# I'm not a bitch because you aren't listening. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 24, 2009, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-bitch-because-you-arent-listening/504089 "2009-07-24T05:39:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-bitch-because-you-arent-listening/504089/201 "2009-07-29T23:55:19Z")
> [@Sauron](#): > > Why can you not understand the reason for the policy? The library has 14 computers. Time on the computers is a limited resource. No doubt the library has experienced situations in the past when one or more users hogged a computer for four or five hours straight, while other patrons waited to get access. There is a reason for the policy. The solution to that problem is what is flawed. Computers are sitting idle when there are people wanting to use them. The reason they can’t use them is because of an arbitrary policy that doesn’t take into account times when there are more computers than people wanting to use them. The policy only takes into account full utilization of the computers. There is no reason that they can’t have their two hour maximum policy and then put your name on another list that they pull from when computers are idle and there are no names left on the main list. At most someone new coming into the library would have to wait less than an hour (assuming everyone sat down at the 14 computers at the same time just as this new person arrived. Unlikely). ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-bitch-because-you-arent-listening/504089/202 "2009-07-30T00:45:25Z")
> [@Uzi](#): > > There is a reason for the policy. The solution to that problem is what is flawed. Computers are sitting idle when there are people wanting to use them. The reason they can’t use them is because of an arbitrary policy that doesn’t take into account times when there are more computers than people wanting to use them. The policy only takes into account full utilization of the computers. There is no reason that they can’t have their two hour maximum policy and then put your name on another list that they pull from when computers are idle and there are no names left on the main list. At most someone new coming into the library would have to wait less than an hour (assuming everyone sat down at the 14 computers at the same time just as this new person arrived. Unlikely). That description reminds me of an old comedy routine. A guy walks into a bakery. The salesman tells him to take a number. There is no one else in the store. The guy gives him a strange look. He takes a number. Then the sales person starts calling out numbers, starting at 1. No one else is in the store. This goes on for quite a while. There is still nobody else there. The point of the “joke” is, there was no reason to adhere to the “numbers rule” BECAUSE THERE WAS NOBODY ELSE THERE. There is a bit of truth in that routine. It fits almost exactly to the computer time limit. If no one else is there, if no one else is waiting, what’s the difference? That is stupidity at its finest. I guess it’s easier to invoke a rule that doesn’t fit the situation, than it is to use the brain once in a while. That’s pretty funny - and sad. ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-bitch-because-you-arent-listening/504089/203 "2009-07-30T00:58:46Z")
Lexis and Westlaw could also require the policy. Actually, I’m a little surprised **Stoid** is even able to use those services at her law library as a non-student/non-faculty member. These database services do not come cheap, so you certainly want to discourage practitioners from thinking they could obviate the need to purchase their own subscription by heading on down to the local law library where they can get free, unlimited access. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-bitch-because-you-arent-listening/504089/204 "2009-07-30T01:01:41Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > I disagree. Asking a question is not, no matter how many people claim otherwise, the same thing as making a big stink, demanding changes on the spot, abusing the clerk, and pressuring him to break them just for me. As a librarian, I can confirm that there are definitely a lot of stupid questions out there and plenty of stupid people. Sorry, your 2nd grade teacher was wrong on that one. And as for a computer time limit when no one is there? That’s in place because (as has been repeated ad nauseum in this thread) the people who ask for exceptions are the ones that will constantly ask for exceptions. And they will inconvenience other people just so they can get their way. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-bitch-because-you-arent-listening/504089/205 "2009-07-30T01:04:49Z")
