Written in 1999
That depends upon the definition of the word, ‘sex’. According to our commander in chief, ‘sex’ is something someone does to you. So one can have sex and not do sex. According to the dictionary, ‘sex’ (in the context) means, “activities associated with sexual intercourse”. So let us assume the commander in chief had a motive to define it his way and let us define it as the rest of the world does, “activities associated with sexual intercourse”.
There in lies the issue of ‘intercourse’. I do not remember the commander in chief defining ‘intercourse’, so let us just use the dictionary again: (in the context) we read, “intimate connection or dealings between persons”. So that would mean that the working relationship between two people could indeed be similar to ‘sex’ without being sexual.
Our commander in chief was right about one thing. Things mean different things to different people. Perspective is required to understand meaning. Whether a person wishes to be understood or wishes to impose his or her perspective on another determines the intention of the meaning.
In a radio station, as in any other business, there is a hierarchical structure of command decisions. How that structure is administered, determines the outcome of its performance. That being the case (and it is), a manager who desires to accomplish the goal of performance has essentially two methods to arrive at it.
1: The personal gratification method.
2: The fulfillment gratification method.
In sex (see the definition of your choice above), the act thereof also has two methods determined by the desire. Personal gratification is without regard for the partner. Fulfillment gratification is with regard to the partner.
If you consider the feelings and emotions and goals and life of the partner, you engage in intercourse (whether sexual or not) as a part of the whole of the two of you. Its like a marriage. If two partners work together on the relationship, each partner considers the other, making the whole of the two of you the main point. But if you do not consider the feelings and emotions and goals and life of the partner, you engage in intercourse, (whether sexual or not) as the only part of your own whole. That means you get personal gratification at the expense of the partner. Its called ‘rape’.
If you run a business (radio station or not) like you are making love, considering the partner, you find something interesting to be true. A person loved, cares about things. Productivity is up. Morale is up. Determination to win is up. Each employee considers their self to be important. Their jobs are rewarding, regardless of how much they are paid for it. They volunteer to do extra things and put forth extra effort. They consider themselves to be a major part of the whole. The whole is the main point. Since they are being paid for their services that makes them a team member. That makes you a leader.
If you run a business (radio station or not) by raping, without considering the partner, you find something interesting to be true as well. A person raped, cares about nothing. Productivity does not exist. There is no morale. Determination is only to get away from the pain and humiliation. Each employee considers their self to be worthless. Their jobs are a strain and no matter how much you pay them it will never be enough to put up with the strain. They never volunteer to do extra work and they put forth no extra effort. They consider themselves to be abused, as the main point is you. Since they are getting paid for being raped, they are nothing more than prostitutes. That makes you nothing more than a pimp.
Sexually transmitted diseases haunt the business as well as they haunt the street corners. Each person infected by the disease of abuse infects those they love. Each loved one infects their relationships, and the cycle infects each new one.
You know which type of manager you are, or which type of manager you work for. You feel the pain regardless of which position you hold. The only common to both is who gets blamed. Your employee blames you. Your employer blames you. You are to blame.