# Workplace griping, anyone? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 12, 2010, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401 "2010-11-12T06:39:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 178
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2012, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/3542 "2012-05-03T00:25:22Z")
ok, I’m done. The very next time Clueless George decides to pull his shit on me, I’m going to turn, and with a very unhappy look on my face, say; “I have to ask you something. This idea of making a statement, and then when the other person says something to indicate that they disagree with you, you simply repeat your statement word for word three…five…eight times… \*Has that been a spectacularly successful debating tactic for you in the past? \* Because all it does is annoy the fuck out of me and it really isn’t likely to make me suddenly agree with you.” ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2012, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/3543 "2012-05-03T00:46:51Z")
That’s a little wordy - you could go with the much more succinct, “Is there something wrong with you?” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2012, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/3544 "2012-05-03T01:20:22Z")
With a person like CG, that only brings one response. A confused look and “what do you mean?” Then you have to explain and it gets even wordier. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2012, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/3545 "2012-05-03T01:31:52Z")
How about a short, simple, to-the-point “Shut the fuck up”? Or if you want to leave out the sailor speech, “we’re done here”? ---
**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:** [May 3, 2012, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/3546 "2012-05-03T01:51:36Z")
The Corporate Inspection Day has been discovered. Next Wednesday the inspector will be checking in and he will be doing The Inspection on Thursday. Which means the first two hours of my shift will be pure terror followed by an hour or so or being very sure I’m following the Script From On High (even though most people just drop their keys off at the desk, wave “bye!” and walk out the door) and then the rest of my shift I’ll spend reading the news or [Cracked.com](http://Cracked.com) as all the managers are running around and housekeeping will suck worse than usual for getting rooms turned over before everyone and their second cousin comes to check in two hours early. And the fact that it’s on a Thursday means that one manager, Squirrel AGM will have to do the food order for the week, a feat that usually takes two solid hours because he’s very meticulous. Also, it’s Squirrel AGM’s birthday that day. As you can tell, there is much joy in the anticipation. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2012, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/3547 "2012-05-03T04:31:52Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > With a person like CG, that only brings one response. A confused look and “what do you mean?” Then you have to explain and it gets even wordier. The first couple of times will probably take some explaining - after that, you should be able to use it as shorthand for when you need him to shut up and go away. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2012, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/3548 "2012-05-03T05:09:48Z")
> [@Dr.Girlfriend](#): > > There’s been snakes too. It was before my time there- someone found a snake in the warehouse. :eek: Where are the coyotes? Do you have a SG as well? If so, send your resume to my boss. My job will be open in November. > [@EmAnJ](#): > > Here’s a wiki on it: [Potential Health Risks of Sunscreen](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potential_health_risks_of_sunscreen). > > \ > > ETA: All that said, I think sunscreen is a good idea. Benefits vastly outweigh the possible negatives. I actually buy into that. So, instead of sunscreen, I wear long sleeved shirts and long pants and a hat all year around. I’ve learned that its cooler as well. The fabric shields my skin from the direct sun and I get the swamp cooler effect because the cotton soaks my sweat up and the wind cools me. I live in the middle of a hot and dry desert, so it might not work so well for people in other climates. > [@Chimera](#): > > ok, I’m done. > > The very next time Clueless George decides to pull his shit on me, I’m going to turn, and with a very unhappy look on my face, say; > > “I have to ask you something. This idea of making a statement, and then when the other person says something to indicate that they disagree with you, you simply repeat your statement word for word three…five…eight times… \*Has that been a spectacularly successful debating tactic for you in the past? \* Because all it does is annoy the fuck out of me and it really isn’t likely to make me suddenly agree with you.” And this is why I wear headphones all the time. It doesn’t make Jane shut up, but it allows me to ignore her. When Jane complains that I had walked away when she was talking, I just say something about not hearing her. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2012, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/3549 "2012-05-03T05:21:39Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > ok, I’m done. > > The very next time Clueless George decides to pull his shit on me, I’m going to turn, and with a very unhappy look on my face, say; > > “I have to ask you something. This idea of making a statement, and then when the other person says something to indicate that they disagree with you, you simply repeat your statement word for word three…five…eight times… \*Has that been a spectacularly successful debating tactic for you in the past? \* Because all it does is annoy the fuck out of me and it really isn’t likely to make me suddenly agree with you.” I have a picture of a cat with its head tilted completely to one side, with the caption of “Seriously, dude, is there a name for what’s wrong with you?”, which I can email to you, if you want. Just point at the picture whenever you need to. ---
**Author:** ![4d3fect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/4d3fect/32/9728_2.png) [@4d3fect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/4d3fect)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2012, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/3550 "2012-05-03T05:43:06Z")
> [@Qwakkeddup](#): > > Bubbles causes cancer too.😉 Yes, well EVERYTHING gives you cancer. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/1oDAkmfoAgA/hqdefault.jpg "Joe Jackson 01 Cancer") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oDAkmfoAgA) ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2012, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/3551 "2012-05-03T05:53:13Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > That’s a little wordy - you could go with the much more succinct, “Is there something wrong with you?” 🙂 I want to know what Clueless George’s answer would be - _does_ debating tactic work for him? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2012, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/3552 "2012-05-03T07:16:12Z")
