Why is it so easy for some people to treat others poorly?
Friday was just not a good day at work. I finally reached a boiling point after a long series of run-ins with the USN CAPT that I work with and ended up closing the door to my office so I could sit and cry the stress out.
It was an early morning - one, because of our conference but two, because our first presenter, the CAPT, wasn't done making his powerpoint by the time I left work on Thursday. I had to show up early to run through it with him because I am the techie intern ... Naturally, he wasn't ready when I showed up and thus the timeline for getting our attendees into the conference was delayed and I had to run around like a chicken with my head cut off to get everything coordinated.
The conference timeline was completely jacked. First, because of our delay in getting the attendees into the building, second because the CAPT (and POC for the conference as a whole) gave a terrible and lengthy "brief" that pushed the entire timeline back. And of course, it was on a day that I needed to be across town for lunch... More running...
When I finally was able to read my email and listen to voicemail at 2pm, there were important tasks for me to handle ... and I jumped right in. But someone else had other plans...
In the middle of a phone call, discussing one of our important databases and the needs of another agency for using it CAPT barged into my office. I assumed he'd leave once he realized I was on the phone, for business purposes ... but he didn't. So I asked the person if they could hold on.
CAPT had me put the other agency on hold while he asked if I could do his photocopying. And not just photocopying ... photocopying of select pages of a large document ... and NOW. I explained that I was in the middle of important business and he explained he needed the copying done yesterday and the other intern was gone for the weekend already. I was to do what he needed NOW.
In my head: If it's so damn important, why didn't you ask me yesterday...?
I ended up having to call the other agency back so that he could get his copies. And then ... when I finished (within his 20 minute deadline), he wasn't in his office. AND, he left the office without ever saying a word to me.
Now can anyone explain to me why it is necessary to treat another person that way? There is no reason you need to be rude to people in a situation like that. There is no excuse for being so condescending.
I just don't get it...
Posted by Princess Cat at February 11, 2006 10:50 PM @ 10:50 PM in What the Crap? // Permalink | TrackBackI don't get folk like that either. They got to jump you to get their stuff done hasta pronto, then when you go to tell 'em it's done, they ain't nowhere to be found. Kinda makes you want to "undo" it, and wait 'til they ask you WTF, and you say, well, I stopped, dropped, and rolled, to get you what you needed to put out your fire, but when I went to relieve you, you were nowhere to be found.
To some folk, everything seems to be a "needed by yesterday" deal, just 'cause they were slackin' a bit. Folks that come to me with that kinda 'tude, if they don't come often, and stick around to square the deal, I don't have a problem goin' above and beyond for. Folks that make demands like that, then boot scoot the hell on out, I point to a picture in my lovely large cubicle that says somethin' pretty damned simple...
"Failure to plan on your part does not constitute an emergency on mone". Then I say, I'll get too it 'soon as I can.
I think your situration is different then mine, the ranks certainly are, but at times, the arrogance isn't. I try to do the best I can to provide my customer with what they need when they need it, but if they cry wolf every damned day... somethin's gotta give, and I tell myself at times, hell 'Neck, you were lookin' for a job when you found this one.
Don't sweat the small stuff Cat... It'll make you ol' and Grey like me 'fore your time.
Posted by: RedNeck at February 14, 2006 06:19 PM