# I Swear I'm Cursed (Work Melodrama NEVER ends) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 5, 2005, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672 "2005-08-05T03:34:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/21 "2005-08-05T14:42:23Z")
> [@Boo Boo Foo](#): > > Rebekkah? Your Opening Post looks like it took quite a while to compile. Can you see where I’m going with this? Um - if you’re implying that she wrote this at work, check the time of the post. It was at night and certainly not during work hours. :rolleyes: If you aren’t and I’m just a gigantic idiot, I apologize. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/22 "2005-08-05T14:43:28Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > This type of complaint is common among employers re Gen X workers. I blame misguided parents who focus on their kids’ self esteem and mediocre accomplishments (“Junior’s select soccer team went to state!”) instead of instilling things like a work ethic and financial responsibility. > > Honestly, I know parents of 12 year old kids who have never made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for themselves because mom does EVERYTHING for the kid. My cousin still cuts her 12 year old son’s meat up. I know another mom who lets her daughter take the day off school each time she starts her period. Oookay. Que? ITYM Generation **Y**. The problem you are describing could be better ascribed to the children of the Baby Boomers. On preview: What **featherlou** said. > [@featherlou](#): > > ::wanders off grumbling about young whippersnappers stealing my generational identity:: Yeah, those darned kids wouldn’t know decent music if it bit them on the ass. And stay off my lawn! ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/23 "2005-08-05T14:44:16Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > In my opinion, Generation Y is not a whole lot like Gen X, and I don’t care for being lumped in with them or having them identified as Gen X. Has a hard-working, financially succesful member of generation Y, fuck you. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/24 "2005-08-05T14:48:23Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > I can. I can also see she posted at 11:34 **pm**. As the workday starts at 8:00am and seems to last to 5:00pm, I’d say that this was done on her own time. Well, if you adjust for her being in Calgary, that makes the post time 9:34pm. Not that that changes your point any. I just had to nitpick. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/25 "2005-08-05T14:49:52Z")
> [@Metacom](#): > > Has a hard-working, financially succesful member of generation Y, fuck you. 😛 I don’t believe you. Your mommy must’ve given it to you! 😉 Which only goes to show you, all generalizations are wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/26 "2005-08-05T14:54:37Z")
Sounds like he was forced to get a job, and he has absolutely no interest in the job itself. He’ll be gone before too long. I need to ask, though… Other than people who work on a line in a factory or who tend to customers face-to-face, I don’t understand rigid, “count-the-minutes” break times. I find it needlessly uptight and Big Brother-ish. I’ve usually managed to get jobs that don’t have time cards and where people don’t watch every move you make. As long as you’re getting your work completed, the extra five minutes you take here is made up somewhere else…like when the boss interrupts your lunch or asks you to stay late, or what have you. Not to say that this kid isn’t making a lousy impression. I just think he never wanted the job to begin with and will be gone soon. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/27 "2005-08-05T15:11:39Z")
> [@Ponder Stibbons](#): > > Well, if you adjust for her being in Calgary, that makes the post time 9:34pm. > > Not that that changes your point any. I just had to nitpick. _sigh_ This board. I had thought of that, but then decided I was too lazy to look up if Calgary was one or two hours behind, and left it. As a fellow nitpicker, I should have known better. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/28 "2005-08-05T15:13:01Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > Our kids have been so coddled and spoiled that they experience culture shock having to arrive at work, on time, 5 days in a row. And we have no one to blame but ourselves. Watch where you put that big brush. Some young adults are spoiled and coddled. Others have been working since they were sixteen to feed their brothers and sisters. Some are lazy and some are hard workers- just like it’s been since the beginning of time. In any case, I’d hate to think I lost a chance to put food on my table and make my living (which, young or old, I need to do as much as the next guy) because you want don’t wish see us people in their early twenties as individuals. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/29 "2005-08-05T15:29:35Z")
The most apt term I’ve heard is “The Entitlement Generation”. This kid’s got that in spades. 6 years in school. A year of travel. Now you wanna tell him he’s gotta drink office coffee, or take his trips to Starbucks on his own time. . .how dare you? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/30 "2005-08-05T15:33:24Z")
> [@Rebekkah](#): > > 8:15 am: 15 minutes late for work Should have ended with 8:16 am: Newbie walks out the door with dismissal papers. ---
**Author:** ![Jillyvn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Jillyvn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jillyvn)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/31 "2005-08-05T15:46:12Z")
Everyone, Thanks for the replies! I have more to say, and I’ll be posting at lunch, I actually have more to say. Colour me frustrated, and thanks for the chance to vent. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/32 "2005-08-05T15:53:28Z")
