# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![FairyDust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ccd318/32.png) [@FairyDust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyDust)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/21 "2003-07-07T17:18:18Z")
In San Rafael, CA you can be arrested for threatening to shoot people. [Here’s the news story.](http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/07/07/BA279981.DTL) ---
**Author:** ![CuriousCanuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@CuriousCanuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CuriousCanuck)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/22 "2003-07-07T18:05:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Magayuk \* > \*\*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. \*\* You know I’mm close. If you need to bug out for a bit, let me know and I’ll come get you. Or, if you just want someone to talk to, let me know and I’ll send you my number. Us Queen’s alum stick together. Even if you were a purple person. 🙂 ---
**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:** [July 7, 2003, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/23 "2003-07-07T21:53:00Z")
I kept meaning to come in and update, but life has been too hectic. Anyway, I am sorry, here is most of the story (left out information that might be traceable back to my employer). Let’s call the individual **D**. One day another employee and I were talking near **D** ’s work station. Just general chatter about how we were happy that the weekend was coming up. **D** looked at us and said “Do you know what would make me happy? Coming in here with a gun and shooting everyone.” The other employee and I laughed a bit, thinking he was joking (even though it was not funny). He said “No, I am serious, I hate every person here”. What do you say to that? We just walked away. This is not the first odd comment **D** has made, most noteabley he often talks about psycotic episodes he says he has. I always got the impression that he was just trying to impress people. I have seen **D** running through parked cars in our parking lot with a toy gun (a paint marker) pretending to shot at people. He followed me half way home one night (which is a feat, I live over an hour away). I reported him to security. I don’t think I am overreacting, but I hate the idea of gettiing a person into trouble who doesn’t deserve it. But I was not going to be the person who could have prevented some tragedy from happening, but didn’t do anything. He has been suspended, but not fired. His stuff is all still here. So that’s my story. \*\* CuriousCanuck\*\* you are such a sweetie 🙂 When are we have a Queen’s Dopefest? ---
**Author:** ![CuriousCanuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@CuriousCanuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CuriousCanuck)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/24 "2003-07-07T22:30:08Z")
Anytime you want. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/25 "2003-07-07T22:38:45Z")
Get the Hell out of there! No job is worth your life, & this guy is a human train wreck looking for a place to happen. **Don’t be in that place when he goes off!** ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/26 "2003-07-07T22:53:20Z")
**Magayuk** , get your fellow employee who witnessed **D** make the “shoot you all” statement to accompany you to the police station. File a complete report and see if you can’t get the guy hauled in for a brief court ordered psychiatric evaluation. Psychos tend to leak around the edges a bit and any competent shrink will probably pick up some signs during an assessment. There is no reason for you to have to put up with this nutjob. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/27 "2003-07-07T23:08:31Z")
Better yet, kill _him_ first. Beat him to the punch! J/K 🙂 Can’t the company just fire him for being late or something? Just one little f\*ck up and they can use it as the reason for firing. ---
**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:** [July 8, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/28 "2003-07-08T00:16:02Z")
I know **Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor** I actually have been looking for another job. I would take a job in my field (chem tech), or I would go back to retail. But I can’t find anything within driving distance (and I would take a 2 hour commute, which would include Toronto). I know the job isn’t worth getting shot over, but I don’t have anyone to fall back on at this point, I live alone and have a mortage(and student loans blah blah), and can’t afford to be out of work. (Whine whine). I have to take home at least $350 a week, and I would take two jobs to do it, but thus far no luck. You are right **Zenster** I should do that, I agree with you. I don’t know why I haven’t, except there is part of me that hates the idea of getting someone in that much trouble. **ParentalAdvisory** I gather that is what the company is trying to do, they are carefully looking through his file now, but I haven’t heard that they have found anything. **CuriousCanuck** I still think we should set up something for the summer, something that involves much alcohol 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CuriousCanuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@CuriousCanuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CuriousCanuck)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/29 "2003-07-08T00:32:24Z")
My email is in my profile. Get on it already! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Delly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Delly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delly)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/30 "2003-07-08T02:07:53Z")
