Semi-Charmed Kind Of Life

Well boys and girls, here is the post that I promised you on my visit to charm school.

Overall it wasn’t nearly what I expected. It wasn’t so much how not to sexually harass people, but more like things you can do to not make your workplace a living hell for others. Now I realize that sounds like those people that sell snake oil. Especially when they sell promises of a working environment without the demonic overlords of uncouth employees. But I think some good things came out of the school.

For one, I got the opportunity to learn about the importance of respecting others and keeping commitments at work. For example, it is not nice to take full credit for a report that you worked on with a team. I also learned that you’re not going to get employee of the month if you tell someone you’ll have the report to them by 3 PM, you get involved in a game of solitaire, and can’t deliever. Another point that the presentation is that we aren’t supposed to accept “gifts” from vendors. In other words, I can’t accept those box seats to all the FSU Football home games in exchange for buying slightly more expensive computers from a vendor. That’s called taking one for the team right there.

Secondly, harassment was more or less defined as an act that you find to be unwelcome or offensive. That pretty much includes everything from a pinup inside your locker, to telling off color jokes, to pinching a butt while muttering “sweet cheeks”. There was one example used that I found quite humorous. The purpose of this example was to indicate how this was harassment:

Millie asked Mark, who works in her office, out for coffee. Mark went out for coffee, but decided that Millie was boring. The next time she asked him out for coffee he refused, explaining that he didn’t like to socialize with coworkers. A few days later, Millie sends Mark an e-mail stating that “she adored his sense of humor,” and “could not stand the thought of life without him.” Millie also writes that she “would love for him to see her apartment.”

The correct answer was, “Because Mike told her no and she continued. Hence, it was unwanted.” However, I would have to categorize this as a serial stalker/psycho hose beast problem. When a woman sends you an email after having a cup of coffee containing the words, “adore”, “life without you”, and “see my apartment”, something besides “harassment” should go through your mind. Probably something like “restraining order” or the movie “Misery”.

Imagine if you had invited her over to watch TV or something. She’ll be wanting to take you home to meet her parents…get married…and have your babies… … …no further comment…

Solid example though.

On many levels.

Oh well, have a great day everyone!

Halloween Potion-Ma-Jig

Kinda strange website that details how famous people die after they appear on an episode of the Simpsons.

Ruby Tooth.

Leave it to a country singer to compare his recent divorce to the theft of a big screen TV.

The use of computers in the movies.

Trick or Treat Beat

Local 6 news requests readers to send in their ghosts photos. Out-of-focus blobs ensue.