# The Office - April 24 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 25, 2008, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-april-24/446782 "2008-04-25T01:32:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-april-24/446782/41 "2008-04-25T19:51:16Z")
In my view, this is the first episode of all of Season 4 that is firing on all cylinders. Everyone’s feeling the pain. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-april-24/446782/42 "2008-04-25T19:53:16Z")
[QUOTE=Whiteknight] Actually, it’s seven years. 2015 [/QUOTE] D’oh! My head said “seven,” but my fingers typed “six.” Stupid fingers. ---
**Author:** ![lilflower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecccb3/32.png) [@lilflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lilflower)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-april-24/446782/43 "2008-04-25T20:00:41Z")
[QUOTE=accidentalyuppie] And he was happy to see Michael and Dwight show up at the club [/QUOTE] I thought it was so funny that Dwight and Michael were a little taken aback by Ryan being so excited. I can’t remember which one said it, but one of them said “Ryan, it’s Michael and Dwight.” ---
**Author:** ![drpepper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@drpepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drpepper)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-april-24/446782/44 "2008-04-25T21:49:16Z")
I thought the whole Toby-bolting thing was somewhat poorly executed. I felt like it could have been interpreted in two entirely different ways, both not consistent with Toby’s character. (ie, a poor attempt to divert attention from his faux pas with Pam’s knee [which, by the way, I could never see Toby doing; he’s always cautious, has more decorum than that, in spite of his puppy love for Pam], followed by an embarrassed bolt; or alternatively, he didn’t realize the knee-faux-pas at all and felt like it was time to make a bold [and true] announcement about leaving). It _sounded_ too serious for him to be making it up, so I think it’s true, but on the other hand it was a wild non-sequiter to the knee-touch. Usually there are enough cues that the audience is crystal clear what the subtext of a particular action or event is, but I didn’t feel that was the case here. ---
**Author:** ![Soapbox\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Soapbox\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soapbox_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-april-24/446782/45 "2008-04-25T22:04:41Z")
[QUOTE=shy guy] My favorite part was probably Jim bungling things again. I also liked Ryan calling him out on having spoken to one of the higher-ups about his concerns with the website. Taking him own a few pegs keeps him from being a total asshole, which has been a problem since he got together with Pam. [/QUOTE] But this was one instance where Jim didn’t need to be taken down a peg. He’s completely right about Dunder Mifflin’s strongest quality being their customer service, which is basically the only thing keeping the company afloat. It’s like what has been predicted by so many other posters: the website is most likely going to tank big time, Ryan’s going to have egg on his face, and it’s going to take Michael’s superior customer service to save the company. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-april-24/446782/46 "2008-04-25T22:15:09Z")
[QUOTE=drpepper] I thought the whole Toby-bolting thing was somewhat poorly executed. I felt like it could have been interpreted in two entirely different ways, both not consistent with Toby’s character. (ie, a poor attempt to divert attention from his faux pas with Pam’s knee [which, by the way, I could never see Toby doing; he’s always cautious, has more decorum than that, in spite of his puppy love for Pam], followed by an embarrassed bolt; or alternatively, he didn’t realize the knee-faux-pas at all and felt like it was time to make a bold [and true] announcement about leaving). It _sounded_ too serious for him to be making it up, so I think it’s true, but on the other hand it was a wild non-sequiter to the knee-touch. Usually there are enough cues that the audience is crystal clear what the subtext of a particular action or event is, but I didn’t feel that was the case here. [/QUOTE] I think he just panicked and started saying something and it started with, 'I’m leaving…" and then it snowballed as he tried to justify it. I wouldn’t be surprised if he has sat in his cubicle and thought, “I should just go to Costa Rica.” and then without a ny real thought rolled that into his narrative. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea666f/32.png) [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-april-24/446782/47 "2008-04-25T22:18:59Z")
Ryan did not strike me as someone on coke (other than the bathroom and nose thing). He acted more like a person on ecstasy. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-april-24/446782/48 "2008-04-26T02:53:51Z")
[QUOTE=Two and a Half Inches of Fun] Ryan did not strike me as someone on coke (other than the bathroom and nose thing). He acted more like a person on ecstasy. [/QUOTE] Goddamnit, I can’t believe you’re the one to beat me to this. But the fact that you had the same thought makes me think I’m wrong. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-april-24/446782/49 "2008-04-26T03:15:44Z")
