Have you ever offended someone without meaning to?

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Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 11:36 pm

Dionysius and wokabo, This is what you are really need.

beating

HB, I don't believe you. Razz

Eight, Ain't that the truth? Wink

Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 11:50 pm

Radden wrote:

@Eight - such as the british calling me a wanker?

Come on man - people from other countries call you a wanker too Laughing

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 12:07 am

coronalight wrote:

I have always liked me, now I love me. Laughing

coronalight in love with her self, Gees, whats the forum turning to now. Laughing

The elite state of insanity

Master Baiter Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 186 Location: GA

Oh, geez, I ran into this last week.

I was on a business trip for a conference on how to tackle this huge project we're about to start.

For two hours I sat and listened to people talk around the problems we will encounter with a lot of "we need to find solutions" proposals to the issues.

My boss stepped out of the room for a potty break.

Incredibly, they turned to me and asked me "for my thoughts."

"May I use the whiteboard?"
"Sure, go ahead."

So I stood up and in ten minutes outlined process and procedures, including timeline and staff integration, that will make the project work.

I was in diagram and explain mode, barely looking at my audience.

When I did I saw scowls all around and slightly horrified look on my boss' face.

Perplexed, I sat down.

Later it was revealed to me that as a junior (in position) member without a college degree (but a lot of experience) that the question was rhetorical as to my thoughts; that solutions weren't to be arrived at during the conference, but simply discussed; and that detailing the solution to issues in ten minutes that a bunch of executive level people with advanced degrees hadn't sussed out in ten months on a whiteboard with a blue dry erase marker is bad form.

An email was sent around reminding everyone not to be presumptuous and propose one set of possible actions as the only course of action while in a conference setting, as multi-echelon tasks require careful multi-echelon consideration and staffing.

I'm not sure, but it might have been referring to myself. Laughing

Yesterday the draft of the plan was sent out; naturally, it mirrored what I put on the board.

But I still managed to offend everyone. Except my boss, who laughed afterwards and chastened the Big Boss for asking for my opinion and then giving me the opportunity to articulate it.

I'm actually a repeat offender in this regard. They send down drafts of stuff and ask me for my feedback. No matter how carefully I write it, they get really irritated with me for pointing up the good, the not so good, and possible improvements or solutions.

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 4:10 am

coronalight wrote:

Dionysius and wokabo, This is what you are really need.

beating

CL, you could make a hell of a lot of money with that, because I'm sure that could be someone's dream Wink

@Dart. My former boss used to have a few little posters on the wall of her cubby hole (supposedly called an office but actually smaller than a bathroom). One was an office quote and the other went something like this. Tired of feeling useless, not sure of what to do - then call a meeting! You look important, you get other people to do your work for you, you waste time and you increase you social network. But that's what conferences, meetings and 'seminars' are meant to do.

They get you out of the office. They give you an opportunity to get away from work while making it look like you are working. They make it look like you're doing something useful without doing it. You get a decent meal or two out of it. It justifies the job of the pillock who decided to hold it in the first place. It also helps to spend the budget because there is a kudos in the size of the budget being allocated.

Baiting Guru Joined: 08 Feb 2005 Posts: 2301

I've never offended anyone! Just ask Eight. Right, Eight? Razz

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 4:15 am

@Stargate...I hereby offend you! Wink

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 4:35 am

@Dart

Your story was interesting. I am surprised that people were offended by your bold approach. I always find that the best way to tackle a problem is to lay down a firm ground to start with - even if what you end up with is completely different then from where you started.

Don't feel bad when people get offended just because they beleive they are smarter than you.

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 7:27 am

Phew I am so glad to hear I am not the only one whom suffers from the dreaded 'Foot in mouth' disease! Laughing

I have a habit of not engaging brain before mouth (or fingers) a couple that spring to mind right off the top of my head was one on a forum I offended some one when posting about the ridiculous price of bananas, $8.00kg I mean come on Rolling Eyes

Geez did I cop a mouthful about that Surprised

Serves me right for complaining, never again will I mention any thing so unholy. Laughing

In real life I do it daily, some time ago I meet up with an old friend I hadn't seen for years and congratulated her on her pending mother hood to be bluntly told she wasn't pregnant Mad

Another was some people who had asked me to help their daughter out with her horse she was having a bit of trouble with, these people are devout catholic, after sorting out the said horse we went in for a cuppa, daughter was very hyped up over her new found success and having found her on button she couldn't be switched off. She took a bite out of her biscuit and with out drawing breathe she continued one with her conversation to be chastised by her father about speaking with her mouth half full, in jumps my big mouth of it's own accord and piped up with "thats right you shouldn't talk with you mouth half full, fill it right up first" can't understand why I got glared at and have never been invited back Confused

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 5:46 pm

Gods yes! Almost every time I open my mouth to speak, or put fingers to keyboard to write I upset someone! Laughing

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 6:38 pm

Misunderstood all the time. I told a supply teacher I didn't want him back after half term, he laughed, I said 'no, really, don't come back' he laughed again. The agency had to tell him.

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 10:02 pm

Stargate wrote:

I've never offended anyone! Just ask Eight. Right, Eight? Razz

Now, if I say I've been offended by better, will you take that as a compliment or not? Laughing

Dart, you made the fatal mistake of exceeding people's expectations of your "junior" grade and making your supposed seniors look daft. They may never forgive you. Sad

On the plus side, someone will spot the talent and value you for it. Smile

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