# These people make me sick.... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 26, 2002, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-people-make-me-sick/138927 "2002-11-26T18:35:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-people-make-me-sick/138927/121 "2002-11-28T14:19:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > You really are a brat, aren’t you? and a judgmental one to boot. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-people-make-me-sick/138927/122 "2002-11-28T14:20:44Z")
BTW good to see you posting again **kabbes**. Haven’t seen your name in a while ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-people-make-me-sick/138927/123 "2002-11-28T14:28:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pizzabrat \* > \*\*This woman is against alcohol and will not serve it; nothing could ever force me to serve alcohol either. Your dependece on alcohol for fun is YOUR problem, not hers, it’s not a necessity. Fuck the norm. In some cirlces, cocaine at parties is the norm. How ridiculous would it sound if I complained that the bosses wife said “no cocaine”? \*\* Why I utterly, UTTERLY disagree with you: 1. Ditto Jim - she’s not serving it. 2. She’s not an employee - she’s in a minority with her view - so she could always stay away. 3. Cocaine is **illegal** alcohol is **not** 4. The party is for the employees 5. It’s at a hotel not her personal home 6. They’re serving alcohol for one hour so if she can bear that then surely she can stand it a little longer PS I don’t drink either - I _never_ have (I’m not a recovering alcoholic for example) - but I don’t have your fucked attitude towards something that is legally and historically acceptable. I personally regard alcohol a bit like smoking - something that isn’t necessarily good for your body, but is legal and therefore a matter of personal choice. Unlike smoking, alcohol doesn’t give other people cancer. I’ve thought and thought about this weird party thing - whether the company is secretly trying to save money? No - because the bar could be “buy your own” afterwards if so. Is the boss trying to protect a particular employee who’s just gone on the wagon? No - or the bar wouldn’t be open at all. (Unless he knows that employee will arrive late). Is the boss trying to avoid drunken debauchery? Possibly - there may have been inappropriate behaviour at past parties which led to the threat of legal action against the company. Maybe he doesn’t want to be liable for alcohol-abuse related accidents (not sure if legally he could be, but given the McFattyKids trial it seems anything goes these days). Is the boss’s wife uptight, belief imposing, and somewhat selfish? Very likely. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-people-make-me-sick/138927/124 "2002-11-28T14:32:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by msmith537 \* > \*\*If its work related you probably shouldn’t expect alchohol in the first place. I view any work related social function as part of my job and treat it accordingly. It isn’t a “real” party. \*\* Glad I don’t work at your firm. Our christmas bash is a full funded pissup at the companies expense, with the liability issue taken care of by providing transportation to/from the venue for all. Not too surprising really - me and all the other directors are lushes, and if there’s one great thing about scotland it’s the way everyone likes to party. My biggest concern is I don’t get photographed dancing at the end of the night! Far too much amusement for everyone else. Siemsi, you have my sympathies. Why the hell do companies throw parties if they don’t want everyone to enjoy themselves? ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-people-make-me-sick/138927/125 "2002-11-28T15:00:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Narrad \* > \*\*- It’s a Christmas party for adults, where the NORM is to serve alcoholic drinks. > \*\* It’s at a _business-sponsered_ Christmas party, where, due to liability concerns, serving alcohol hasn’t been the norm for 30 years. (Hey, if they types can throw out the term “normal” so can I.) Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-people-make-me-sick/138927/126 "2002-11-28T15:02:45Z")
You know, to me, it all comes down to a simple equation … “Must attend” social event + “no bar” social event = hip flask. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-people-make-me-sick/138927/127 "2002-11-28T15:09:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > \*\*It’s at a _business-sponsered_ Christmas party, where, due to liability concerns, serving alcohol hasn’t been the norm for 30 years. \*\* This year I’ve been to company events for such organisations as Shell, BP, ChevronTexaco, Statoil, ConocoPhillips, TotalFinaElf, Agip, Schlumberger, Global Drilling…and they all served alcohol. So if “serving alcohol hasn’t been the norm for 30 years”, could someone please tell the oil industry. On second thoughts, don’t. I like it the way it is. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-people-make-me-sick/138927/128 "2002-11-28T15:13:18Z")
