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November 23, 2003
Reliability, enforceability
How did I know this was going to happen?
My cell is not roaming as it should - ah I knew it would happen. So what is the problem, the question posed itself? Is it the -to use a phrase that I did not coin- the "neanderthalically incompetent" telecom provider of the Hashemite Kingdom. (A subject that in real life provokes me to tirades. Tariffs and bulk rates.) Or is it the office.
Now, this is really my fault. You know that severance package included the old Fund paying for my phone until December end. Among other things. Well the incompetent fucks, now that they have learned that their ludicrously stupid "rescue plan" is fucked - laughed out of the room I am told - etc. they're trying to screw me. Phone has been shut.
Fuck it, on one level. However, there's a lesson here. A general lesson that also is a lesson about Middle Easern issues in general. Enforceability. There is none. Or rather it is challenging such that a severance agreement is essentially unenforceable in a legal context. The enforcement was when they were angling for retaining me for the "rescue", etc. , then they wanted to remain on my good side. That option off the table, well, fuck it. What am I going to do, sue? Sure, waste my money. Not worth the effort.
Now, this is minor and simply a point of irritation, however it is generalized throughout the system. Then you begin to see some real and serious efficiency loseses. Imagine, you have to build this into literally every stage of your business planning, the realisation that many contracts are utterly unenforceable, or if enforceable, only after expending let's ay 100 times the effort in the West.
Clearly it makes you risk averse. It also makes you want to operate on a delivery first, payment second basis - although equally for the service provider there is the desire to operate on the opposite. Trust becomes a matter of personal ties, personal ties a matter of family... And bingo, you have a clan or tribal economy with all the inefficiencies that implies.
Anyway, on a personal level I got it restored after some calls to the right people, but again, inefficiencies.
Posted by The Lounsbury at November 23, 2003 10:55 PM
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Jan-Dec 2003
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