People use ecstasy the same way they use coke? They need to take hits all the time, like Ryan was doing? (I’m not doubting anyone’s interpretation – I’ve never used either and I’m curious about the difference.) ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-april-24/446782/50 "2008-04-26T03:20:46Z")
Ryan was doing coke, and they made it as obvious as they could. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea666f/32.png) [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-april-24/446782/51 "2008-04-26T03:28:34Z")
[QUOTE=AuntiePam] People use ecstasy the same way they use coke? They need to take hits all the time, like Ryan was doing? [/quote] No. This was not consistent with ecstasy use, but his behavior was not consistent with cocaine use. He was acting like someone on ecstasy who was also drunk. ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-april-24/446782/52 "2008-04-26T03:33:02Z")
Without getting too in-depth here, I think that Ryan’s behavior made perfect sense for someone on coke. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-april-24/446782/53 "2008-04-26T03:35:39Z")
Yeah, the first thing I thought when I saw the episode was Ryan was a coke head. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-april-24/446782/54 "2008-04-26T03:42:53Z")
[QUOTE=Gangster Octopus] I think he just panicked and started saying something and it started with, 'I’m leaving…" and then it snowballed as he tried to justify it. I wouldn’t be surprised if he has sat in his cubicle and thought, “I should just go to Costa Rica.” and then without a ny real thought rolled that into his narrative. [/QUOTE] When the Office was going to be shut down, wasn’t Toby actually relieved and said he planned to go to Costa Rica. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-april-24/446782/55 "2008-04-26T03:53:52Z")
[QUOTE=Two and a Half Inches of Fun] No. This was not consistent with ecstasy use, but his behavior was not consistent with cocaine use. He was acting like someone on ecstasy who was also drunk. [/QUOTE] I have plenty of experience with drug culture. It was plain as day he was supposed to be on coke. You don’t keep going to the bathroom to do Ecstasy and you don’t snort it. The only thing that even hinted at E was his over-friendliness to Michael and Dwight. Everything else, the bathroom trips, the nose rubbing, the hyperactivity and inane conversation was all coke. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea666f/32.png) [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-april-24/446782/56 "2008-04-26T04:07:33Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] I have plenty of experience with drug culture. It was plain as day he was supposed to be on coke. You don’t keep going to the bathroom to do Ecstasy and you don’t snort it. The only thing that even hinted at E was his over-friendliness to Michael and Dwight. Everything else, the bathroom trips, the nose rubbing, the hyperactivity and inane conversation was all coke. [/QUOTE] It is the over-friendliness and the manic dancing that is more like ecstasy than coke―if he was a cokehead, he was the friendliest cokehead ever. Why would being on coke make Ryan be so consistently nice to Michael and Dwight all night? I could see him being excited to see them, but the sustained excitement and friendliness to people he has nothing but contempt for is not consistent with coke use. The hyperactivity and inane conversation would also be consistent with ecstasy―which is often laced with speed. (I do think that he was supposed to be on coke, but the performance just did not fit with coke. It doesn’t fit with ecstasy either. Maybe Ryan is really fucked-up and is mixing drugs.) ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-april-24/446782/57 "2008-04-26T04:52:42Z")
Well, it could be both coke and ecstasy, but coke was clearly implied to be at least part of it. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-april-24/446782/58 "2008-04-26T05:03:06Z")
I guess being happy to see Dwight & Michael could be ecstasy-like, but I was totally getting a coke vibe from him too. Now if he was looking to cuddle with Dwight & Michael… ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-april-24/446782/59 "2008-04-26T05:06:50Z")
[QUOTE=friedo] It depends where in Manhattan. Outside of midtown or the financial district, such a tiny pad would go for less than a grand usually. [/QUOTE] 😕😕 Unless you mean, “Outside of Inwood,” there is _no way_ that place rents for under $1000 in Manhattan. At least $1500, probably more. Oh, and Ryan was _clearly_ on coke. I don’t know how more obvious they could have made it, short of actually showing him snorting it. ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-april-24/446782/60 "2008-04-26T14:12:51Z")
[QUOTE=AuntiePam] People use ecstasy the same way they use coke? They need to take hits all the time, like Ryan was doing? (I’m not doubting anyone’s interpretation – I’ve never used either and I’m curious about the difference.) [/QUOTE] I thought at first that it was ecstasy because of the way he was all touchy, but as the show progressed, it was obvious that they were going to for “coked up” angle. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-april-24/446782.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-april-24/446782.md?page=4)