# Now hear this, you whiney old farts: let me get my work done! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 25, 2006, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-hear-this-you-whiney-old-farts-let-me-get-my-work-done/377878 "2006-10-25T19:18:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ensign\_Edison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ab992/32.png) [@Ensign\_Edison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ensign_Edison)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-hear-this-you-whiney-old-farts-let-me-get-my-work-done/377878/41 "2006-10-26T17:31:25Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] While they are on the public payroll of course. [/QUOTE] Being on “the public payroll” means they no longer have freedom of speech even when they’re not on the clock? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-hear-this-you-whiney-old-farts-let-me-get-my-work-done/377878/42 "2006-10-26T17:42:25Z")
[QUOTE=Ensign Edison] Being on “the public payroll” means they no longer have freedom of speech even when they’re not on the clock? [/QUOTE] Sure they do, (although note she was on the clock), but then I also have the same freedom to flame her ass. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-hear-this-you-whiney-old-farts-let-me-get-my-work-done/377878/43 "2006-10-26T17:44:03Z")
[QUOTE=mhendo] Sorry, i guess i was assuming that you had the cognitive wherewithal to understand that the OP _does_, in fact, behave politely and helpfully towards these people. . [/QUOTE] \*Objection. \* Facts not in evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-hear-this-you-whiney-old-farts-let-me-get-my-work-done/377878/44 "2006-10-26T17:47:57Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] \*Objection. \* Facts not in evidence. [/QUOTE] > [@Sonia Montdore](#): > > I am civil to everyone. Always. The purpose of this pitting was to express what I cannot say in real life. Learn to read, jackass. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-hear-this-you-whiney-old-farts-let-me-get-my-work-done/377878/45 "2006-10-26T17:49:26Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] \*Objection. \* Facts not in evidence. [/QUOTE] Actually, those facts are in evidence. From the OP’s reply to you, in Post #11 of this thread: > [@Sonia Montdore](#): > > I am civil to everyone. Always. The purpose of this pitting was to express what I cannot say in real life. Unless you now also want to accuse her of lying. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-hear-this-you-whiney-old-farts-let-me-get-my-work-done/377878/46 "2006-10-26T17:50:31Z")
Damn, **Miller** , you’re too quick for me. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-hear-this-you-whiney-old-farts-let-me-get-my-work-done/377878/47 "2006-10-26T18:08:34Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] Yes, they should. They should listen up to the point where they can tell it’s not their job, then \*politely and helpfully direct \* that **taxpayer** to someone else who can help. Not bitch and whine about “whiney old farts”. [/QUOTE] In other words, they should do exactly what **Sonia** has explained she does. **Sonia** has every right to bitch and whine about “whiney old farts” who are wasting taxpayers’ funds. Case closed. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-hear-this-you-whiney-old-farts-let-me-get-my-work-done/377878/48 "2006-10-26T18:12:59Z")
It sound like more of an administration problem if you have hordes of unruly seniors harassing the workers. This whole thing sounds so bizarre that I called my friend who’s the assistant to the administrator in our township and she laughed. Our tax bills are due quarterly or semi-annually and she said people do bitch but everyone bitches. She said more seniors come in to pay their bill as opposed to mailing it but bitching pretty much remains the same. We have a large senior population in our town and the administration has a good relationship with the seniors. At least once a month someone from the township administration attends the senior meeting to answer questions and if something new is implemented they always have a meeting with the senior organization. They actually have a liason assigned that attends all the meetings, helps them with their monthly fliers and things like that. A couple of the women that work for the township even _gasp_ volunteer and one teaches a craft class and the other some kind of exercise class. Seriously, it sounds like some kind of breakdown in communication if people are that upset and don’t know what’s going on and just rambling around harassing workers. ---
**Author:** ![shizaru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@shizaru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shizaru)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-hear-this-you-whiney-old-farts-let-me-get-my-work-done/377878/49 "2006-10-26T18:13:00Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] While they are on the public payroll of course. [/QUOTE] Well, since i’m military i’m on the payroll 24 hours a day. When I worked in a recruiting station a lot of senior citizens in the area would come in and, to be honest, bug the crap out of us. I honestly think some of them did it on purpose just to be pains in the ass. Now, we had to be pleasant towards them, since we were the part of the Army that the public sees up close, but man, it can wear you out. I can’t get you korean era training manuals, I can’t tell you the phone number to the Commander of Fort Knox and I can’t find out what happened to your old buddy you were stationed with in 1968. I won’t go into the details of some of the ridiculous requests, but I have to agree with the OP’s point. Civil servants are paid to do a job, not listen to rantings from any Tom, Dick and Harry that has an axe to grind. If