# Dear paper towel filler person....or non-Christmas mini-rants **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 25, 2010, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-paper-towel-filler-person-or-non-christmas-mini-rants/565389 "2010-12-25T23:54:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-paper-towel-filler-person-or-non-christmas-mini-rants/565389/241 "2011-01-21T02:34:07Z")
Maybe he was trying to manipulate you into changing your choice to bottled (which should bump up the tab, and presumably, the tip). ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-paper-towel-filler-person-or-non-christmas-mini-rants/565389/242 "2011-01-21T02:58:24Z")
Bad cold, worse throat. Stayed home from work today (no pay), really wishing I had some sick time to use so I could stay home and get well. A totally raw throat is a really bad thing to have when you talk to people for a living. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-paper-towel-filler-person-or-non-christmas-mini-rants/565389/243 "2011-01-21T13:54:22Z")
A special fuck you to the guy who decided that he is more important than any pedestrian, and honked at me for daring to cross when the crosswalk sign said walk. Unlike many people at that particular intersection, I only ever cross when the Walk sign is lit, because cars regularly speed down that road, and fairly frequently run the red light there. I was just minutes ago standing and waiting at that crosswalk, one car across from me for the light to go green so he could turn left, across my path. Light goes green and sign turns to Walk, and I proceed forward. So does he, and he has no intention of pausing at the crosswalk to wait for me to pass. No, he honks, speeds up, and cuts the corner to drive around me, giving me very little clearance as he did so. Screw you, I was walking fast because it’s freaking cold out today; it’s not like I intentionally set out to cross the street just to be an obstacle to you, and dawdled in the process. Asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-paper-towel-filler-person-or-non-christmas-mini-rants/565389/244 "2011-01-21T14:08:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Our waiter takes a deep breath and says “Isn’t it SO messed up that we’re the only country that adds fluoride to our water?” Me: “And that we have fewer cavities as a result and since we added fluoride?” Him: “Umm, I don’t KNOW…who KNOWS what they’re trying to do to us _looks nervously around_” > > Sure, it provided fodder for some anti-vaxx jokes afterwards, but Jesus. Fuck me for making a lighthearted joke and fuck HIM for being a crazy. It’s taking longer than we thought. Yeah, TOO MUCH fluoride causes problems. I’m a staunch fluoridater, though…when we lived in Las Vegas, the water wasn’t fluoridated, and my daughter was at an age when she needed the fluoride, so I got her prescription multivitamins with fluoride. At the ripe old age of 31, she’s had only a handful of small cavities…and she’s had friends who have a mouthful of silver at her age, and she’s heard about root canals, but never experienced one. She recently thanked me for giving her fluoride. Occasionally, I did something right. I’m ready for this cold snap to break. The cold weather gets into my joints, and I hurt, and I have problems moving. It’s a good thing I live in Texas, I don’t think I could survive any place colder. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-paper-towel-filler-person-or-non-christmas-mini-rants/565389/245 "2011-01-21T15:58:50Z")
Personal shit for me, and unrelated personal shit for Mr. Horseshoe, all came to a boil all at the same time this morning. So, out of stress and, frankly, poor communication (neither really knew just how badly the other was spinning) we picked a stupid fight over nothing and spent half our brief morning in a snit instead of giving each other the love and support we _both_ need badly right now, and had to make up in a hurry while rushing out the door to our respective jobs which, while supplying desperately needed paychecks, are seriously Not Helping wrt the aforementioned personal shit. Also, I burned my consolation Pop-Tart. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-paper-towel-filler-person-or-non-christmas-mini-rants/565389/246 "2011-01-21T16:10:24Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Bad cold, worse throat. Stayed home from work today (no pay), really wishing I had some sick time to use so I could stay home and get well. A totally raw throat is a really bad thing to have when you talk to people for a living. Go to work. Feign laryngitis. If they don’t give you the sick days you require, you should get to take a day where you do little productive as a result. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-paper-towel-filler-person-or-non-christmas-mini-rants/565389/247 "2011-01-21T16:24:21Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > I was once waited on at a Steak & Ale by a guy who thought we should be dropping hams on Iraq…he seriously thought this would help the people somehow. I’m trying to work this into a band name. Hams for Iraq? Iraqi Ham Drop? Carpetham Iraq? > [@perfectparanoia](#): > > If they don’t give you the sick days you require, you should get to take a day where you do little productive as a result. Ahhhhhhh, the joys of presenteeism. Yes, America, we truly have an \*excellent \*system here. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-paper-towel-filler-person-or-non-christmas-mini-rants/565389/248 "2011-01-21T21:35:03Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Uh-oh. ☹ Good luck. > [@Carl\_Corey](#): > > Good luck, Rysto. > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Oh, I just got what you’re talking about. Fingers crossed for you! So the hammer ended up dropping on Thursday. The Big Bad News is … one of Directors of Software is leaving the company. Yeah, that’s it. Don’t get me wrong, he was a real asset to the company and had a skill set we already didn’t have enough of, but seriously? From the way these guys were going on, I was half-expecting to see a new set of executives or something. That’s what I get for listening to rumours, I guess. Thanks for the well-wishes, even if I apparently had nothing to worry about. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-paper-towel-filler-person-or-non-christmas-mini-rants/565389/249 "2011-01-21T21:46:24Z")
Wooo! ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-paper-towel-filler-person-or-non-christmas-mini-rants/565389/250 "2011-01-21T22:04:10Z")
No news is good news. Apparently, not-so-bad news is almost as good! Had lunch with my father today. Haven’t seen the old guy in a couple of years - my choice - and I was the one who extended the invite. Not sure why I did, but I did. Mostly an hour of nodding and "mm-hmm"ing at his monologue, and then the inevitable guilt trip about me not wanting my utterly batshit and highly toxic seriously man get it through your head mother in my life anymore. Almost walked out on him, but ultimately, I’m glad I didn’t. I have zero respect for him anymore, but a bit of affection still. I’m drained. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-paper-towel-filler-person-or-non-christmas-mini-rants/565389/251 "2011-01-21T23:06:53Z")
> [@perfectparanoia](#): > > Go to work. Feign laryngitis. If they don’t give you the sick days you require, you should get to take a day where you do little productive as a result. Unfortunately, doesn’t work that way. My job is on the phone tech support. No sick time, no off-the-phones time. You call in sick, you don’t get paid. You show up unable to do the job, they send you home and tell you to go to the doctor. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-paper-towel-filler-person-or-non-christmas-mini-rants/565389/252 "2011-01-22T03:49:04Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Personal shit for me, and unrelated personal shit for Mr. Horseshoe, all came to a boil all at the same time this morning. So, out of stress and, frankly, poor communication (neither really knew just how badly the other was spinning) we picked a stupid fight over nothing and spent half our brief morning in a snit instead of giving each other the love and support we _both_ need badly right now, and had to make up in a hurry while rushing out the door to our respective jobs which, while supplying desperately needed paychecks, are seriously Not Helping wrt the aforementioned personal shit. > > Also, I burned my consolation Pop-Tart. > ☹ Turn that frown upside down and start planning the make-up sex! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-paper-towel-filler-person-or-non-christmas-mini-rants/565389/253 "2011-01-22T04:28:30Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > It’s taking longer than we thought. > > Yeah, TOO MUCH fluoride causes problems. \ True enough; at the standardized fluoride levels of most municipal waters (1 part per thousand of fluoride), if you drink 4000 liters of fluoridated water a day, it’ll kill you. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-paper-towel-filler-person-or-non-christmas-mini-rants/565389/254 "2011-01-22T07:41:09Z")
If I drink that much water per day, is it the fluoride that’s gonna kill me, or the water? ---
