# New and Unimproved Workplace Rants **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 14, 2015, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-and-unimproved-workplace-rants/734638 "2015-10-14T15:44:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 33
**Author:** ![cg16](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@cg16](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cg16)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2016, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-and-unimproved-workplace-rants/734638/641 "2016-06-26T16:20:46Z")
> [@Dunkelheit](#): > > Why would that be an indication of discomfort, as opposed to compassion? THAT is the normal response I would expect from someone who sees a colleague in distress. Not ‘jeez, there’s no reason to cry out loud, you’re making me uncomfortable’. Because people are not used to adults crying out loud at their desk. If you feel like you need to cry leave your desk and go into the bathroom. And her actions only resulted in one of the ladies laughing about it later in the day because it was odd behavior for someone over 40 years old. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2016, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-and-unimproved-workplace-rants/734638/642 "2016-06-26T16:35:09Z")
In **cg16** ’s defense, crying _can be_ used as a form of manipulation. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2016, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-and-unimproved-workplace-rants/734638/643 "2016-06-26T19:11:47Z")
> [@cg16](#): > > SHe asked her how much she needed with a annoyed look on her face. If you say so.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2016, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-and-unimproved-workplace-rants/734638/644 "2016-06-26T19:24:57Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > In **cg16** ’s defense, crying _can be_ used as a form of manipulation. With evidence here that it can be very successful. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-and-unimproved-workplace-rants/734638/645 "2016-06-28T11:01:05Z")
Dear Idiot Boss, aka the Bottleneck: I realize it’s probably not that common a name in India, but please don’t tell people to “contact Eva”. There are only 18 Evas in the company. ---
**Author:** ![Dunkelheit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dunkelheit/32/248_2.png) [@Dunkelheit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunkelheit)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-and-unimproved-workplace-rants/734638/646 "2016-06-28T21:58:10Z")
> [@cg16](#): > > Because people are not used to adults crying out loud at their desk. If you feel like you need to cry leave your desk and go into the bathroom. And her actions only resulted in one of the ladies laughing about it later in the day because it was odd behavior for someone over 40 years old. You’re just reinforcing my original thought that I’m glad my workplace is not like yours. ---
**Author:** ![cg16](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@cg16](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cg16)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-and-unimproved-workplace-rants/734638/647 "2016-06-28T22:42:35Z")
My supervisor doesn’t know anything and hates when you ask her a question ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-and-unimproved-workplace-rants/734638/648 "2016-06-28T23:32:16Z")
Went to my supervisor to let him know that I had replaced a certain document and left it out for his review…ended up getting stuck in his office for an hour or so while he mumbled and rambled about a replacement for some component that half the company (including me) has been involved with for several years. I’m fully expecting him to ask me at some point tomorrow why I didn’t get more work done today. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-and-unimproved-workplace-rants/734638/649 "2016-06-29T01:52:35Z")
> [@cg16](#): > > well I;m sure she could have borrowed money from family or friends since she knew she was getting the money in 7 days. Was nothing to openly cry about making coworkers uncomfortable. Not everybody has friends or family they can tap for money … there were many times when most people I knew were also living on tight budgets and not being able to get the $20 or $40 for the weeks food and gas money meant scrounging change from the sofa cushions, checking all the pockets in the closet and deciding what could be safely sold to make enough money to pay for the gas to get to and from work, and drinking lots of water to keep the hunger pangs tamped down [at the time I at least got one meal a day at work …] probably one main reason I had gotten into the habit of trying to pick up at least one pantry item per weeks shopping to stockpile. [and yes, I can remember when all I had to eat one week was rice … not the best nutritionally, but it was filling. When you are making minimum wage and living alone and your entire food budget tends to be $20 per week you don’t get a lot of variety and buy off the crunch and dent shelves, and the bruised/old veggie/fruit bin.] ---
