My favorite part of the newspaper is usually the letters to the editor section. It is said that for every reader who actually takes the time to write down their thoughts, there are thousands more thinking the same thing. So, taking into account the editorial skewing in the selection of opinions, the Letters give a hint as to what actual readers are thinking about.
In today's Globe, I notice several letters to the editor decrying what the writers thought was benevolent handling in the reporting of the story of the MIT dean who was forced to resign over embellishments to her resume. The letter writers wanted to see the perp made to walk the plank with hands handcuffed behind her; then hanged and dragged around the city square. After all, she had violated a sacred trust.
Now, all of the MIT students who were admitted during her tenure have a cloud over their heads. How could someone so unqualified be relied upon to uphold the high standards of MIT's exclusionary admissions policy?
For the record, I need to confess to a bit of fabrication on my own resume. I got my degree (BA in LA) from a good but not elite school. About ten years ago, I started changing the designation of my Major to Journalism on my resume, because I thought it sounded more practical than English Literature. Would those who pompously refer to the document as Curriculum Vitae call this Fraud?
Lying on an employment application form is fraud, and punishable according to stated policies. Creative editing of one's personal advertisement (Resume) might fall into the category of Marketing Bullshit rather than criminal misdemeaner.
I believe the outrage over the crime of resume-fudging seems a bit misplaced. Perhaps some of it ought to have been better directed at the war in Iraq, tainted pet food, or even global warming. But who am I to question the motives of others? (My last letter to the editor was about unleashed dogs and the challenge of avoiding their ubiquitous poop on the sidewalks where I take my daily -weather permitting - stroll.)
1 comment:
"About ten years ago, I started changing the designation of my Major to Journalism on my resume" Wasn't this about the time you were consulting others about resume writing? Do we now have a plathora of fraudulant resumes floating around out there? Perhaps this is why there has been so much corporate malfeasance. Is this Bush's fault? Or perhaps Wolfewitz?
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