**Author:** ![Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amber_in_Treasury)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-paper-towel-filler-person-or-non-christmas-mini-rants/565389/255 "2011-01-22T16:10:33Z")
I’m sick and fucking tired of people who harrass you til you snap, and then have the cheek to blame YOU for becoming angry. Jesus fuck!!! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-paper-towel-filler-person-or-non-christmas-mini-rants/565389/256 "2011-01-22T17:32:06Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > If I drink that much water per day, is it the fluoride that’s gonna kill me, or the water? Does it really matter? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-paper-towel-filler-person-or-non-christmas-mini-rants/565389/257 "2011-01-22T17:37:24Z")
> [@Amber\_in\_Treasury](#): > > I’m sick and fucking tired of people who harrass you til you snap, and then have the cheek to blame YOU for becoming angry. Jesus fuck!!! Totally with you on this. I have a brother-in-law who likes to argue at family functions; dude, I’m being polite because I don’t want to make a scene here, but you seem to be mistaking my politeness for being a pushover. Don’t make me yell at you, because no one here is going to like that, and _I’LL_ look like the asshole, in spite of the fact that _YOU’RE_ the one who wouldn’t read the not-so-subtle signs that I wasn’t interested in arguing any longer. I’m not sure if people who do this are clueless or evil; pushing you too far when they know you’re not free to tell them to go fuck themselves. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-paper-towel-filler-person-or-non-christmas-mini-rants/565389/258 "2011-01-22T17:54:26Z")
I had a relative-by-marriage who would do that to me – pick, pick, pick at me during family dinners, when I did NOT want to get into it with her. Mainly because the topic was the stupid religion she was obsessed with which I (as agnostic) wasn’t at all interested in but unfortunately a bunch of his other relatives also ‘belonged’ to it, though not to the obsessed level. Anyway, one time I was at the explosion point…but instead I just came out with a total non-sequitor. Her: Something about how everyone who didn’t follow XXXX was going to hell. Me: I heard the swallows will be late in returning to Capistrano this year. Her: boggled silence. And that became my pattern with her. Whenever she got close to driving me to say something rude, I’d just answer with a sentence utterly unconnected with anything being discussed. When she called me on (We’re not talking about penguins, we’re talking about your soul!) I’d just say, “No. I’m talking about penguins. Did you hear the Adelies might be endangered by global warming?” or whatever. I’m sure it came across as strange, and maybe rude/self-centered, but still better than screaming what I really wanted to say about her religion. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-paper-towel-filler-person-or-non-christmas-mini-rants/565389/259 "2011-01-22T18:57:21Z")
> [@Amber\_in\_Treasury](#): > > I’m sick and fucking tired of people who harrass you til you snap, and then have the cheek to blame YOU for becoming angry. Jesus fuck!!! Those people have learned two things; 1\> Most people don’t like displays of negative emotions. 2\> If I act nice while pushing someone into such a display, onlookers will assume they are the bad guy, because they’re the one who is angry. Just bear this in mind next time you see one angry person and another person smiling and proclaiming that they don’t know why the other person is angry. The asshole is not the one who is angry, but the one who is smiling. This is an especially important rule to learn if you are a boss. The angry employee is NOT the one you should be punishing. ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-paper-towel-filler-person-or-non-christmas-mini-rants/565389/260 "2011-01-22T19:40:17Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Unfortunately, doesn’t work that way. My job is on the phone tech support. No sick time, no off-the-phones time. You call in sick, you don’t get paid. You show up unable to do the job, they send you home and tell you to go to the doctor. That really sucks! I am also in tech support (software company) but 90% of our work is done via email. I spend maybe 30 minutes on the phone with customers a day. It is very cushy. Though, I wear out keyboards like nobody’s business. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-paper-towel-filler-person-or-non-christmas-mini-rants/565389.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-paper-towel-filler-person-or-non-christmas-mini-rants/565389.md?page=14)