**Author:** ![cg16](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@cg16](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cg16)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-and-unimproved-workplace-rants/734638/650 "2016-06-29T02:18:55Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Not everybody has friends or family they can tap for money … there were many times when most people I knew were also living on tight budgets and not being able to get the $20 or $40 for the weeks food and gas money meant scrounging change from the sofa cushions, checking all the pockets in the closet and deciding what could be safely sold to make enough money to pay for the gas to get to and from work, and drinking lots of water to keep the hunger pangs tamped down [at the time I at least got one meal a day at work …] probably one main reason I had gotten into the habit of trying to pick up at least one pantry item per weeks shopping to stockpile. [and yes, I can remember when all I had to eat one week was rice … not the best nutritionally, but it was filling. When you are making minimum wage and living alone and your entire food budget tends to be $20 per week you don’t get a lot of variety and buy off the crunch and dent shelves, and the bruised/old veggie/fruit bin.] My issue wasn’t the crying it was not getting up and doing it in private. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-and-unimproved-workplace-rants/734638/651 "2016-06-29T10:10:09Z")
> [@cg16](#): > > My issue wasn’t the crying it was not getting up and doing it in private. So she has to go hide her emotions in the restroom while you get to display your extreme assiness and lack of compassion in public? Double standard, man. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-and-unimproved-workplace-rants/734638/652 "2016-06-29T10:18:36Z")
In the words of a former coworker: “you’re not telling me ‘don’t get angry’ because you want me to be happy, you’re telling me ‘don’t get angry’ because my being angry bothers _you_!” ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-and-unimproved-workplace-rants/734638/653 "2016-06-29T10:56:37Z")
> [@](#): > > **Originally Posted by cg16** > My issue wasn’t the crying it was not getting up and doing it in private. I would bet that if she was devastated enough to be crying at her desk, she was pretty well frozen with fear/panic and YOUR welfare was the last thing on her mind. A titch of compassion goes a long way. Shame you don’t appear to have any. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-and-unimproved-workplace-rants/734638/654 "2016-06-29T12:10:50Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > In the words of a former coworker: “you’re not telling me ‘don’t get angry’ because you want me to be happy, you’re telling me ‘don’t get angry’ because my being angry bothers _you_!” I know people who are easily triggered by outward displays of emotion, especially anger. One good thing about my workplace is that we have both a walk-in fridge and freezer. If you need to blow off steam, you can go into either and scream until you’re blue in the face and nobody will hear you. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-and-unimproved-workplace-rants/734638/655 "2016-06-29T12:25:44Z")
> [@kiz](#): > > I know people who are easily triggered by outward displays of emotion, especially anger. > > One good thing about my workplace is that we have both a walk-in fridge and freezer. If you need to blow off steam, you can go into either and scream until you’re blue in the face and nobody will hear you. That coworker was just tensely sitting down in her chair, frowning; she wasn’t exactly hulking out. And she was right in her assertion, plus there are few things more stupid than telling someone not to feel the way they feel. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-and-unimproved-workplace-rants/734638/656 "2016-06-29T14:13:09Z")
> [@kiz](#): > > I know people who are easily triggered by outward displays of emotion, especially anger. > > One good thing about my workplace is that we have both a walk-in fridge and freezer. If you need to blow off steam, you can go into either and scream until you’re blue in the face and nobody will hear you. I hope you can open those from the inside!! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-and-unimproved-workplace-rants/734638/657 "2016-06-29T14:46:54Z")
Well, we’ve seen the truth of it in the replies above. “I don’t like you being the center of attention and your emotions annoy me. So I’ll display my own emotions (irritation, annoyance, anger) and make myself the center of attention instead”. ---
**Author:** ![cg16](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@cg16](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cg16)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-and-unimproved-workplace-rants/734638/658 "2016-06-30T01:05:46Z")
women and their mood swings ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-and-unimproved-workplace-rants/734638/659 "2016-06-30T04:58:18Z")
First rule of SDMB is don’t be a jerk, **cg16,** so you might want to rethink that last remark. ---
**Author:** ![cg16](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@cg16](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cg16)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-and-unimproved-workplace-rants/734638/660 "2016-06-30T04:59:38Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > First rule of SDMB is don’t be a jerk, **cg16,** so you might want to rethink that last remark. Moody coworkers at the job annoy me [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-and-unimproved-workplace-rants/734638.md?page=32) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-and-unimproved-workplace-rants/734638.md?page=34)