I think he means “in the US” perhaps? Living in a less litigious society’s much more fun! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-people-make-me-sick/138927/129 "2002-11-28T15:17:39Z")
Ireland less litigious? Maybe maybe not but we’re a lot less worried about alcohol that’s for sure. yojimbo (still very hung over from last night) ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-people-make-me-sick/138927/130 "2002-11-28T15:18:44Z")
Istara wrote: > [@](#): > > Is the boss’s wife uptight, belief imposing, and somewhat selfish? Very likely. Among other irrelevant traits, she might be green-eyed, short, and triskadecaphobic. Above all, however, she is the boss’s wife. For all we know, her role has been completely misinterpreted or manufactured from rumor. It might be that her husband knows of her preferences, if they exist, and decided for himself to consider her and people like her in planning his party. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-people-make-me-sick/138927/131 "2002-11-28T15:20:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > \*\*I think he means “in the US” perhaps? \*\* Erm, could be, but the Shell party was in New Orleans and the BP party was in Houston. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-people-make-me-sick/138927/132 "2002-11-28T15:23:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Libertarian \* > \*\*It might be that her husband knows of her preferences, if they exist, and decided for himself to consider her and people like her in planning his party. \*\* Sorry, but I’d consider myself a fairly shitty boss if I put my wife’s preferences above those of my staff at the company christmas party. Although if you asked around, I dare say you could find lots of ways in which I am a fairly shitty boss. David Brent is my role model. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-people-make-me-sick/138927/133 "2002-11-28T15:31:31Z")
Gary wrote: > [@](#): > > Sorry, but I’d consider myself a fairly shitty boss if I put my wife’s preferences above those of my staff at the company christmas party. Well, sure, but how do you know that there is not a considerable number among the staff who hold the same preferences. The wife might be a red herring, for all we know. “Why did he do this? Hey! I know his wife doesn’t like drinking, let’s get her!” ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-people-make-me-sick/138927/134 "2002-11-28T15:43:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gary Kumquat \* > David Brent is my role model. I’d love to have Brent as a boss. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-people-make-me-sick/138927/135 "2002-11-28T15:45:20Z")
[Renaissance man David Brent](http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/theoffice/renaissance/index.shtml) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-people-make-me-sick/138927/136 "2002-11-28T16:02:32Z")
You - thingy - **puritanbrat** - whoever said anything about needing alcohol to have a good time? No - I need alcohol to have a good time _at a company event_. Big difference. I’m definitely curious about this non-norm alcohol 30 year thing. I’ve never even _heard_ of a company christmas bash without alcohol before. With company-provided taxis too. I think if such a thing were suggested over here then you’d hear the shrieks a clear 30 miles away. **Yoj** , good to _be_ back, cheers. Though no doubt I’ll have to disappear for a while again soon ☹ pan ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-people-make-me-sick/138927/137 "2002-11-28T16:08:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by yojimbo \* > \*\*[Renaissance man David Brent](http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/theoffice/renaissance/index.shtml) 😃 \*\* He’s an inspiration to me. “Trust people and they’ll be true to you. Treat them greatly, and they will show themselves to be great.” ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-people-make-me-sick/138927/138 "2002-11-28T16:09:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kabbes \* > **Though no doubt I’ll have to disappear for a while again soon :** Boo. Stick around - this place isn’t the same without you. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-people-make-me-sick/138927/139 "2002-11-28T16:15:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gary Kumquat \* > \*\*He’s an inspiration to me. > > “Trust people and they’ll be true to you. Treat them greatly, and they will show themselves to be great.” \*\* With all due respect to your mentor, isn’t that a bit naive? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-people-make-me-sick/138927/140 "2002-11-28T16:20:33Z")
I think you should take a look at Yojimbo’s link. Hell, I think everyone should, just for a taste of the renaissance man, office supply company manager that is David Brent. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-people-make-me-sick/138927.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-people-make-me-sick/138927.md?page=8)