you tell ‘em, “Sorry, you need to speak with \*\*\*\*\*\*” and they keep on a-rantin’ its maddening. ---
**Author:** ![Sonia\_Montdore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Sonia\_Montdore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sonia_Montdore)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-hear-this-you-whiney-old-farts-let-me-get-my-work-done/377878/50 "2006-10-26T18:48:38Z")
[QUOTE=Uvula Donor] Time stamp 10:30 am, on a Thursday, from Boston. Must be pretty horrible having those wrinkly old fucks interrupting your SDMB time at work, huh? At least we know the real reason you’re hesitant about giving identifying details, eh? [/QUOTE] No, I posted from home at 10:30. I am posting from home now at 2:45 p.m. I take an occasional weekday off because I have to work on Saturdays now on then. I don’t post to the board from work. Nice try, though. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-hear-this-you-whiney-old-farts-let-me-get-my-work-done/377878/51 "2006-10-26T19:03:44Z")
Duuuuuuuudes…relax…Sonia’s letting off steam, which she is perfectly entitled to do, and I’d need to do the same if I was faced with those sorts of interruptions on a daily basis! ---
**Author:** ![Sonia\_Montdore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Sonia\_Montdore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sonia_Montdore)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-hear-this-you-whiney-old-farts-let-me-get-my-work-done/377878/52 "2006-10-26T19:04:56Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] Sure they do, (although note she was on the clock), [/QUOTE] You jumped to an incorrect conclusion. I am not on the clock today. Nor was I yesterday when I made the OP. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-hear-this-you-whiney-old-farts-let-me-get-my-work-done/377878/53 "2006-10-26T19:09:54Z")
[QUOTE=Sonia Montdore] You jumped to an incorrect conclusion. I am not on the clock today. Nor was I yesterday when I made the OP. [/QUOTE] Better be careful. Next he’ll be accusing you of shirking by not being at work. ---
**Author:** ![shizaru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@shizaru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shizaru)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-hear-this-you-whiney-old-farts-let-me-get-my-work-done/377878/54 "2006-10-26T19:10:48Z")
[QUOTE=Sonia Montdore] You jumped to an incorrect conclusion. I am not on the clock today. Nor was I yesterday when I made the OP. [/QUOTE] I think its hilarious that someone tried to call you on that. After all, your hours could be anything. Its a cheap shot. ---
**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:** [October 26, 2006, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-hear-this-you-whiney-old-farts-let-me-get-my-work-done/377878/55 "2006-10-26T19:15:50Z")
[QUOTE=Sonia Montdore] You jumped to an incorrect conclusion. I am not on the clock today. Nor was I yesterday when I made the OP. [/QUOTE] Certainly not the only one of **DrDeth** ’s post to do so in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-hear-this-you-whiney-old-farts-let-me-get-my-work-done/377878/56 "2006-10-26T19:19:22Z")
[QUOTE=D\_Odds] Certainly not the only one of **DrDeth** ’s post to do so in this thread. [/QUOTE] Nor in many other threads. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-hear-this-you-whiney-old-farts-let-me-get-my-work-done/377878/57 "2006-10-26T19:31:21Z")
[QUOTE=Sonia Montdore] You jumped to an incorrect conclusion. I am not on the clock today. Nor was I yesterday when I made the OP. [/QUOTE] Sorry. Back in post #28 **Uvula Donor** made that assumption, and some dudes surmised you were on your break. I can see now that you did not reply to that post. ---
**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:** [October 26, 2006, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-hear-this-you-whiney-old-farts-let-me-get-my-work-done/377878/58 "2006-10-26T19:42:01Z")
[QUOTE=Colibri] Nor in many other threads. [/QUOTE] Name doesn’t ring any bells with me. Prefer it that way, so I don’t prejudge posts. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-hear-this-you-whiney-old-farts-let-me-get-my-work-done/377878/59 "2006-10-26T19:51:54Z")
I don’t know Sonia, you seem to be a little lacking in the empathy department. Granted, everyone needs to blow off a little steam from time to time. But this thread combined with this thread makes me wonder. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7888940&postcount=23](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7888940&postcount=23) These people seem to be practically the same age as you but you call them old farts. What’s the difference, you work and they don’t? What makes them and old fart and you not? Same with the weight thing, I’d think you’d have a little empathy for people who had similiar weight problems as you experienced. Listen, I give you all the credit in the world for the weight loss, you should be proud of yourself. Same with your job. I realize they can be a PITA, but can’t you understand where they’re coming from? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-hear-this-you-whiney-old-farts-let-me-get-my-work-done/377878/60 "2006-10-26T20:41:45Z")
[QUOTE=Caridwen] I don’t know Sonia, you seem to be a little lacking in the empathy department. [/QUOTE] You know, I _was_ a little harsh on Sonia. Really, this seeming lack of empathy and the name calling “whiney old farts” are what set me off. Still, a bad attitude (even if completely interalized) can’t serve you well in a Public Service job, I’d say. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-hear-this-you-whiney-old-farts-let-me-get-my-work-done/377878.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-hear-this-you-whiney-old-farts-let-me-get-my-work-done/377878.md?page=4)