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Topic: office etiquette
| Author | Message |
| JackieRo | Posted – 5/13/2008 2:53:43 PM | show profile Well, I suppose anyone would have to look out for themself in that situation, even if it were another black woman and me. The OP's point (I think) was she shouldn't be subjected to that kind of language, even if it's not attacking her race or gender personally, and if she were a minority listening to that language, that speech would be protected and her employer would HAVE to do something about it. So yeah, I do feel bad for her. I wouldn't want to listen to homophobia talk all day, just as much as the OP doesn't want to listen to racial slurs all day. So calm it down with your nasty language about how the OP is being racist. It was a legitimate point about what is considered harrasment and how the corrective actions differ. Clearly nothing is being done to shut these idiots up and you have to wonder why. |
| cali1296 | Posted – 5/13/2008 3:51:34 PM | show profile Before this thread becomes even more tangential, I'd just like to suggest to the OP that she just try to ignore these boneheads at work and just pretend like nothing they do bothers you. It sounds like they enjoy tormenting you because they know it pisses you off. If you act like you're over it hopefully they'll get bored with the myspace BS and turn their attention elsewhere. That won't help with the noise but hopefully it will get you off their harrassment radar. |
| Vox-o | Posted – 5/13/2008 11:58:37 PM | show profile I find the OP's claims regarding profanity and racist comments highly suspect, in light of the fact that she said on this very thread that we are calling her a "piece of shit EA." No one said anything of the kind on this thread, so we know she will fudge the truth in order to make people feel sorry for her. I think that the compassion many are showing her is nice but misplaced. Save it for someone who is at least honest. |
| caitlinkelly | Posted – 5/14/2008 8:27:53 AM | show profile Calling oneself, as she did, a "piece of shit EA" is likely how she feels right now. You don't need anyone to call you names when you feel like that. Try to imagine having your "colleagues" running a pool on when you'll quit. Imagine going to work every day. Whatever this OP did or didn't do, if the descriptions of her workmates are accurate, she works in an environment many of us would quit in a heartbeat. Anyone who has had low self-esteem or has been publicly bulied every day -- maybe no one on this board -- might get it. |
| . | Posted – 5/14/2008 9:14:01 AM | show profile caitlinkelly, excellent response. I totally agree with your assessment of this situation. Anyone who has been bullied in the past will certainly understand the heartache this person is going through. |
| JackieRo | Posted – 5/14/2008 10:49:20 AM | show profile Manhattan Matt was pretty close in what the OP referred to as being called a piece of shit: Management apparently views "them" as more valuable than YOU. The writing is on the wall. Either put up and shut up ... or get out. I dunno, but if I were going to a board for advice and I was told that my personality is the problem because I can't tune out political shows or weird talent contests and the immature creative types were obviously more valuable, I'd probably react defensively, too. |
| InsomniacNOT | Posted – 5/14/2008 11:36:15 AM | show profile I've been following this thread with macabre fascination. OP does indeed seem like a spoilt child who expects the world to run her way. Office mates sounds frightful. Both voxo and Caitlin Kelly make a lot of sense. JackieRo not so much. |
| northcoastlife | Posted – 5/14/2008 1:11:36 PM | show profile "I find the OP's claims regarding profanity and racist comments highly suspect, in light of the fact that she said on this very thread that we are calling her a "piece of shit EA." No one said anything of the kind on this thread, so we know she will fudge the truth in order to make people feel sorry for her. I think that the compassion many are showing her is nice but misplaced. Save it for someone who is at least honest." Who is the "we" here, Vox O? No, she was addressing "you" alone. Speaking of fudging the truth you seem very adept at doing so yourself when you have a nasty axe to grind. I doubt whether you've ever "felt sorry" for anyone else except yourself, just based on your vindictive tone and that you leap back into this thread with some imagined score to settle with a stranger. Jesus Christ! Only in America... |
| Mirage | Posted – 5/14/2008 5:10:10 PM | show profile "And Jackiero, white people aren't oppressed and can't be insulted by that kind of language. She's not black so her comparison is idiotic and insulting to black people. You defending her clearly shows that you have no pride in your race. Idiot." Are you freaking kidding me? White people can't be offended by racist language? I get highly offended when I hear racial epithets, and I am white. I also get offended when homosexuals are verbally bashed, and when people throw around the word "retarded" like it's a synonym for "stupid." If that makes me an "idiot," so be it. |
| Homer | Posted – 5/14/2008 9:40:32 PM | show profile For some inexplicable reason, I tend to be a thread killer, regardless of my input, so let me use my mysterious talent to shut this thing down. Problem stated, advice proffered (try to get your boss's help in improving your work environment, otherwise quit; even if you got a lawyer's advice, a letter was dispatched, etc. etc., you'd likely not want to work there anymore, although you'd walk away with some severance cash). We're beating a dead horse here, and, worse, opening it up to brain-dead trolls. Let's put a fork in this. |
