A clean desk is a sign of a sick mind

[keannu]

1. Does "sick mind" mean justification or a joke?
A clean desk is a sign of a sick mind

2. What job does "the job" mean?
rather doing the job

3g)
Many people use their cleverness to justify and excuse themselves for the messiness of their workspaces. They say things like "I know where everything is", Or they say non-humorous things such as "A clean desk is a sign of a sick mind". However, people who say they know where everything is turn out to be using a large amount of their mental capacity and creative energies remembering where they placed things, rather than doing the job..If they worked in a well-organized environment for any length of time, they would be surprised at how much more productive they were. If you have a tendency to attempt to explain a messy desk or work area, challenge yourself to work with a clean desk for an entire day. The result will amaze you.

 

[JMurray]

not a teacher

Here, I think that "a sick mind" is a jokingly overstated way of saying "overly fastidious" or "neurotically tidy".

You have misquoted the second part of your question. The original text says "rather than doing the job". The "job" being the work that the person is employed to do.

 

[emsr2d2]

The first is a joke. Someone with a sick mind has some sort of mental illness. The writer is suggesting there must be something wrong with you mentally if you have a tidy desk. Of course, some people think the opposite is true - they can't understand how anyone can work with a messy desk.

I have a sticker on my fridge which reads "A clean house is a sign of a wasted life"! The sentiment is similar.

 

[keannu]

Does the underlined imply their way of organizing thigs is ineffective or effective?

Many people use their cleverness to justify and excuse themselves for the messiness of their workspaces. They say things like "I know where everything is", Or they say non-humorous things such as "A clean desk is a sign of a sick mind". However, people who say they know where everything is turn out to be using a large amount of their mental capacity and creative energies remembering where they placed things, rather than doing the job..If they worked in a well-organized environment for any length of time, they would be surprised at how much more productive they were. If you have a tendency to attempt to explain a messy desk or work area, challenge yourself to work with a clean desk for an entire day. The result will amaze you.

Last edited by keannu; Today at 07:07.​

 

[JMurray]

not a teacher

Ineffective.
It says that despite being sure that they know where things are, such people spend a lot of time and energy trying to find those things instead of doing their work.

 

[keannu]

If so, the writer isn't consistent in his or her argument. In the later part, he says tidyness will work, so we should make a clean environment. It's confusing!

If they worked in a well-organized environment for any length of time, they would be surprised at how much more productive they were. If you have a tendency to attempt to explain a messy desk or work area, challenge yourself to work with a clean desk for an entire day. The result will amaze you.

 

[tzfujimino]

If so, the writer isn't consistent in his or her argument.

Hello, keannu.
Could you tell us why you think so? What's confusing you?

(Edit) It's 'tidiness'.

 

[keannu]

I'm sorry, I thought the people like this are the ones who organize well, the opposite, the confusion comes from it, but now it's clear!

people who say they know where everything is

 

[JMurray]

not a teacher

That's right, keannu. Sorry if I didn't make that clear.
By "such people", I mean the people with messy desks who nevertheless say they know where everything is.