinds of construction and operational support, including work in oil fields, on oil pipelines, and refineries.

A few months ago, a supplier hoping to get some business from us invited me to lunch at a place called The Petroleum Club. In spite of being associated with the oil industry as either academic, regulator or employee for more than twenty years, I had never heard of the place. I arrived at the address I was given, and was surprised to find that I had been in the building many times. The supplier arrived, and he led me through a set of double doors into a foyer, and then through another set of doors and into the halls of Power: unmarked, un-advertised, membership only by invitation and sponsorship, professional references required, pleased wait to be seated to ensure that you don't violate the social hierarchy that still exists even at this level. I have never been comfortable in high-end restaurants, and I have never been more uncomfortable than I was dining in the Petroleum Club.

What I observed was a steady stream of Chamber-of-Commerce, local political elite, and first-class-ticket-to-Washington types. Every face contained an expression of confidence and superiority. My blue jeans and sport jacket set me apart. The wait staff, as they are in all such places, were not chatty and they "knew their proper place"--subservient, courteous, obsequious, and silent when not being spoken to.

I was sure that I was being served in the dining room that Satan reserved for his most accomplished disciples.

Finally, business concluded, I left, hoping never to be required to return.

What I really want to mention here is my perceptions about the people of Power I encountered. These people were absolutely sure of their station in life. They treated the serves as non-persons. They were being catered to in a place that had no need to advertise for customers, nor would they have permitted the hoi polloi to dine if they had stumbled into the reception area.

These people are the enemy of the working class. They are not like us. They despise us. We are expendable to them.

These are the people whose foundation of power we need to destroy.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7432500
Thank you for the lunch. DUmmies don't fit in at a private club very well, do they?

And remember, this is Alaska. The oil company boys in Houston tell stories of their early days in the business, when they could have been sent to the Anchorage office. The DUmmy was dealing with very junior executives. The Anchorage Petroleum Club membership app is online. $60 per month. Two sponsors. Not exactly Augusta National Golf Club, but to a DUmmy, the halls of power.

[AllosaursRus]

What a ****in' idiot! He's never been to a business meeting in a private restaurant? Jeez, how old is this DUmmie? Hell, I wore Tee shirts and blue jeans more than once to a so called private club for business meetings in the construction industry. The powers that be never looked down upon me! Most times I had just come from the job-site. (ya know DUmmie, where the actual work gets done?) They knew where their bread was buttered and treated me as so.

This guy is a Putz with a capital P!

[Texacon]

The wait staff, as they are in all such places, were not chatty and they "knew their proper place"--subservient, courteous, obsequious, and silent when not being spoken to.

SO, in other words they were doing what they are paid to do?  THIS is what upset the DUmmie?  Someone actually doing their job.

'Nother idiot on the island.

KC

[ReaganForRushmore]

Agreed,

This guy was so insecure about himself and his environment that he did not enjoy the lunch that was bought for him and went out of his way to denigrate the people that served him lunch. Many moons ago
I served as a waiter for the Petroleum Club here in Houston. Yes, I was quiet and polite. I learned people favorite adult beverages, I learned what amenities they liked, I learned what favorite dishes were enjoyed by patrons.

I waited tables two years, made great coin and a great network.

I was hired by a "Three fingers of Dewars and  a splash of water, no ice, 6 ounce filet medium well, and
a #10 Churchill for after dinner." after college.

I guess it all depends on what you obtain from an opportunity.

[Texacon]

Agreed,

This guy was so insecure about himself and his environment that he did not enjoy the lunch that was bought for him and went out of his way to denigrate the people that served him lunch. Many moons ago
I served as a waiter for the Petroleum Club here in Houston. Yes, I was quiet and polite. I learned people favorite adult beverages, I learned what amenities they liked, I learned what favorite dishes were enjoyed by patrons.

I waited tables two years, made great coin and a great network.

I was hired by a "Three fingers of Dewars and  a splash of water, no ice, 6 ounce filet medium well, and
a #10 Churchill for after dinner." after college.

I guess it all depends on what you obtain from an opportunity.

Outstanding post!

H5!

