Global 'train wreck' coming

[emordnilap]

Heh heh. We're gradually reducing cut grass down to paths only, a nice width for a push mower but not much else. We're also leaving areas to just grow and then scything them in autumn. Or not.

We're turning one grass path over to herbs that like being walked on.

[Ludwig]

Only a couple of minor things but quite telling all the same... In a previous job, I and a couple of other people were in the work kitchen while the receptionist was filling up the coffee machine. She spilled a load of coffee on the floor and announced, unembarrassed, "I suppose I should sweep that up but I can't be bovvered", and walked out. She really didn't care that she came across as lazy and irresponsible, or perhaps she just assumed that we'd all have done the same.

A young temp in my current job moaned when a manager asked her to change an order for lunchtime sandwiches. Not only did she not bother to change the order, but she boasted to the 3 or 4 of us in the office that she'd lied to the manager about doing it. I find it strange that people can be so blatantly dishonest, and still expect others to respect and trust them.

As a matter of interest did you or any of your colleagues who witnessed these incidents say anything to the miscreants, either at the moment or very soon afterwards?

In the first instance, I was on the verge of saying pointedly, "I'll clear it up then", but I only had a second to think about it and the moment passed before I'd summoned up the nerve. (I did clear it up, incidentally.)

In the second case - no, I said nothing. I didn't really see what good it would do other than create an uncomfortable atmosphere (she sat at the next desk to me), and I don't think it would have achieved anything except make her feel aggrieved. If she hadn't learned that it's wrong to lie by the age of 27, a stuffy middle-aged colleague giving her a ticking off wasn't likely to change her ways. Also, I wasn't totally sure the other people in teh office wouldn't take her side.

[DominicJ]

And god help you if she decided you were picking on her because she was a woman.....

[woodpecker]

And god help you if she decided you were picking on her because she was a woman.....

Sick comment, because the issue of men and the workplace is far more serious than this.

I know when I'm being picked on as a woman because....

... There have been three or four women who have been asked to do the role on the project before me - over a period of a year - and Mr Male Ego can't work with any of them... though they are consummate professionals working on many other projects with other major clients.
The entire project and team, and organisation, then has to focus on meeting Mr Male Ego's needs, rather than on the needs of the project.
... Mr Male Ego cannot tolerate certain remarks being made in the project report, as the report (which is quoting someone else, a man, who was asked to contribute) is from a woman, and so the report has to be re-written
... Mr Male Ego marches deliberately out of every meeting run by a woman after 10 minutes, regardless of what is being said or which woman is running it. That's his way of signalling to anyone: 'not important'.
... Mr Male Ego actually refuses to address any woman directly. He talks about/to any woman by addressing male colleagues, in front of her.
... The project manager says "the client refuses to work with women" or "he doesn't get on with women" and so the organisation has to resource accordingly.
This goes on every day.

And worse, in some organisations, such behaviour is rewarded.

There are quite a few men who have such a problem.

Just today, and on another completely separate project.... I've just been on the phone for 40 minutes to one of these guys, who 'didn't want to bother our little heads with the designs we'd specifically asked to see, as it might raise our hopes' (okay, he didn't say the word 'little', but he said all the rest). "We" are paying the bill, and said designs have not been agreed or even seen by us, despite requests. But we are mere women, and hence really don't count. I'm not going to accuse him, out and out, of doing what he's doing, but it's as plain as a pikestaff: all (5) the people he keeps informed are men, and all (4) the people he refuses to keep informed are women, including the Chair of the funding stakeholder, who is being totally shat on with the proposed designs from his cabal of blokes. He now knows that if he does not consult with me/us his life won't be worth living (and I don't tolerate fools and he is one). But that really should not be necessary.

[stumuzz]

Calm down dear

[DominicJ]

Yes woodpecker, because what I said was every case of sexual discrimination is merely women having their time of the month.

See, now I do feel like making a "women" comment just to annoy you, but I respect the women I work with far too much.

I have faced a spurious charge of "you wouldnt talk to Dave like that", its unpleasant, luckily, she swiftly dropped it, but if she hadnt?

[woodpecker]

Yes woodpecker, because what I said was every case of sexual discrimination is merely women having their time of the month.

See, now I do feel like making a "women" comment just to annoy you, ....

Oh don't worry, you clearly mark out your asshole credentials every day, without doing that...

[Kentucky Fried Panda]

Yes woodpecker, because what I said was every case of sexual discrimination is merely women having their time of the month.

See, now I do feel like making a "women" comment just to annoy you, ....

Oh don't worry, you clearly mark out your asshole credentials every day, without doing that...

Arsehole...

[madibe]

wow don't people have trouble? Never experienced it (much)

[Bandidoz]

Oh doooooo behave...................

[kenneal - lagger]

This is what is likely to happen when TSHTF, a breakdown in law and order! Or is this just the start of it? Powerswitch heralds the way forward.

[nexus]

+1 to Woodpecker

Getting a bit bored of Dom and Stumuzz being casually sexist at every opportunity.

[DominicJ]

Nexus
Did you actualy read my comment?

Are you actualy saying that it is completely impossible that anyone who behaves in this manner
"while the receptionist was filling up the coffee machine. She spilled a load of coffee on the floor and announced, unembarrassed, "I suppose I should sweep that up but I can't be bovvered", and walked out."

Could possibly throw out a spurious sexual discrimination case?

Note, not, she *would* have, but she *could* have.

[stumuzz]

Stumuzz being casually sexist at every opportunity.

Could you do a little search and find examples of my sexism?

[JavaScriptDonkey]

Mr Male Ego can't work with any of them...
... Mr Male Ego
... Mr Male Ego
This goes on every day.
[SNIP]

QQ by any chance?