| Vox-o | Posted – 5/14/2008 10:32:25 PM | show profile northcoastlife- your post is a waste of my time. |
| rochelle, rochelle | Posted – 5/15/2008 12:23:06 AM | show profile ohmygod, the publishing industry is in a sad state if the responders are examples of the people who are working in publishing today! To the person who believes the production department is the most important part of a magazine, I suggest trying to put out a mag without writers, editors, designers, and, yes, even the advertising dept. Sorry, Homer, I didn't mean to end your streak. |
| snappiness | Posted – 5/15/2008 12:31:52 PM | show profile save those posts So, the production jerk's posts elicit way more sympathy for the OP than anything she said, and clarifies the situation for me. Get the heck out of there and let them self destruct! And if you decide to take legal action make sure you save these posts as excellent examples of online stalking and harrassment. |
| getmeoutofhere | Posted – 5/15/2008 12:32:56 PM | show profile many of you are acting extremely childishly. cool it. |
| northcoastlife | Posted – 5/15/2008 2:40:21 PM | show profile Vox-o... Your life is a waste of everyone's time...even when you come on here to attack creatives, it's clearly not validating you enough. Get the help you need for your upper extremity. |
| infojunkie | Posted – 5/15/2008 5:46:11 PM | show profile So Sad As a writer, I believe in freedom on speech but what some of you have said in this forum is terrible. Are we not all professionals here? Is that not why this website was developed? We are supposed to be here helping other professionals and all some people are doing is making themselves sounds like angry, sad people that need a shrink not a forum. Please keep in mind that you would not want to be talked to or treated like you have been treating others in this forum. I for one joined to look for help and advice in my writing/editing career but all I am finding is a bunch of people that would rather make others feel bad then help. I am so sad that it has come to this and I will not longer be reading or participating in these chats frankly because it has just plain and simple, gone too far. Good luck to all of the professionals out there. |
| mb_greg | Posted – 5/15/2008 6:22:04 PM | show profile | email poster Offensive posts removed All posts that directed personal insults at another poster have been removed and the users accounts have been disabled. I didn't bother with warnings because, honestly, if you need to be warned not to call another person a "bitch" in a public forum, there's not much I can do to help you. Thanks to those of you who notified us of the offensive posts, and also to the majority of you who have contributed thoughtful, helpful posts to this discussion. ------ Greg Membership Director mediabistro.com |
| jseconds77 | Posted – 5/17/2008 7:51:24 PM | show profile you could ask them out for coffee and lace their cups with arsenic |
| Vox-o | Posted – 5/17/2008 9:31:31 PM | show profile northcoastlife - you are a nutjob. I really can't respond any further to your posts, because frankly theyt make absolutely no sense. |
| Homer | Posted – 5/18/2008 3:36:10 PM | show profile Well, I have to say I'm "flummoxed" that this has gone on so long. I must be losing my touch. But, just because this thread unfortunately attracted some trolls doesn't mean the good advice should get lost herein. I hope the OP takes it -- and lets us all know how it ends. |
| sssuedio | Posted – 5/19/2008 12:53:44 PM | show profile Thanks to all those who responded constructively. I did listen and modify my own tolerances. To those who were rude, not so much. Four of five production members were fired on Friday. It turns out that two of them have a long history of harassing the newbies. The president didn't like the fact that the production department was building a hate site at myspace during work hours. (And yes, when you Google my name it does come up.) A client also overheard some of the language being used when she visited the office. She was kind of enough to explain to the vice president why before she took her business elsewhere, because her original "you have an unprofessional staff" would have meant that editors/writers had been fired instead of the people who pissed her off (production). She was old school where women wore pantyhose and covered their arms (no sleeveless) and men wore ties and shaved. That's what most of our clients are like. The other two designers were fired for running a freelance design business from work using company resources. I also gave my notice this morning. Moving on to a new job with one of my old editors who needs a grunt. Less pay but a better working environment. |
| caitlinkelly | Posted – 5/19/2008 1:22:50 PM | show profile Hard to imagine a *worse* work environment... What a wild denouement. Good luck in your new position. |
| beenthere | Posted – 5/19/2008 1:31:00 PM | show profile Congratulations on the job! Enjoy your new start. |
| snappiness | Posted – 5/19/2008 4:58:37 PM | show profile That's great to hear, thanks for updating us! |
| Marie | Posted – 5/19/2008 11:30:59 PM | show profile Great. But had you stayed, I doubt you would have had the same, or any, problems. It is encourging to hear that management took action, and there's probabaly some vindication for you that you were not the problem and not, if you'll forgive me, nuts. So you have your answer: The environment you were in is not typical, and fortunately, not tolerated, even, ultimately, at that crazy place. Good luck. |
