# To Czarcasm, fyi **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 24, 2004, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-czarcasm-fyi/261264 "2004-08-24T14:06:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-czarcasm-fyi/261264/1 "2004-08-24T14:06:28Z")
> **[Dope fiend in my workplace](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=271566)** > > Boy do I wish I was kidding about this one… I take prescription pain meds for a chronic female problem. It’s really no big deal, but I often take a pill or a pill and a half at lunch. I certainly don’t abuse the medication, nor do I bring tons... My intention was not to poison anyone or make anyone sick. I just happened to have my anti-depressant in the bottle yesterday. I didn’t make her steal it. All I was saying is that it serves her right if she does get sick from it, not that I’m intentionally putting things in there to make her sick. It’s pretty audacious to go into someone else’s purse and steal pills that you have no idea what they are. I don’t see how I’m responsible if she takes something that doesn’t agree with her. I carry multiple medications in the same bottle rather than carry around three bottles of different meds. I often have anti-inflammatories and anti-depressants in the same bottle with my pain meds. Obviously she is going to steal whatever is in there. Unless I just stop bringing any medication to work, I run the risk of her swallowing something that’s prescribed to me. I apologize if any of my comments were taken as a physical threat to this girl. That was not my intention at all. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-czarcasm-fyi/261264/2 "2004-08-24T14:14:32Z")
Also, I did say that I put anti-inflammatories in the bottle one day to try to catch her, but I ended up locking up my purse instead. I decided it would be better to buy the alarm. I hope that clears everything up. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-czarcasm-fyi/261264/3 "2004-08-24T14:27:54Z")
So, are we allowed to ask if you caught her with the motion detector? ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous\_Coward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@Anonymous\_Coward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anonymous_Coward)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-czarcasm-fyi/261264/4 "2004-08-24T14:48:37Z")
You did nothing wrong **Indygrrl**. I would see this being a problem if you set out to harm her with cyanide or dog-shit pills, but as it stands all you did was get some more prescription meds stolen. Maybe you should start labelling your meds “Safe to Steal” and “not safe to steal!!”, or even include a handy pill-ID chart in your purse so she steals only the good stuff. I hope **Czarcasm** realizes this and re-opens the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-czarcasm-fyi/261264/5 "2004-08-24T15:02:27Z")
I don’t think you did anything wrong either. It is not as though anti-inflammatory drugs or anti-depressants are “revenge” drugs or will do much of anything to her from one dose. She is the one who stole them. The focus shouldn’t be on you at all. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-czarcasm-fyi/261264/6 "2004-08-24T15:05:03Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I don’t think you did anything wrong either. It is not as though anti-inflammatory drugs or anti-depressants are “revenge” drugs or will do much of anything to her from one dose. She is the one who stole them. The focus shouldn’t be on you at all. And it’s not as though I handed them to her and told her to take them, she STOLE them. Also, anti-inflammatories and one pill of Serzone are probably safer than the 10 mg. Lorcet she’s been stealing. Ok for her to steal one, but not the other? Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-czarcasm-fyi/261264/7 "2004-08-24T15:08:53Z")
I think it’s ridiculous that the thread was closed, and I don’t think you’ve done anything remotely wrong. Bad call, **Czarcasm**. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-czarcasm-fyi/261264/8 "2004-08-24T15:13:03Z")
In **Czarcasm** ’s defense, you did say, “Heh, today I had a couple of my anti-depressants in there and one was missing. Can you believe that? I hope she takes it and it makes her sick.” Though you didn’t actually advocate putting something in there with the sole purpose of making her sick, it wasn’t actually a nice sentiment either. Maybe s/he thought it was going into the realm of “can anyone suggest a good poison pill that I can put in there?” so he locked it. Or he was worried that someone was just going to chime in with an evil solution. You know, given that you know someone is stealing pills from you, I can’t really see why you’re putting anything in there for her to steal at all. Are you simply vindictive? ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-czarcasm-fyi/261264/9 "2004-08-24T15:23:25Z")
As stated previously, I had the anti-depressant in there already. I often carry more than one pill in the same bottle for convenience. I didn’t plant it for her to steal. As for the anti-inflammatories, I did put two of them in a bottle to try to trap her, but decided against it. Other than that, I’ve been keeping my pain medication in my pocket. It really didn’t occur to me that she’d steal a pill that looks nothing like the ones she had stolen before. My post sounds mean, but it’s because I was mad. I feel like if she thinks it’s ok to take another persons medication out of their purse then she can choke on it for all I care. It’s not my responsibility to protect her from my pills. If I forget to lock the purse up, I don’t feel I’m liable if she gets sick from stealing something that I happen to have in there. Sure, I know she’s a thief, but I’m a space cadet when it comes to locking it up. There’s nothing vindictive in my leaving it out, it’s simply a mistake I have made. Now, the alarm, that’s vindictive. 😃 ---