KC

[DumbAss Tanker]

I'm sure they need a lot of tools in the oil business, and he certainly is one.

[miskie]

I miss TomInTib - this story would have been so much more entertaining coming from his keyboard.

[Chris_]

This is just too funny !!

My husband and I were guests at the Petroleum Club in Lafayette Louisiana for lunch years ago. No one in that place was snooty,  they all WORKED for a living.

Everyone in there wore jeans. A jacket, tie and jeans.  The waiter we had made a huge impression.  He did the coolest trick pouring a beer.  Okay, I thought it was cool.


Goldstein is full of poo.   

[Texacon]

Ok, sounds like there are several of these places.  The DUmmie was making it sound like it was some sort of super top secret place that only the Power Brokers of the world were allowed to go to and the only one in the world was in Alaska.

Dummie - 0

CC'ers - 100

KC

[Chris_]

nolabear  (1000+ posts)        Sun Jan-10-10 06:26 PM
Response to Original message

57. Based on your observations alone, I don't see what's so onerous.
 If the people there were rude to you or to the wait staff, that is terrible. If they made their money on the backs of people whom they've cheated or mistreated or done so at the cost of resources or are warmongers, that is worthy of scorn. But this sounds like there's more fueling the anger than just what happened there. But being a skillfull, well paid, well compensated wait person is an art to be respected and admired, and has provided a good living for many people. Part of it can be to be unobtrusive, as you don't know what the table dynamic is and want to respect the privacy of your guests. Believe me, I'm not one who frequents such places, but I did grow up associated with the food service industry, and don't see what's so horrid in what you showed here. Was there more to it? 

Yes there was more to it. Jealousy.  Pure and simple.  It's shameful too.

[Chris_]

Okay, this is silly.

proud2BlibKansan  (1000+ posts)        Sun Jan-10-10 03:54 PM
Response to Original message

41. I grew up with their children
 Went all through school with the kids of the wealthiest and most powerful people in my city. Went to their country clubs and ate dinner in their homes served by their maids.

So I understand exactly what you're talking about.

Some were good people who have focused on helping our community grow and prosper. A few even volunteered at food kitchens and shelters. But most were selfish and self-centered people who led very narrow lives. Their goals were focused on just what month was best to travel to the south of France or what color their next sports car should be.

When I was in high school I took a schoolmate shopping at a big discount store one day and I'll never forget the look in her eyes. She was in a foreign country and it was only a few miles from her house.

Most were Republicans but not all were the greedy selfish Republicans of today.

The thing that struck me the most is that they lived such sheltered lives completely removed from the real world. It was actually quite sad.

 

   Rich kids do not go to public school.

[Tucker]

I miss TomInTib - this story would have been so much more entertaining coming from his keyboard.

He was the model for the Steven Segal movie "On Deadly Ground". A Navy Seal in the Alaskan oil fields.

[kenth]

cali  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Sun Jan-10-10 07:07 PM
Response to Original message
64. I've been in the place of the wait staff who served you and I find your characterization
   
offensive and snotty as hell. In the mid-seventies, I worked at the Somerset Club in Boston. I started out as night clerk and was promoted to concierge. In the nearly three years I worked there, I was treated with almost universal courtesy by the members and their guests. In fact, one summer when I was moving out of my apartment, one of the members who had an apartment adjoining the Beacon Hill club, lent me his place while he was gone for the summer.

I wonder what he got in return.

[GOBUCKS]

I just love these DUmp threads where the jealousy comes oozing out all over the place. Their hatred is so comical and powerless, it's just beautiful.

On the other hand, and what's even more beautiful, DUmmy Goldbugnumbers may have just crossed over into walldude territory:

Goldstein1984  (1000+ posts)        Sun Jan-10-10 03:21 AM
Response to Reply #11
14. I already do that at work.  
 I'm in a position to influence outcomes on a regular basis.

