Mediocrity

mediocre
adjective
of only moderate quality; not very good: a mediocre actor.

ORIGIN late 16th cent.: from French médiocre, from Latin mediocris ‘of middle height or degree,’ literally ‘somewhat rugged or mountainous,’ from medius ‘middle’ + ocris ‘rugged mountain.’

I just got out of an organization of exceptional mediocrity. Not only was this mediocrity pervasive in the organization, everyone in the organization knew it was mediocre. Furthermore, most of the people there seemed content to continue to perpetuate that level of mediocrity.

Everyone at my level there implicitly knew that things were mediocre, and almost embarrassing, but very few actually did anything with it. The folks who in theory should be leading the place barely seem to show up, and when they do they’re in love with and attracted to the vision but don’t know about the practicalities and see the actual horribleness on the ground.

I found this sad to say the least.

This variety of mediocrity is significantly more disgusting than the garden variety of mediocrity where those producing mediocre work are working much closer to their potential, but don’t realize, or don’t have the ability to produce excellent work.

I’m just glad to have left that place.