# I'm afraid to go back to work tomorrow **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 27, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793 "2003-06-27T17:10:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Horrifying\_Howler\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Horrifying\_Howler\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horrifying_Howler_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/1 "2003-06-27T17:10:38Z")
Long story short, a person I work with threatened to come into work and shoot everyone working there. He was reported to security, who orginally said he would be fired, and not allowed anywhere near the building(this is not the first thing he has done that had drawn their attention). I just got an update tha they may not be able to fire him, because he has a history of mental illness. Grand. I know no one can give me advice, because I can’t really go into much more detail (but there is a reason I am personally afraid for my safety, lets say). I just wanted to share, and if no one ever hears from me again, this may be why. I wish I had vacation days saved up. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/2 "2003-06-27T17:23:56Z")
Ugh. Now, you know, you are now required, REQUIRED, I SAY, to check in here tomorrow so that we know you’re okay. That’s some scary stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Qazzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/aeb1de/32.png) [@Qazzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qazzz)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/3 "2003-06-27T17:24:18Z")
Wow dude, that’s horrible… At least something was done about it and not just ignored. There are too many stories of people saying, “Oh, I didn’t think he was serious. I thought he was just mad.” Maybe you could wear bulletproof clothing or bring your own gun to work? Good luck… ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/4 "2003-06-27T17:38:54Z")
I assume he’s been reported to the police? Mental illness or not, that kind of threat has to be taken seriously. Good luck. Remember, when you walk to the building, serpentine. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/5 "2003-06-27T17:39:01Z")
I assume he’s been reported to the police? Mental illness or not, that kind of threat has to be taken seriously. Good luck. Remember, when you walk to the building, serpentine. Serpentine. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/6 "2003-06-27T19:37:33Z")
Yeah, as far as I know, it’s illegal to make a threat like that. He should be reported at the very least. Poor you. Take a couple days off. You’ll feel better. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/7 "2003-06-27T19:50:17Z")
What, they can’t fire him because of mental illness? What about the fact that he’s doing something illegal? D’uh. If they can’t keep him away, I’d stay away. Your right to safety overrides his right to have a job after threatening to kill people. ---
**Author:** ![j.c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@j.c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j.c)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/8 "2003-06-28T02:53:05Z")
Cough cough… Oh, gosh, I’m sorry to… cough cough. Well, now you are covered with germs. Better not go into work tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![FairyDust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ccd318/32.png) [@FairyDust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyDust)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/9 "2003-06-29T01:26:29Z")
Are you okay? If so, please let us know. ---
**Author:** ![Mastema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/94ad74/32.png) [@Mastema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mastema)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/10 "2003-06-29T02:45:37Z")
Just a thought, Forget the company, if the man is making death threats, call the police and have him arrested, or have a restraining order issued. What with the goings on in the world, the authorities have little patience with people like this these days. ---
**Author:** ![hermann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b487fb/32.png) [@hermann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hermann)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/11 "2003-06-29T03:03:03Z")
photopat…serpentine…funny movie. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/12 "2003-06-29T03:15:57Z")
Mental illness? He’s threatened to shoot up the building and he can’t be fired because he’s mentally ill? So I assume the courts will let him go with a pat on the head if he does carry out his threat because he’s mentally ill? :rolleyes: Let us know you’re okay. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/13 "2003-06-29T05:24:53Z")
If you are extremely concerned about this twisted rectal cavity making good on his threats, request a civilian escort from the police when you go to work in the morning. This is a little over the top and your employer probably won’t appreciate it, but you have a right to feel safe. It sure looks like your bosses are more worried about a stinking lawsuit than the lives of their workers. Check back in tomorrow after work, mkay? ---
**Author:** ![FairyDust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ccd318/32.png) [@FairyDust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyDust)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/14 "2003-06-29T19:03:23Z")
Yes, do please check in here and let us know if you’re okay. Hmmm. I would think the employer would worry about possible lawsuits from the families of murder victims if that mentally ill employee does indeed carry out his threat to shoot everyone. “Damned if I do and damned if I don’t,” that employer might be thinking. Hell, just call the cops! ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/15 "2003-06-29T19:14:59Z")
Bazookas for the car-park guards, claymores in the entrance foyer, C4 in the lifts, laser tripwire-triggered grenades for when he gets out. If he survives all of that, you can pull up your trusty Uzi. And if you’re taking me seriously, you **are** worried. ---
**Author:** ![FairyDust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ccd318/32.png) [@FairyDust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyDust)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/16 "2003-06-29T20:07:50Z")
Do you own a Kevlar vest? If so, you may want to wear it to work. Come Monday we want to hear from you if you’re okay. Let us know also if the police arrest that disturbed and very possibly dangerous individual. ---
**Author:** ![Horrifying\_Howler\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Horrifying\_Howler\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horrifying_Howler_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/17 "2003-06-30T00:13:41Z")
Checking in, sorry for the delay. They told him to take some time off, but they didn’t fire him. I want to post more, but I am at work now, so I will update from home. ---
**Author:** ![yawndave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/43a26b/32.png) [@yawndave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yawndave)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/18 "2003-06-30T17:50:31Z")
Lucky you don’t work at Albertson’s in Irvine: [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/06/29/state0129EDT0113.DTL](http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/06/29/state0129EDT0113.DTL) ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/19 "2003-06-30T19:22:41Z")
**yawndave** , a coworker told me about that story, and honest to Pete, the first thing I thought about was this thread. Glad to see you’re still around, and nothing’s happened yet. ---
**Author:** ![malaka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@malaka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malaka)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/20 "2003-06-30T19:41:39Z")
I suppose everyone could just watch the news to find out **Magayuk** s fate. I worked at a company that had a psycho. During a meeting, someone made a small joke and everyone chuckled…except him. Then he said, “Yeah, but how funny would it be if I blew up this end of the building?”. Another time, he stopped in the office of our facilites guy and said, “You don’t know me, but I’m going to dress up on halloween so you can’t recognize me and I’m going to shoot and kill you.” HR made him sign papers that basically said, “I promise not to kill anyone.” Brilliant. He eventually quit qithout incident. Good luck… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793.md?page=2)