Two examples:

Our company was approached to be the exclusive distributor of a "fuel catalyst" that claimed to increase fuel efficiency by 17% (A big deal for rural Alaska communities that rely on diesel generators for electricity). Without going into detail, my evaluation of the product proved conclusively that it was snake oil, yet there was popular demand for the product, and selling the worthless stuff to true believers would have brought in an estimated $10 million in revenue with almost no investment and little effort--one person could have managed the entire project. I was able to convince the executive that it was unethical, regardless of how legal, to sell an ineffective product. I suggested in my white paper that, if we did market the product, we include complementary Brazilian energy crystals with each purchase. We dropped the project.

We are currently looking at business opportunities in Guam. During a visit there to meet with potential partners, one of them heard me speaking Chamoru (Chamorro) to a few of the employees who were also indigenous inhabitants (Guam has a long history of colonization, and "territory" is just a euphemism for colony). I wanted to know how the employees were treated, and what shortcomings we would need to make up, so I learned enough Chamoru to demonstrate an interest in the culture and gain confidence. On the flight back, our president was chuckling, and he told me that one of the potential partners was concerned that I was going to "go Native" on him and disturb the status quo. Disturbing the status quo is my intention, if that is what it takes to ensure safe working conditions, regardless of how disposable an employee is considered.

[The Village Idiot]

I just love these DUmp threads where the jealousy comes oozing out all over the place. Their hatred is so comical and powerless, it's just beautiful.

On the other hand, and what's even more beautiful, DUmmy Goldbugnumbers may have just crossed over into walldude territory:

"Lord Jim" Goldburgnumbers

[BEG]

Okay, this is silly.

   Rich kids do not go to public school.

Yeah, teenagers know what political party all the rich kids parents vote for. 

[USA4ME]

Goldstein1984

Every face contained an expression of confidence and superiority.

This is what eats at them.  Drop the "superiority" part; the primitives goes on in their post to demonstrate they're really the one who views themselves as better.  Liberals just can't understand how conservatives can be so confident.

Liberals consistently believe false dichotomies.  They believe conservatives only see things in black and white, for instance, which is not even close to being true.  We do, however, recognize that black and white does exist and should be considered.

Given a particular issue with which to deal, liberals see things as having 10,000 shades of gray with each shade of gray being equal in its importance.  Conservatives see the same 10,000 shades of gray, but we're able to narrow down the field to (for instance) the 5 most important shades given the situation, evaluate them, and then choose one.  This completely blows the liberal's tiny, eggshell mind.  How could one not take the time to equally consider all 10,000 shades?  How could someone have that much confidence to narrow it down so quickly?  The only thing the libs are confident is that the solution simply can't ever be either black or white.

This is why those with the predominant lib mindset are never CEO's or very rarely are successful entrepreneurs.  You can't monkey around all day with a job like that, you have to make a choice and have the confidence to see it through, a trait they lack.

.

[AllosaursRus]

Goldstein1984  (1000+ posts)        Sun Jan-10-10 03:21 AM
Response to Reply #11
14. I already do that at work.  
 I'm in a position to influence outcomes on a regular basis.

Two examples:

Our company was approached to be the exclusive distributor of a "fuel catalyst" that claimed to increase fuel efficiency by 17% (A big deal for rural Alaska communities that rely on diesel generators for electricity). Without going into detail, my evaluation of the product proved conclusively that it was snake oil, yet there was popular demand for the product, and selling the worthless stuff to true believers would have brought in an estimated $10 million in revenue with almost no investment and little effort--one person could have managed the entire project. I was able to convince the executive that it was unethical, regardless of how legal, to sell an ineffective product. I suggested in my white paper that, if we did market the product, we include complementary Brazilian energy crystals with each purchase. We dropped the project.

We are currently looking at business opportunities in Guam. During a visit there to meet with potential partners, one of them heard me speaking Chamoru (Chamorro) to a few of the employees who were also indigenous inhabitants (Guam has a long history of colonization, and "territory" is just a euphemism for colony). I wanted to know how the employees were treated, and what shortcomings we would need to make up, so I learned enough Chamoru to demonstrate an interest in the culture and gain confidence. On the flight back, our president was chuckling, and he told me that one of the potential partners was concerned that I was going to "go Native" on him and disturb the status quo. Disturbing the status quo is my intention, if that is what it takes to ensure safe working conditions, regardless of how disposable an employee is considered.

