My life and energy are limited resources and you do not get to waste either.22:08 Jul 17 2008
Times Read: 1,199
Yes, I need to rant sometimes, too. I've been working in an Emergency Center for 6 years now, 2 years as the Executive Director. I certainly don't impress anyone with wads of cash or a pimped crib, but I do love what I do and that tends to make people curious and sometimes even hopeful about the work they're called to do.
In my time here, I have served a lot of people...thousands of people, each one unique in some way, though the problems are surprisingly similar. We collect a lot of demographics on clients, but one item I've never added is race. We don't ask anywhere about race. Why? We help the need, not the story. The needs are the same, regardless of race...poverty, depression, addiction, poor choices, no life plan, etc...
My staff and the volunteers who work with me comment a lot on my unflappable demeanor. You're basically not going to get a rise out of me. You just won't. One of my favorite books is entitled, "Life Would Be Easy If It Weren't For Other People." It lines up with my personal philosophy (see title.)
Today, I wanted to punch a client in the nose. First time for me. I have seen every kind of behavior that exists, but this young woman made me want to punch her right in her nose. I'm thinking about her the way you think about the elements underneath your sink. You've dealt with all of those chemicals, maybe even mixed a few, but certain combinations would be toxic and explosive.
Her mixture of attitude, choice and demeanor culminated in a poisonous outcome that had me fantasizing about popping her in the snout. she wants financial assistance, but walks in with chips the size of Texas on each shoulder. She is loud and demanding. Her rent is nearly 2000 dollars and her children all collect disability. Her husband's income, which is new and he hasn't received his first paycheck, will not even cover their rent. She can't find a job because, "I'm black. I ask for more than $25,000 and they tell me I'm asking for too much. You're not black, so you don't know what I'm going through."
That's when my hand curled into a fist at my side. She wants sympathy when she throws her pride and arrogance around...ok. But do not ask me to swallow your ignorance as a chaser. You are not getting hired because you have pride shooting out of your anus. You are mean and come across like a steam roller. I wouldn't hire you. I can barely stand to hand you the groceries that good people who live more modestly than you have donated. You yell that you're going to school for your P.H.D. and will teach at the college level. I hope you achieve that goal...it's a noble one. But your current reality is:
1. YOU LIVE IN SOUTH LOUISIANA!
2. All you have now is a B.A. in History. Admirable, but not in great demand for starting jobs above $25K in SOUTH Frigging LOUISIANA!
3. You live above your means and exploit people.
5. You need to learn how to find a little professionalism and humility...in short, a reality check
6. Everyone has obstacles...mine might be cancer or a recent death. Just because the person you are screaming at is not screaming back, do not assume that you are the only one with a heavy load. Your load really does belong to you and any mercy you may receive along the way is cause for celebration and gratitude.
7. YOU LIVE IN SOUTH LOUISIANA! If you haven't noticed, we have a few problems of our own.
8. It ain't cuz you're black.
Soooo...what about my balled up fist? I think I'll wrap it around a broom and pray for a little more patience while I sweep.
COMMENTS
-
Joli
21:54 Jul 30 2008
Thanks MBK. (He pointed out 2 places where I missed taking out the name.) It was an oversight and I have corrected it. Thanks for catching it quick.
Bones
21:56 Jul 30 2008
Where do these people come from, and how does she survive in society with that attitude?!
birra
21:56 Jul 30 2008
I don't think you could have humiliated this person any worse than they will do for themselves somewhere down the line...
Seriously...
mysticwinds
22:02 Jul 30 2008
I seen the profile you are speaking of. It made me sick to my stomach, and very upset. People like that are sick individuals. Noone should ever make fun of the mentally challenged.
Thank you for speaking out for the people who have medical issues.
Joli
22:07 Jul 30 2008
It is interesting to me when people who spew polarizing opinions into the world get called on them, they so often yell, "You don't know me!"
Don't you understand? Your opinions are a reflection of who you really are. They give me glimpses on how you think and feel on certain things. The opinions you choose from all the rest, give weight to, and publicly share reveal to me a great deal about what you want to say to the world around you.
If you did not mean the things you said, what does that tell you about yourself?
Charity
22:10 Jul 30 2008
I would delete myself too.
PainfulDesire
22:25 Jul 30 2008
I read this profile as well and could not believe it. It brought tears to my eyes that someone could be so cruel and not only that- proud of their cruelty and finding humor in it.
Irony
23:11 Jul 30 2008
She is going to have something of a shock when she goes through her training. See, disability rarely means deaf and retarded. I am quite able to hear an insult aimed at me and respond back with all the quick wittedness that 25 years or so of being ridiculed by idiots has developed in me.
I can also complain, sue and get people fired:)
Good luck to her in her chosen career, she will probably sorely need it.
LadyChordewa
00:18 Jul 31 2008
Ockham
04:28 Jul 31 2008
When I find someone's views sick, there's something wrong. Also, awesome grammar nazi'ing, I'm proud of you
Beastt17
08:36 Jul 31 2008
I think I may have dated her.
DarkCthulhu
13:39 Jul 31 2008
Hmmm, what to sya what to say. There is this funny thing that happens when the criminally insane get into either prisons or institutions, they are studied like bugs. Every thought picked apart and every action analyzed. She seems a fine candidate for this. Compassion is obviously alien to her way of thinking and counter to her chosen profession. Though I do not know the entirety of the conversation, there is enough to determine that she has some challenges facing her, bith socially and professionally.
I commend you for not using terms that I would have. Words like 'dipshit', 'fuckwit' and 'scumbag' to address this person. And although I am at times grammatically challenged, you have always been kind in your corrections and tips for improvement to my form. I thank you for your patience and admire it in its application here.
DarkCthulhu
13:40 Jul 31 2008
Gah! I wish I was using firefox!! :( Sorry for the typos...lol. ::note to self to dump entries into Word prior to submission::
Requiem
15:36 Jul 31 2008
*appends DarkCthulu's note to self with: "Or not. It's fun to see Joli go to town and Scrabble someone's paragraphs!"*
Especially if they are good natured about said Scrabbling. ;-)
Joli
17:15 Jul 31 2008
I want to be clear that I wouldn't have said a word until she poked at my spelling. If you draw first blood, you had better be on your game because now, IT'S ON!
And DC, that is the entirety of the conversation. I left a rating of 1 with the message, "My opinion meets yours." I never planned to say another word to her. She then asked me which opinion. I kindly obliged her with an answer...and the rest ensued.
I need to look into wielding this awesome power of mine, causing the self-delete! *Scans the "Who's Online" list.*