> [@Dr.Girlfriend](#): > > Of course to her eating sugar causes cancer, wearing makeup causes cancer, eating meat causes cancer, drinking tap water causes cancer… Some days I wonder why she doesn’t just seal herself into a bubble. As Dad liked to put it, “the biggest CoD is being alive, and some people try to avoid it.” ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2012, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/3553 "2012-05-03T09:10:50Z")
… I work for a small company (SC) which works for a branch of a Big Consulting Firm (BCF) which works for our final client. Every month’s end, I have to send a report with my hours. It has to go to five people: one from SC, four from BCF. I send my bill to the same person from SC. SC are great payers: if they have the approved report and the bill by the last day of the month, that’s when they pay it; otherwise, on the 10th. Apparently I shouldn’t send the report on the day when they ask for it, because one of the four people in BCF can’t be arsed look that far back in her inbox. She’s asking for it and reminding SC they won’t get paid until it’s received and approved, when it’s been received (and got approved) on the day when they ask for it. Let’s see if this month I can remember to send it a couple of days later. We wouldn’t want Ms “You Must Send Things On Time” to get a tired middle finger from rolling the wheel on her mouse too much. And let’s see what else she comes up with, because last month she was a bitch about something else, and the previous one about another detail. This is a sort of “temp to hire”: in a couple months more, I may be billing the customer directly. Even if they don’t pay as fast as SC, it will be nice simply to have Ms YMSTOT out of the line. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/3554 "2012-05-03T21:37:27Z")
> [@digs](#): > > My dad always used to leave with a line “Write when you get work!” > > Well, congrats–write when the ink’s dry! Signed the contract today. I start the 14th of May. Thanks everyone for the good wishes. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2012, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/3555 "2012-05-03T23:51:59Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > With a person like CG, that only brings one response. A confused look and “what do you mean?” Then you have to explain and it gets even wordier. You could shorten it to “repeating a thing ten times doesn’t magically make it true.” ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/3556 "2012-05-04T04:05:55Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Signed the contract today. I start the 14th of May. Thanks everyone for the good wishes. Yay! I think my temp assignment is going to end tomorrow. I learned today that the consultants working with my supervisor have been undermining him and screwing him over. These are the consultants that have talked about me going to work for _them_ after my assignment is over. I’m trying to decide if I can work with people I don’t trust - I think I probably can, but only through a temp agency so there is a buffer between them and me. What do you think? Would you work with people you probably can’t trust, knowing you can’t trust them? Oh yeah, my supervisor said that he would love to keep me on - there’s a possibility that I might be called back in for a part-time gig there. I don’t suppose I can count on either of these possibilities, though. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/3557 "2012-05-04T04:28:55Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > What do you think? Would you work with people you probably can’t trust, knowing you can’t trust them?. I tend to expect that my minions, coworkers and bosses will toss me under the bus for any reason and without warning. This is why I love doing everything by email. When I talk to the head of facilities about the RatKing on the phone, I’ll email him with my version of the conversation and ask if I’ve got it right. I put the reply in the appropriate folder. When, as happened today, the boss’s boss yelled at me because she thought the rat problem had been fixed, I just forwarded her everything. So, yes, I do work with people I don’t trust. They aren’t my friends, they don’t put my best interests over their agenda. You are “just a temp” so you are the first one who will get tossed under the bus when things go wrong. Did you ever finish the census thing? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/3558 "2012-05-04T04:46:33Z")
Oh yeah, I did. It was kind of a mess at the end - I had visited every place at least five times, and still had way too many non-responders, but I wasn’t about to spend the rest of my life knocking on their doors. Good perspective on working with people you don’t trust, **flatlined**. If I know going in, I should be able to keep my ass firmly covered. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/3559 "2012-05-04T17:05:14Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > I tend to expect that my minions, coworkers and bosses will toss me under the bus for any reason and without warning. This is why I love doing everything by email. When I talk to the head of facilities about the RatKing on the phone, I’ll email him with my version of the conversation and ask if I’ve got it right. I put the reply in the appropriate folder. When, as happened today, the boss’s boss yelled at me because she thought the rat problem had been fixed, I just forwarded her everything. Why would your boss’ boss think the rat problem had been fixed? Last I heard, they had a plan but hadn’t, so to speak, executed it yet. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/3560 "2012-05-04T18:46:51Z")
Well, I saw and talked with the people I don’t trust today - I’m not sure I can work with them. It feels very two-faced to be nice and joking around with people that I have been told have done some very questionable things. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/3561 "2012-05-04T23:17:09Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > Where are the coyotes? Do you have a SG as well? If so, send your resume to my boss. My job will be open in November. Nope, no coyotes. There are some dogs around that we think belong to someone on the next block, but no coyotes. No SG either, none of my co-workers are quite that entertaining, even Snake Oil lady. The RatKing’s minion was back again today. He seems to be able to outsmart the traps the service guy put out at the booth. Glue trap, snap trap, live trap, he just laughs at all of them. He finds the wires at the booth gate tasty. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401.md?page=177) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401.md?page=179)