# 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:** 266
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/5302 "2013-03-30T00:53:55Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Or crazy. > > ETA: Or all three. All three are possibilities. I suck at psychology but other people have said he’s jealous too, so maybe that’s it. There are hints of crazy though. About a year after all this started, I heard him telling someone about his old job. They asked if he liked his new job and he said “Yeah, my attitude is a _ **lot** _ better here, I’ll tell you that much.” I thought to myself “Wow, I’m glad I didn’t know him at his last job”, and I wondered if that’s why he was laid off there. And during his tirade today he bitched about something I supposedly did then unexpectedly threw in “I don’t care if you like me or not. I don’t even like myself!” then bitched about more things I supposedly did. I think, in his mind, he thinks that I think the way he does, if that makes sense. I believe that he thinks I am obsessed with him, that I hate his guts, and that I go around talking about him all the time. Well, today is the day I get to be upset and talk about him, but I generally land somewhere between indifferent and annoyed. I bet that really drives him nuts. (This one guy is sort of the ringleader of these two jerks so I’m concentrating on him) ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/5303 "2013-03-30T01:57:22Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Of course, the problem might not be his handwriting, but the fact that you need labels, not hand-writing - then the problem is him not listening to instructions. 🙂 I fixed that problem today. I bought my minion his own label maker and he’s happily labeling everything now. He just didn’t want to interrupt me when I was using the one we shared. Seeing as how I have a problem with _my_ handwriting, I use it for everything. So, I don’t know what was going on with him yesterday, that was such a weird reaction. He was fine today. I’m certainly not going to bring it up again. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/5304 "2013-03-30T17:16:22Z")
> [@Fubaya](#): > > I think, in his mind, he thinks that I think the way he does, if that makes sense. Makes perfect sense: “a thief believes everybody’s trying to steal”. It’s said to warn people that, if someone believes everybody’s untrustworthy, they’re likely to be untrustworthy themselves. Sort of like those anti-gay preachers who talk so much about “resisting this abominable temptation” which straight people simply don’t encounter. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2013, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/5305 "2013-03-31T00:50:19Z")
> [@Fubaya](#): > > All three are possibilities. I suck at psychology but other people have said he’s jealous too, so maybe that’s it. You can do things he wants to be able to do. Doors are open to you that he wishes are open to him. But he’s not self-honest enough to figure it out. > [@](#): > > I think, in his mind, he thinks that I think the way he does, if that makes sense. A fair number of people think everyone thinks like they do and are unable to grasp that this is flat out not true. I was blessed (or cursed) as a child to think so differently from other people that this was obvious to me. Unfortunately, I end up explaining it to people an awful lot, usually when they’re being dicks and assuming that I’m thinking stupid nasty things or that I have negative motivations for something. > [@](#): > > (This one guy is sort of the ringleader of these two jerks so I’m concentrating on him) _The King uses him to march forth and chastise. Then it is best to kill the leaders And take captive the followers. No blame._ I Ching, Hexagram 30, nine at the top. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2013, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/5306 "2013-03-31T01:16:54Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Makes perfect sense: “a thief believes everybody’s trying to steal”. It’s said to warn people that, if someone believes everybody’s untrustworthy, they’re likely to be untrustworthy themselves. Sort of like those anti-gay preachers who talk so much about “resisting this abominable temptation” which straight people simply don’t encounter. I tend to not trust people who think that other people are dishonest. They are the ones are who most likely to steal. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/5307 "2013-04-01T00:45:39Z")
Having thought about this over the weekend, I think I’m going to talk to the boss about it. The more I think about it, it’s funny, annoying and childish, but it’s also starting to be kinda creepy. His outburst ended up cracking me up and confusing me, but when he first pointed and shouted “Now you listen here fucker…” I thought we were gonna have a fight or something. As good as it would feel to knock a few teeth out, I don’t think I could actually fight over something like this because it’s dumb and childish. I’d fight to protect someone, or to stop a robbery, or against ninjas to avenge the death of my master, but rolling around on the ground with another dude to prove who has the bigger dick sounds a little too much like a gay porn scene for me. I’ve talked to the boss about it before and he said he’d handle it. I never knew what happened, but they did stop… for about a week. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/5308 "2013-04-01T00:54:41Z")