Oh BULL SHIT!!! This guy is so into super science he put the brakes on a 10 million dollar deal! Yeah right! The CEO just naturally told the Board of Directors it would just be to unethical to make 10 mil on a project that boasts fuel improvement. Just who the hell manufactures the other bazillion products on the market that claim the same thing? According to this DUmmie they shouldn't exist!

I'd fire this CEO if he let 10 mil fall thru his fingers! You work for the stock holders buddie, not some idiot greenie wanna be scientist's idea of ethics!

ETA: I'll bet dollars to doughnuts this imbecile finds nothing wrong with bilking taxpayers out of billions for Global Warming. Even though it is well on the way of being proved the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on mankind!

[The Village Idiot]

Oh BULL SHIT!!! This guy is so into super science he put the brakes on a 10 million dollar deal! Yeah right! The CEO just naturally told the Board of Directors it would just be to unethical to make 10 mil on a project that boasts fuel improvement. Just who the hell manufactures the other bazillion products on the market that claim the same thing? According to this DUmmie they shouldn't exist!

Some dude out here was selling magnets for your fuel line that was supposed to boost performance by "cleaning" the gas.

ETA: I'll bet dollars to doughnuts this imbecile finds nothing wrong with bilking taxpayers out of billions for Global Warming. Even though it is well on the way of being proved the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on mankind!

Invariably DUmmies fail to apply their "logic" to their own idiotic notions. Not that their logic bears any semblence to a normal persons.

[IassaFTots]

A few months ago, a supplier hoping to get some business from us invited me to lunch at a place called The Petroleum Club. In spite of being associated with the oil industry as either academic, regulator or employee for more than twenty years, I had never heard of the place.

Holy Hell.  How do you get to work in the oil industry for more than 20 years and NOT know of The Petroleum Club?

What a schmuck.

[GOBUCKS]

Holy Hell.  How do you get to work in the oil industry for more than 20 years and NOT know of The Petroleum Club?

What a schmuck.

The whole tale is a bouncy, of course. Industry-specific social organizations are vital to the networking that goes on between vendors and their customers in every industry. I'm not familiar with Alaska, but would expect that in a business as isolated and hugely profitable as Alaskan oil such organizations would play an even bigger role than in the Lower 48. Or, as the jug-eared muslim would say, the Lower 55.

[IassaFTots]

The whole tale is a bouncy, of course. Industry-specific social organizations are vital to the networking that goes on between vendors and their customers in every industry. I'm not familiar with Alaska, but would expect that in a business as isolated and hugely profitable as Alaskan oil such organizations would play an even bigger role than in the Lower 48. Or, as the jug-eared muslim would say, the Lower 55.

Meh.  Perhaps he already had a membership and didn't want to ruin his dump cred. 

[delilahmused]

So, he's influential enough to affect multimillion dollar deals but NEVER dines with the big boys to discuss it? Maybe he's just an insufferable bore and on one wants to be around. Even so, why would this big wig take goldnumbers out for the wine and dine if he's just a consultant for the company of interest? Wouldn't Mr. Big take the Mr. Bigs of the company being courted to lunch instead?

Cindie

[BlueStateSaint]

So, he's influential enough to affect multimillion dollar deals but NEVER dines with the big boys to discuss it? Maybe he's just an insufferable bore and on one wants to be around. Even so, why would this big wig take goldnumbers out for the wine and dine if he's just a consultant for the company of interest? Wouldn't Mr. Big take the Mr. Bigs of the company being courted to lunch instead?

Cindie

There ya go again, Cindie--using that "logic" thing on the DUmp!

[Karin]

Maybe he's just an insufferable bore and no one wants to be around.

I've seen this guy's posts before and he IS an insufferable bore.  His idea to punish and strangle the pharmaceutical companies is for everyone to stop taking their meds.  Imagine the insanity of the DUmp were they to follow his advice. 

I resent his characterization of waiters and waitresses as sniveling asskissers.  It's the nature of the job to be respectful to the customer.  But I guess that's the nature of any job.  He's such an asswipe.