Although my official title at work is "Visiting Lecturer," we all know that’s just a nice way of saying "part timer." While my department is really generous to VLs, there are some things that can’t be helped. Example. I share a large office in the basement of a building with most of the other VLs. It makes conferencing challenging at times, and I sometimes find it difficult to work if the chatty people are there. There’s one man who began at the college with me last year, and we got off to a bad start when he began seriously dissing New York and New Yorkers the first day that we were both in our shared office. I tried to reason with him; I informed him that I was (am, really) a New Yorker, having spent my adult life living there. He ranted, his voice louder and louder, so I ignored him. I was short with him for the rest of the year, only saying the bare minimum necessary for politeness. When he overheard me talking about my wedding to another office mate, he started in on how obnoxious families are, and how the fathers compete to show off how much money they have.
Huh? Since my dad is the most humble man I know, and since Neal’s dad is deceased, I told him that was unlikely. He barely had the grace to be quiet about the subject after that.
Fast forward to today when this VL began a rant about how rude NY Yankees fans are. I’m not a big baseball fan, but as I’ve mentioned before, I’ll always offer my support to the Yankees. Even so, I was gracious to my students and friends who are BoSox fans when their team won the big title last weekend. While there will often be friction among fans of different teams, I’ve rarely witnessed anything seriously rude from the Yankees’ fans I know. This guy just has it in for New York.
I couldn’t take it. I told him that I thought he was trying to bait others in the office for an argument, and that I thought it was obnoxious to make such a claim. I probably should have kept my mouth shut, but sometimes I have to wonder: Is it wrong to want to make a voodoo doll of this guy and stick 100 pins in its tongue?
Starting next week I’m holding my office hours in the student union. I don’t want to get into an argument with this guy, and I’m done holding my tongue and unless I get that voodoo doll in action, harsher words will fly.
Dana just listened to this on the phone. She’s a good listener. "If it keeps you out of jail…" was her sweet response when I apologized for ranting. So, thanks, readers, for letting me rant. It just might keep me out of the slammer!
On the UFO front, I finished the Dulaan-now-for-some-other charity hat today. That’s good progress!
Oh I think you should definitely go ahead and make the voodoo doll.
There was a great voodoo doll pattern in the Anti Craft a while back. I’m making one. 🙂
voodoo doll for SURE
Yes, a voodoo doll is in order, definitely. Even if it doesn’t work, it’ll make you feel better!
Personally, I think you need to send that dude some bad juju . Or, poke him with dpns repeatedly. And THIS is why I love New Yorkers and am not an actual Red Sox fan. 😀
Grrrr. Link didn’t insert in post. http://www.theanticraft.com/archive/samhain05/badjuju.htm It would have been funnier if you could have just clicked the hyperlink I tried to insert.
Somebody has a big problem and it’s not about New York. You’re smart to move your office hours to the student union. Way to avert disaster!
We all need a good rant now and again. Now go and get started on that voodoo doll.
Um, I’d say a voodoo doll is totally in order. What a tactless poop head.
I guess there are trolls in real life as well as on the internet… I think holding your hours elsewhere is a good idea as this guy sounds like a real klinker. And I’d wager he’ll never be in tune with the rest of us. So best to be done with him. Oh, except for the voodoo doll – that’s totally a go.