This falls under Workplace griping for a reason… 😛 Woke up at 6:08am this morning and looked at my clock. _Oh Shit, my alarm didn’t go off!_ I jump out of bed and run to the shower. While I’m waiting for it to warm up, it suddenly occurs to me. _Wait, did Easter happen? I’m certain this is Monday, but then I should have been at my parent’s house yesterday and I don’t remember that happening. (pause) Oh fuck. Its Sunday. What am I doing?_ Turned off the water, went back to bed, slept until 10. The really stupid thing is that while going back to bed, I had to convince myself that it really was Sunday and not Monday, and even hedge myself saying that if it turned out to be Monday afterall, I’d just be late for work and be done with it. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2013, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/5309 "2013-04-01T03:11:42Z")
I’m waiting for the call at 10:00 tomorrow morning - “Why aren’t you at work?!?” Who wants to take bets on it? ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/5310 "2013-04-01T04:40:59Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > The really stupid thing is that while going back to bed, I had to convince myself that it really was Sunday and not Monday, and even hedge myself saying that if it turned out to be Monday afterall, I’d just be late for work and be done with it. You’re just eager with anticipation of the calls from all the users whose database queries are failing because they couldn’t be arsed to update their obsolete procedures. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/5311 "2013-04-01T15:25:02Z")
Well, I talked to the the owner, who seemed exasperated by it all. He said “I thought I took care of that a while back but I guess I didn’t.” He said he doesn’t know what to do with those guys but said he’d think about it and take care of it one way or another. For some good news, these two guys have a friend in management and in order to illustrate what a problem these guys are, I mentioned that i was having some problems with management that I’ve found out are related (long story that I didn’t mention here). But it turns out that their friend got fired Friday, so there’s a little less to worry about. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/5312 "2013-04-01T15:54:51Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I’m waiting for the call at 10:00 tomorrow morning - “Why aren’t you at work?!?” Who wants to take bets on it? Well? Did they call? 😃 ---
**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:** [April 1, 2013, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/5313 "2013-04-01T17:01:13Z")
10:21. I called them back, and she was in an interview and will call me right back. She didn’t sound happy. 🙂 Am I the crazy one here? I said I wanted this job to be over at the end of March, she said keep on going there until the project was finished, I told her the project was finished and I didn’t want any extensions last week, and somehow she doesn’t understand why I’m not at work today? I’m starting to think she doesn’t think that temps have a right to say when their jobs will end. I’m not a piece of office furniture, you know. Yes, I know that they need staff at the job - that isn’t my problem. The assignment I was brought in for and agreed to is OVER. Anything beyond that is a new contract. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2013, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/5314 "2013-04-01T17:17:26Z")
Well, I’m apparently a Very Bad Temp. She has to scramble to replace me now to finish out the last two weeks of the assignment, because I’m leaving before it’s done and breaking my word and there Will Be A Note In My File! ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/5315 "2013-04-01T17:23:42Z")
Did you advise her that you already had a note concerning her and the agency she represents? ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/5316 "2013-04-01T20:45:28Z")
Yeah, agencies suck. I’ve had them tell me that I need to keep in touch with them to see if anything comes up (ok, I can kind of see their point), which I do for weeks and nothing comes up. I take a job and then two and a half months later they call me and they have some little temp placement that I have to interview for (??) and when I tell them I can’t do it because I have a regular job they get all with the attitude about how I’m a bad person! Huh? So you think I’ve been sitting around for two and a half months not working in anticipation of temp job that may or may not appear? They just want to intimidate you to get you to do what’s in their best interest. I had another agency want me to interview for a temp job and I told them three times it would have to be outside of work hours because I wasn’t going to be able to get out of work. They said three times they could do it. Then called me the day before to have me come in at 1:00 and were all mad and insulting (“So, you’re turning down the assignment?!?!”). Um, no. I told you three times I couldn’t meet during the day. They suck. I haven’t yet worked with one yet that I would say is professional. ---