> [@Sauron](#): > > And then the librarian would respond, “We’ve been told that before, and it didn’t happen, and when we asked the patron to log off, s/he refused, things escalated, it got abusive, and eventually we had to call in a SWAT team. Tear gas was used, and the patron was finally clubbed unconscious and dragged out, still clinging to the computer. We had to completely replace that unit, and now we’re being sued. All because we tried to be nice to some computer hog. So the policy is, two hours per day on the computer.” Look, that only happened the one time, and it was while the news was breaking about Michael Jackson’s death, and I would’ve gotten off AS SOON AS it was confirmed to be true. Sheesh, hog a computer once . . . ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-bitch-because-you-arent-listening/504089/206 "2009-07-30T01:07:13Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > As a librarian, I can confirm that there are definitely a lot of stupid questions out there and plenty of stupid people. Sorry, your 2nd grade teacher was wrong on that one. As [despair.com](http://images.despair.com/products/demotivators/cluelessness.jpg) put it… ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-bitch-because-you-arent-listening/504089/207 "2009-07-30T01:11:46Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > As a librarian, I can confirm that there are definitely a lot of stupid questions out there and plenty of stupid people. Sorry, your 2nd grade teacher was wrong on that one. > > And as for a computer time limit when no one is there? That’s in place because (as has been repeated ad nauseum in this thread) the people who ask for exceptions are the ones that will constantly ask for exceptions. And they will inconvenience other people just so they can get their way. If they are doing this, while other people are waiting, then the answer is NO. A firm, authoritative, no compromise NO. Is it that hard to say? It would fit the situation. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-bitch-because-you-arent-listening/504089/208 "2009-07-30T03:29:56Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > \*\*\* the people who ask for exceptions\*\*\* are the ones that will constantly ask for exceptions. And they will inconvenience other people just so they can get their way. I’m so glad I’m not one of those people. As I’ve stated a_d nauseum_, my interest was never and would never be to request special treatment, but to suggest a change in the policy that would accomplish the goal (assuming it’s what we’ve assumed so far, vs. something stranger and more interesting, like, say, feeding the invisible computer gods that live under the table tasting our flesh in ways we don’t feel, but they tire of the same flavor after two hours…) without having to deny people the use of the computers when they are free. And Lexis wouldn’t and couldn’t have the policy. The services are available all day long at every computer throughout the library. My lawsuit dollars at work. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-bitch-because-you-arent-listening/504089/209 "2009-07-30T03:35:17Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > Lexis and Westlaw could also require the policy. Actually, I’m a little surprised **Stoid** is even able to use those services at her law library as a non-student/non-faculty member. These database services do not come cheap, so you certainly want to discourage practitioners from thinking they could obviate the need to purchase their own subscription by heading on down to the local law library where they can get free, unlimited access. Kimmy, aren’t you a practicing lawyer? Would you really prefer to hump it down to the library to get it free rather than have it available to you any time you wanted? If I hadn’t had my finances wiped out by this mess i would have paid for my own subscription in a heartbeat. And you do know that case law is available for free from Lexis on the net, right? At least California case law, I don’t know about fed or other states… ---
**Author:** ![Tenebras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@Tenebras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenebras)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-bitch-because-you-arent-listening/504089/210 "2009-07-30T05:51:18Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > I’m so glad I’m not one of those people. As I’ve stated a_d nauseum_, my interest was never and would never be to request special treatment, but to suggest a change in the policy that would accomplish the goal (assuming it’s what we’ve assumed so far, vs. something stranger and more interesting, like, say, feeding the invisible computer gods that live under the table tasting our flesh in ways we don’t feel, but they tire of the same flavor after two hours…) without having to deny people the use of the computers when they are free. Ad nause **a** m is right. Do you really think that the guy behind the counter is the person to tell your earth-shattering policy suggestions to? He doesn’t care what you think the policy should be or how you would write the policy if you ruled the universe. The person who can change the policy is the person who set the policy in the first place. Now, if you happen to talk to that person, there are two possibilities. Either he never even thought of such a wise and considered policy as yours (that is: a complete moron) or he did and, for reasons of his own, decided he liked the straight two hours per computer per person plan much better. Honestly, what were you expecting? “Gee, miss, when you explain it like that it’s so obvious! We should have been doing it your way all along!” Do you patronize the Law Library of Hillbilly County? ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-bitch-because-you-arent-listening/504089/211 "2009-07-30T06:25:37Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Well, it wouldn’t go that way because my part would play differently. > > But in a general sense, yes. Because again, rather than getting whiny and asking to be made a special exception, I would do the same thing I would do in a job situation: come up wtih a better way to achieve the end result without the wasteful and unnecessary denial when there are computers free. And no, not to the lowly powerless clerk. To someone in a position to listen. But it starts with discovering exactly what they think they are accomplishing that they believe is fundamentally impossible to achieve any other way. I can guarantee you I will. > . > > I definitely object to the policy and want to see it changed. However, if the answer were something similar to the examples I gave in the OP, that would also be better and less upsetting. > > The OP was actually directed much more at the _response itself_, if you read it again you’ll see that. Tell me we’re all gonna die. Tell me God told you so. Tell me you don’t know that kind of shit for $10 an hour. Just don’t RESTATE the goddamn policy, that’s INFURIATING. > > To my ears, it’s very similar in feel and impact to my asking what time it is and having the response be “blue”. Or “the time you asked me the time”. It’s nonsensical, it makes me think you didn’t hear me. it’s non=responsive. It’s drone-like. It’s mindless, unhelpful and more than vaguely snotty at times, and when it’s not, it sounds like the person is severely mentally challenged, and while I have nothing against the mentally challenged in theory, dealing with them when I have a goal in mind, be it information or action, is maddening. > > Please, if I ask a question of any kind, answer the question in a way that indicates you understood it, that’s my first concern. If it’s rude or unhelpful, that can be addressed in a different rant. Stoid, more than anything else, you are amazingly, unyieldingly, unflappably idealistic. And I have no problem with that. The problem comes when you complain about how no-one else is as optimistic and idealistic as you. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-bitch-because-you-arent-listening/504089/212 "2009-07-30T07:01:30Z")
God I love this thread. I especially love that despite me going on a five year hiatus from posting on this board, Stoid is still as mad as ever she was. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-bitch-because-you-arent-listening/504089/213 "2009-07-30T08:19:33Z")
> [@Tenebras](#): > > Ad nause **a** m is right. Well, if attention was paid so that people got it right the first time… > [@](#): > > Do you really think that the guy behind the counter is the person to tell your earth-shattering policy suggestions to? > [@Stoid](#): > > Because _ **again** _ rather than getting whiny and asking to be made a special exception, I would do the same thing I would do in a job situation: come up wtih a better way to achieve the end result without the wasteful and unnecessary denial when there are computers free.\*\*\* And no, not to the lowly powerless clerk. To someone in a position to listen. \*\*\* > [@](#): > > Now, if you happen to talk to that person, there are two possibilities. Either he never even thought of such a wise and considered policy as yours (that is: a complete moron) or he did and, for reasons of his own, decided he liked the straight two hours per computer per person plan much better. > [@Stoid](#): > > I’m going to follow up when I get the chance, I’m just a little up to the eyeballs at the moment. (Although I fear this is one of those “Because that’s the way we’ve always done it” situations, since Librarian #2 told me that _ **the guy who oversees that area “inherited” the policy** _, It’s more than a little weak to bitch about the “ad nauseum” - how could you know, when you aren’t paying any attention to begin with and bitching on page 6 about things that were already refuted on pages one through five? ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-bitch-because-you-arent-listening/504089/214 "2009-07-30T08:23:21Z")
> [@Michael\_Ellis](#): > > God I love this thread. I especially love that despite me going on a five year hiatus from posting on this board, Stoid is still as mad as ever she was. Mad as in hatter? Entitled to your opinion. Mad as in angry? Hardly. Even in the OP. Frustrated at times. Fed up. But actually angry? Not a very Stoidal state. (at least, not for very long. Whenever I get genuinely angry it lasts about 5 minutes before melting into tears. Angry is too hard to sustain. Especially at this point. I’ve been through way too much to still have any anger left. I AM tired, though. Really seriously tired. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-bitch-because-you-arent-listening/504089/215 "2009-07-30T08:26:26Z")
> [@pedescribe](#): > > Stoid, more than anything else, you are amazingly, unyieldingly, unflappably idealistic. And I have no problem with that. > > The problem comes when you complain about how no-one else is as optimistic and idealistic as you. Hmmm. I never thought of it that way. Maybe. I’ll have to ponder that. (If you’re right I have to say that if one is going to be unyieldingly and flappably anything, idealistic is way better than cynical or a lot of other things…) ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-bitch-because-you-arent-listening/504089/216 "2009-07-30T08:51:54Z")