Are your Employers not supposed to provide you with a safe working enviroment? Surely a guy with some with a mental illness who has said he wants to kill you all because he doesnt like you can be considered safe? Has anyone addressed this point with management? Or is it different stateside? ---
**Author:** ![Delly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Delly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delly)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/31 "2003-07-08T02:11:48Z")
can’t\* be considered safe sorry ---
**Author:** ![MaryEFoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MaryEFoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaryEFoo)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/32 "2003-07-08T03:20:15Z")
Once where I worked, a new guy with a mental history said he felt like killing one of the existing employees. I was the only witness, and although it sounded mostly like conversation\*, I did bring it to the supvr’s attention. Guy was gone the next day.\*\* \*It actually reminded me of a barnyard with a rooster; bring in another rooster and they both fluff up and start jumping around. Expect a dust-up and then peace. \*\*I just remembered he was a contractor, and had no employee rights. And \*\*\*, I’m positive I did the right thing. He said what he said, and the results followed. ---
**Author:** ![Kricket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f14d63/32.png) [@Kricket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kricket)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/33 "2003-07-08T05:19:31Z")
Last month our monthly safety meeting was about work place violence. We get to see a nifty way outdated almost funny video as well. We were supposed to have a new one but it got misplace and I’m really curious as to how they updated it with the zero tolerence every little statement to be taken seriously. Everyone is told in orientation that any infringement on this and they will be let go. But, being union they basically get a three strikes you’re out rule. Meaning the company sends them through therapy and they get a few times to get it right. Same way if you have a substance abuse problem. In Iowa (not sure about the rest of the states) they have passed a law that even if you aren’t the one being harrassed or threatened you can file complaint. So if a co-worker walks by and hears someone being harrassed they can file and something against person A if person B doesn’t. Magayuk, be well, and be safe ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/34 "2003-07-08T13:24:55Z")
Just don’t take the guy’s stapler. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/35 "2003-07-08T15:42:43Z")
> [@](#): > > What about the fact that he’s doing something illegal? No shit. Just because someone has a psychiatric history doesn’t mean they’ve got _carte blanche_ to act in ways that aren’t legal for other folks! ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/36 "2003-07-08T16:26:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Magayuk \* > … You are right **Zenster** I should do that, I agree with you. I don’t know why I haven’t, except there is part of me that hates the idea of getting someone in that much trouble … Is not rocking the boat worth dying for? This nutjob is the one trotting about with a (simulated) weapon in your parking lot. I’m confident that there is a workplace regulation prohibiting bringing a projectile device onto the company’s premises. Do you have a witness to this loon scampering about the employee parking lot with his paintball gun? This should be included in the police report no matter what. I still fail to see why you should have to change employment, commute longer distances or accept a second job solely for the sake of appeasing a hostile and potentially psychotic cow-orker. Finally, someone needs to politely (and anonymously) point out to management that even if this jerkwad harms just one employee, the lawsuits resultant therefrom could far exceed any potential liability incurred by firing this dolt. Someone in the executive suite desperately needs to purchase a clue or three. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/37 "2003-07-08T17:12:14Z")
So, **Magayuk** is all quiet on the Western Front, still? I certainly hope so. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/38 "2003-07-08T17:30:13Z")
read this link & make _immediate_ changes to your plans! [http://www.wtok.com/news/headlines/380772.html](http://www.wtok.com/news/headlines/380772.html) :eek: ---
**Author:** ![lovelyluka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f475e1/32.png) [@lovelyluka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lovelyluka)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/39 "2003-07-08T17:43:30Z")
I saw that news story and immediately thought of you, **Magayuk**. Well, actually, the thought process was more like, _Oh shit, I wonder if that guy on the SDMB is from Mississippi…his thread is at the top of the list…oh no oh no oh no…_ Glad to hear that it wasn’t you in that workplace, but I sure hope that your bosses have a change of policy **right now**. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793/40 "2003-07-08T17:51:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kricket \* > **So if a co-worker walks by and hears someone being harrassed they can file and something against person A if person B doesn’t.** Also known as, “contributing to a hostile work environment.” This guy’s doing it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-to-go-back-to-work-tomorrow/184793.md?page=3)