> [@Rebekkah](#): > > “Not to sound racist [uh oh, you know this is bad news, I brace myself], I had to leave (former province). By 2012, it’s going to be 75% native.” I seem to have some sort of “speak racist to me” vibe since I appear so white. My father is native. If management doesn’t do something about this tool, and this kind of BS keeps up, you’ve got the seeds of a human rights complaint right here in lovely technicolour. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/33 "2005-08-05T15:59:33Z")
Baby Boomers, Generation XYZ, Generation 3.1416, whatever. Know what? The selfish, overindulged, don’t give a rat’s ass, spoiled, clueless ones span _all_ generations. Never at work on time? I got rid of a 61 year old employee who didn’t think anything was wrong with showing up 2 hours late! Or a 35 year old employee who managed to be “sick” every damn Monday morning for six months. Or a 51 year old employee (now we’re talkin’ bout mmmy generation!) who didn’t see anything wrong with not showing back up **after lunch**! Add in ages anywhere from 21 - 68 who might be: - “sick” on any given Friday - Not show up for three days after a week’s vacation - Call in and say “I’m takin’ a couple days off cause we went to the beach over the weekend and decided to stay” - Leave to go on an out of office “appointment” that happened to be the local watering hole up the street - Worked their “other job” while on company time and on and on and on… The ain’t worth a shits are of all ages. I’ve seen em all! I take that back! I haven’t seen em all. Og knows somebody will come up with a new one on me before long. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/34 "2005-08-05T16:21:49Z")
And stay off **swampbear** ’s lawn, too! ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/35 "2005-08-05T16:24:05Z")
Seeing as we’re attacking stereotypes and picking nits… I’m another Gen whatever (I’m 22, okay?) who has never HAD to work a day in her life but works part-time during school, full-time whenever I’m not in school, shows up on time, works hard, and gets stuff done. In fact, I’ve kept the same job for the past three summers (and Christmas breaks, sometimes, too) and have permanent responsibilities despite only being here 3 months out of the year. And I have fire-engine red hair. Not quite a nose-ring, I know… In any case, youth and privilege is NOT an excuse. Fire him in his probationary period if he doesn’t get better. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/36 "2005-08-05T16:33:59Z")
Turns up late on his first day of work? He must 1)have dirt on someone; 2)not be interested in the job or a reference; or 3)be terminally clueless. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/37 "2005-08-05T16:37:06Z")
Is it possible he just doesn’t really want the job and is trying to get fired? ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/38 "2005-08-05T16:47:34Z")
Noting much to add, except I havbe the answer to your photo display dilemma. Put a framed photo of the indian headdress\* guy from the village people in prominent view! \*apologies if it’s the wrong terminology, I’m not sure if that guy actually was native american, and would probably be incorrect anyway as you’re talking about Inuit. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/39 "2005-08-05T16:48:05Z")
> [@Snakescatlady](#): > > Turns up late on his first day of work? He must 1)have dirt on someone; 2)not be interested in the job or a reference; or 3)be terminally clueless. Exactly. We once had a guy call in on his first day of work because his car wouldn’t start. Boss man told him not to bother at all. (Yes, I know car problems exist. But dammit, on your first day? Call a cab! Get a friend to drive you! Borrow your mom’s car!) > [@Pundit Lisa](#): > > This type of complaint is common among employers re Gen X workers. I blame misguided parents who focus on their kids’ self esteem and mediocre accomplishments (“Junior’s select soccer team went to state!”) instead of instilling things like a work ethic and financial responsibility. > > Honestly, I know parents of 12 year old kids who have never made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for themselves because mom does EVERYTHING for the kid. My cousin still cuts her 12 year old son’s meat up. I know another mom who lets her daughter take the day off school each time she starts her period. Oookay. > > Our kids have been so coddled and spoiled that they experience culture shock having to arrive at work, on time, 5 days in a row. And we have no one to blame but ourselves. > > The bar is so low that we are thrilled when new co-ops walk in the door, on time and sans a nose ring, the first day on the job. Well, I guess my 13 and 16 year olds will be running their own companies. They have chores, they know how to do laundry, mow the yard, give the dog a bath, mop and sweep the floors, etc. As for cutting up my children’s meat…not since they graduated to a booster seat. Point is, not all parents of teenagers believe in coddling. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/40 "2005-08-05T17:08:39Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Well, I guess my 13 and 16 year olds will be running their own companies. They have chores, they know how to do laundry, mow the yard, give the dog a bath, mop and sweep the floors, etc. As for cutting up my children’s meat…not since they graduated to a booster seat. > > Point is, not all parents of teenagers believe in coddling. Are you sure? I always read these rants and generalisations literally, so I have to believe such coddling is universal, and that _every_ teen / twenty-something is a slacker who will never amount to anything. Hyperbole and broad strokes are never parts of rants, as we all know. As a matter of fact, I was thinking of going home right now and cutting my children’s meat and making them PB&J sandwiches. Oh wait, **Pundit Lisa** said “misguided parents”. Therefore, there probably wasn’t really a need for “guided” parents to chime in and protect their own demon spawn (and every teenager, no matter his upbringing, is demon spawn). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672.md?page=3)