**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:** [April 2, 2013, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/5317 "2013-04-02T00:42:36Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > Did you advise her that you already had a note concerning her and the agency she represents? Heh - if you want to look back at my posts about this assignment, you could see that she’s been incompetent every step of the way - I have already decided that I won’t be working with this agency again. The note in my file isn’t concerning me much - temp agents last about a year in a job, I figure. **Carol** , this one has sucked more than most. This woman seems to have it in her head that temps don’t have a say in their work - that’s simply not true, as I proved to her today. I kept telling her I didn’t want to work after March 29th; she tried to make it my fault that she wouldn’t listen to me. The conversation I had with her today was flat out bullying, like you said - she tried everything to intimidate me into agreeing to work another two weeks, and I just wouldn’t do it. Mind you, bullying people after they have already said no isn’t exactly a successful method. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/5318 "2013-04-02T00:51:15Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Heh - if you want to look back at my posts about this assignment, you could see that she’s been incompetent every step of the way - **I have already decided that I won’t be working with this agency again.** That’s the note I was talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/5319 "2013-04-02T10:02:34Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > God, I have fucking hated working for companies like that. Blinders to everything but short term costs. Fuck the future, fuck company experience, we only care about what this month’s numbers look like! Fire Jenkins, I have no idea what he does and I can’t be bothered to learn! It will look good on our books! My mother went through this when the large company she worked for was going through a round of cost cutting and layoffs. Her division had a new director, who had no clue what she did (providing a specific essential service in support of multiple other divisions) but she clearly didn’t do anything for him! He laid her off and she spent the next 5 years until she retired doing the same work for the same divisions as a consultant for a significantly higher income. Her former director lasted less than a year. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/5320 "2013-04-02T17:14:46Z")
_Disclaimer: I realize it is my company’s fault by insisting on building our SaaS application to only be compatible with Internet Explorer. I don’t like it either, but you have to dance with the guy what brung ya’._ Microsoft, in its infinite wisdom, has decided to force the updates to IE 10. Our application will work in IE 10, but you have to be in compatibility mode. In the last week or two since the Evil Empire started forcing the update, we have gotten anywhere from 5-10 calls **per day** from users (mostly computer illiterate) who we have to talk through getting into compatibility mode. Often, we’re ending up doing multiple GoTo Meetings to fix computers ourselves instead of having the very confused users do it. This is annoying and a bloody waste of our time. If the users uninstall the update, if there is a 64-bit version of IE, it defaults to this. We don’t work in 64-bit, either; our Active-X controls are 32-bit. This adds two or three steps to an already painful process. I am sick of Microsoft, sick of Internet Explorer, sick of computer illiterate users, and sick of having to explain, over and over again, that it is not our fault. We did not make the upgrade happen, I swear to FSM. _SIGH_ OK, I feel better now. Mostly. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/5321 "2013-04-02T19:16:57Z")
(I am a mechanical designer.) A guy marked up an old drawing to be a new drawing, which called out a weld prep specification. The new drawing calls out a different weld prep. The new one says that other than deburring and cleaning, there is no machining. No chamfers. He comes to me and tells me “not to be picky, but the weld prep is missing.” So I show him the weld spec HE SPECIFIED and he still thinks he’s right and that the drawing should show a cut or bevel on the end. And he talked down to me like I didn’t know what a motherfucking weld prep looks like. When I started arguing with him he said it’s no big deal. Condescending douchenozzle. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401.md?page=265) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401.md?page=267)