**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:** [August 24, 2004, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-czarcasm-fyi/261264/10 "2004-08-24T15:34:00Z")
So, what’s up with the alarm? Are you going to try it today? ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-czarcasm-fyi/261264/11 "2004-08-24T15:41:54Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > So, what’s up with the alarm? Are you going to try it today? I don’t know. I am kinda chickening out now that I have it. It’s really loud, and I’m nervous about a confrontation. Not to mention that I still kinda like the girl, despite her thievery. She’s been my rant buddy and we chat all the time. ☹ I think I’m just going to try to remember to lock it up. I’ll have to write myself a note or something. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-czarcasm-fyi/261264/12 "2004-08-24T15:45:34Z")
I too was thoroughly shocked by the exceptionally bad call by **Czarcasm**. It was very clear that you in no way had siwtched meds for the purpose of cauing anyone harm. Methinks someone was a little too alarmist and hit the “Report to Mod” button without actually taking anything else in context. Clearly **Czarcasm** skimmed the thread carelessly rather than actually reading the posts. ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous\_Coward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@Anonymous\_Coward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anonymous_Coward)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-czarcasm-fyi/261264/13 "2004-08-24T15:54:24Z")
> [@Indygrrl](#): > > I don’t know. I am kinda chickening out now that I have it. It’s really loud, and I’m nervous about a confrontation. Not to mention that I still kinda like the girl, despite her thievery. She’s been my rant buddy and we chat all the time. ☹ > > I think I’m just going to try to remember to lock it up. I’ll have to write myself a note or something. She’s a junkie and a thief, what’s not to like? Bad call. It’s only a matter of time before money and personal items start vanishing as well. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-czarcasm-fyi/261264/14 "2004-08-24T16:01:18Z")
**Indygrrl** , she clearly needs something to be done to get her to stop this behaviour. Your notes didn’t do it. Your hiding your pills won’t do it either - she’ll still _look_ for them, and she’ll no doubt still steal them from anyone else she happens to find out has them. You need to actually confront her about this. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-czarcasm-fyi/261264/15 "2004-08-24T16:05:14Z")
> [@Indygrrl](#): > > Not to mention that I still kinda like the girl, despite her thievery. She’s been my rant buddy and we chat all the time. ☹ I think you should re-evaluate your friendship with this girl. However, maybe you should just be frank with her and say, “Look, I know you’re stealing my meds. Stop it, and we can forget about this whole thing. If it keeps happening, I will have to report it, but I really don’t want to do that.” Another idea, just to make doubly sure it’s her, can you get another coworker to spy on your cubicle while you go to the bathroom? (You work in cubes, right?) It would be nice to have some solid, definite proof it’s her. FWIW, I don’t think you did anything wrong either. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-czarcasm-fyi/261264/16 "2004-08-24T16:19:13Z")
Maybe someone already brought this up, but have you thought about those little pink pills that you can buy at the drugstore and that color your teeth and tongue mouth a vivid red in all the spots where you haven’t brushed your teeth well? But that only works when the tablet is chewed. Have you thought about keeping your pills in a little gold or silver medaillion around you rneck? Those things are often bg enough to fit a littel lock of hair in, so three pills shouldn’t be a problem either. But I really like \*\*nyctea scandiaca’s \*\* idea best. Just say, like it’s no big deal: “Look, I know you’re stealing my meds. Stop it, and we can forget about this whole thing and, if you want, discuss any problems you have with meds. But if it keeps happening, I will have to report it, but I really don’t want to do that.” ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-czarcasm-fyi/261264/17 "2004-08-24T16:25:35Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > But I really like \*\*nyctea scandiaca’s \*\* idea best. Just say, like it’s no big deal: “Look, I know you’re stealing my meds. Stop it, and we can forget about this whole thing and, if you want, discuss any problems you have with meds. But if it keeps happening, I will have to report it, but I really don’t want to do that.” I’ve thought of that, but she can easily deny it. There is absolutely no proof, and I would feel really nervous about confronting her without some kind of evidence. I’m getting to be a fucking wimp in my old age. I never would have sat by and let something like this happen five years ago. I still might do the alarm, but I can only imagine the drama that will cause. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-czarcasm-fyi/261264/18 "2004-08-24T16:36:08Z")
If’n you want I’ll send you some of _Dr. Windbreaker’s Fart Pills_ that you can substitute for the other. I think I still have some left since my M-I-L left early. ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-czarcasm-fyi/261264/19 "2004-08-24T16:43:13Z")
Truthfully, if you want to be her friend, the best thing you can do right now is stop her from taking those pills, preferably by a loud confrontation. She needs to nip this kind of behaviour in the bud. ---
**Author:** ![KarlWinslow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@KarlWinslow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlWinslow)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-czarcasm-fyi/261264/20 "2004-08-24T17:28:28Z")
The real question is, isn’t there anything you could put in there that would discourage her, but not be illegal or truly harmful? Just to have a little fun? Laxatives, maybe? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-czarcasm-fyi/261264.md?page=2)