**Stoid** , you don’t get it and you’ll never get it. You’re an obtuse fucking joke, and the reason you’re a fucking joke is your posts here. You can pretend otherwise, but you’ve brought all this upon yourself. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-bitch-because-you-arent-listening/504089/217 "2009-07-30T10:02:52Z")
I’m going to guess that this is the county law library and you are using Westlaw or Lexus/Nexis and that their contract limits free use to any member of the library using public to two hours a day like my county law library. But that’s just a guess. And I didn’t even get to the end of the first page before making that guess. The reason for the policy is to encourage frequent users to buy subscriptions under the assumption that they are lawyers. Subscriptions start at about $125 a month with a minimum three year duration. To make it even more inconvenient, I’m not sure they will even sell a subscription to a non-lawyer. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-bitch-because-you-arent-listening/504089/218 "2009-07-30T11:18:38Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > I’m so glad I’m not one of those people. As I’ve stated a_d nauseum_, my interest was never and would never be to request special treatment, but to suggest a change in the policy that would accomplish the goal (assuming it’s what we’ve assumed so far, vs. something stranger and more interesting, like, say, feeding the invisible computer gods that live under the table tasting our flesh in ways we don’t feel, but they tire of the same flavor after two hours…) without having to deny people the use of the computers when they are free. If the policy says that each person gets two hours of computer time a day and you want a third hour, you’re looking for an exception. People who work with the public hate that because they know that if they grant your request, tomorrow’s request for an exception is going to be even bigger. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-bitch-because-you-arent-listening/504089/219 "2009-07-30T11:18:42Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Mad as in hatter? Entitled to your opinion. Mad as in angry? Hardly. Even in the OP. Frustrated at times. Fed up. But actually angry? Not a very Stoidal state. (at least, not for very long. Whenever I get genuinely angry it lasts about 5 minutes before melting into tears. Angry is too hard to sustain. Especially at this point. I’ve been through way too much to still have any anger left. I AM tired, though. Really seriously tired. Mad as in detached from reality. Which you are. ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-bitch-because-you-arent-listening/504089/220 "2009-07-30T13:38:08Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > The reason for the policy is to encourage frequent users to buy subscriptions under the assumption that they are lawyers. Subscriptions start at about $125 a month with a minimum three year duration. To make it even more inconvenient, I’m not sure they will even sell a subscription to a non-lawyer. Finally, a reason that makes sense to not allow people to use computers that NO ONE ELSE are currently using. Are the rest of you people in this thread simpleminded drones? If you were in the library and used up your two hours of time on the computer and needed an extra hour to finish your term paper, or what have you, and no one else was sitting at the computers you needed to complete your work, you wouldn’t have a problem with this sort of policy? I do notice that many of the people for such mindless policies seem to have a problem with **Stoid** , who I don’t know from Adam, so I wonder if that is the problem When I buy computers at work, I give the new computers to those who will use them the most. I don’t stick expensive resources on the shelf to sit idle. If I have users who will only use a computer part time, I try to find other users to share the computer with them. If all the computers are being used and there is a requirement for more, then I’ll make a case for it at the next budget, or ask for funds immediately to fill the need. But if I go to my bosses and say we need more computers and they see computers sitting idle they aren’t going to give me the funds I need to serve my customers. The same damn thing will happen in the library. The idiot who implemented the policy will look out his door and see the computers sitting there empty and figure he doesn’t have to buy any more computers. And because most of you will meekly follow the two hour rule, no one will know that people actually want to use more computers and more time on the computers. The more people question the policy the more likely it will be changed and the more likely computers will be purchased to answer the increased demand. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-bitch-because-you-arent-listening/504089.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-bitch-because-you-arent-listening/504089.md?page=12)