It's Everybody's Problem I keep meaning to do this self-evaluation of myself but unfortunately I get interrupted or tend to drift off into stories about others whom I find it easier to criticize. Maybe there is some sort of fatal flaw that allows me, or all of us for that matter, to be critical of others but blind to our own flaws. So, if you want your "friend" to cut the shit you might want to consider letting them know what the shit is. This is one of the few ways we can make all of our lives better. It is self-improvement through the help of another. I tend to be one of those people who don't show a lot of emotions. Sure, I can be embarrassed and I'll laugh at jokes but most of my other emotions--anger, hate, sadness, love--lie somewhat buried. Some people might think nothing bothers me but in fact nothing could be further from the truth. I just tend to express my emotions in different ways. Anger is one trait I'm good at suppressing although when I know no one is listening I may swear under my breath. The bad part about this is I may slowly let my anger get the better of me and end up mumbling "shithead" when people are around. This is when people will start to wonder about MY sanity. Leo was in his fifties, divorced and was now working for a small engineering firm. He tended to keep to himself and rarely went out to lunch with the other engineers. Leo tended to like it quiet but unfortunately the company was expanding so more people were squeezed around Leo. Sometimes Leo used headphones to cope with the surrounding office noise. Several times a day someone would get into a conversation around Leo that would last ten to twenty minutes. After awhile the conversation would tend to disturb Leo who, by now, had his headphones turned up fairly loud. We knew he was being disturbed when we could hear him mumbling profanities over the noise of his headphones. This was a sure sign that the conversation needed to end. One day an engineer was quickly making his way through the room and accidentally bumped into the recycling bin. Leo was overheard mumbling something about a "fucking moron running into the garbage can." A few of us glanced around and wondered what the hell was eating Leo. Leo had, on several occasions, people throw stuff at him while commuting to work. Course we only heard Leo's side of the story but most of us could imagine him cutting other people off, driving slow in the fast lane, or being vindictive. Leo stayed with the small engineering firm a few years before moving on--much to the relief of several engineers and managers. Some even figured he would bring a gun to work someday and start shooting. Several months after Leo left our company we learned about his dismissal from a more established tech firm. Word had it that Leo was working along with one other engineer in a small office when a product representative visited with Leo's office mate. The two engaged in a conversation around Leo and prior to leaving the product rep told Leo he hoped their conversation hadn't disturb him. Leo got up, pushed the rep against the wall and voiced his displeasure regarding the rep and his office mates decision to continue the conversation and disrupt his work. Job stress had finally gotten to Leo. It is amazing how it can affect some people. I can relate with many of Leo's feelings and frustrations because I sometimes get the same way about external noises interrupt my work/studying. However, over the years I've adopted more of a "fuck it" attitude and try not to let noises or interruptions get me down. This is especially an easy attitude to adopt once out of school and in the working environment. The way I cool myself down is by understanding someone else's disturbance is wasting the company's money cause I won't be putting in any overtime due to anyone elses interruptions. Deadlines and job stress can really turn some people into assholes. It may be funny to you but not to the person whose balls are in a vice. Garry was a contractor doing mechanical work for an engineering firm. He appeared to be a gentle older man in his 60's who wasn't afraid to speak his mind. During his six month project he mumbled quite a few profanities at the computer. Since I was sitting in the next cubicle I couldn't help laughing at some of his profane poetic expressions. After awhile I started jotting down his profanities which were often vocalized fairly loud. Several people approached Garry and tried to get him to tone it down but he was too set in his ways. As I jotted down some of Garry's expressions I considered the possibility of recording some of his profound wisdom and creating a "frustrated employee" Windows theme. Unfortunately the Windows theme was not to be but here are some of Garry's best vocalizations, which were repeated on a daily basis, that could be heard several cubicles away: - Thank you, you son of a bitch! - ...you stupid son of a bitch! - Dumb shit! - One way or another you son of a bitch! - Oh shit! - Every time I touch something it turns to shit! - I'll be a son of a bitch! - What the hell? - What is this shit? - God damn son of a bitch! - That ain't right you son of a bitch! - God damn you anyway. - What's this 191 shit? - What in the hell is going on here? - You worthless god damn fucking piece of shit! Both Leo and Garry are people I would classify as "on the edge." Like many others out there they have let the stress of their job break them down. The only suggestion I can offer is that other employees and perhaps the companies take some action in letting these people know about their problem. The company is only contributing by having deadlines so it is the least they can do to improve the working environment. It's a wonder that we don't have more people going "postal" in this country. And perhaps the biggest losers in this work frustration are the wife and kids the angered employee goes home to. So wake up and help your fellow man when you see something wrong or room for improvement because if you're ignoring their problem now there is no telling how many peoples problem it will become at a later date. Winners ride the bus, dmw