the pizza king

i’ve been thinking a lot recently about hierarchy. i don’t really know why, but it’s a topic that i’ve been reflecting on. i find it interesting that in every sub-culture there is a hierarchy of power and authority that isn’t necessarily recognized outside of that sub-culture. say you work in an architecture firm, or at a bank, or a day-care center, or anywhere really, there is a specified organizational chart that defines who has power and authority. and because you are a good employee, you honor that chart by following the directives of people above you in the chart. none of this is inherently wrong. but here’s where i think sub-cultures get weird… more than just decision making rights are given up to the highest position in the org chart. in many sub-cultures those people receive an element of worship that is really quite strange. stories about who they really are, the things they like, their expectations, and the force of their interactions become office folklore.

i remember one of my first jobs as a high school student was making pizza at a pizza hut in fort wayne, indiana. ahh, humble beginnings! there was one person who owned all of the pizza huts in the city. people talked about him, and the money he made, like he was a mythical god. as if there was a place along side zeus and dionysos for “the pizza king”. eventually i left my job at pizza hut to move to chicago and go to school. interestingly, there was no one talking about the “the pizza king” in chicago. no one marveled at his money, no one cowered or stood in awe as stories about him were relayed. no one cared. but there was a whole new hierarchy within the sub-culture of my school.

i have found this same phenomenon to be true with each sub-culture i have been a part of and left, and it doesn’t just apply to your job. the hierarchy of sub-culture is present in every aspect of our lives. whether it’s your job, family, church, or school, there is someone at the top. just look at pop culture around us. people like paris hilton, ashlee simpson, donald trump and reality television are perfect examples. these people and ideas bombard us every day in the media. but, do you think that an aboriginal community deep in the bush of australia care at all about them? the answer is no. their sub-culture probably has its own paris hilton and donald trump.

i’m sure if you look hard enough you will see this same trend in the sub-cultures that you have been a part of. maybe all this means is that the next time someone high up in the food chain of your sub-culture treats you poorly, keep perspective by realizing that in the sub-culture next door, that person’s really not that important.

Comments

[tr0y]

i needed this post today Jon! thank you thank you thank you! ive felt "trapped" under the opinions and "judgements" of too many people lately and this was a great reminder.

[Brewster]

Interesting post! I'm in the middle of a book right now called "The Myth of Leadership" by Jeffrey Nielsen. Although I still believe in leadership, it talks quite a bit about leadership and hierarchy and how it can affect a bunch of stuff - including honesty. That if someone is above you in the hierarchy (and may have the power to fire you) you often change your thoughts to fit into what they think, thus making new ideas and innovation difficult at times. I'm not sure if this connects...but i thought I'd post...

[Bilbo Baggins]

Yeah,
Not just with government, man is fascinated with whatever power structure he finds himself in, usually work. Even the fledglings in a nest will try and push their competition down to their death for more recognition....which means more food of course. I was once at a pizza hut in Indiana while out on a work lunch. Each time someone entered or exited the kitchen, I would get a brief glimpse of the employees bustling away back there, seemingly having a lot of fun. Mad laughter would errupt periodically. I glanced across at my co-worker, his one hand was ramming the final slice in his mouth as he checked the time on the other one. Through his revolting table manner he managed to mutter "gotta run if we're gonna make that one o'clock". More background laughter from the kitchen. Looking back at my sorry co-worker, "eh, you've got something right here" I said motioning to my left cheek. He had some on his left shirt collar but I didn't bother telling him. I thought that would be my hilarious joke for the day.
How envious I was of the kitchen staff and what I wouldn't have given to have missed the one o'clock. Man doesn't know what he wants. He can't miss what he never had either. Pity that.