So...among the top 10 workplace irritants, where does the e-mail bully rank?
I have said person easily in the top five. And in an election year? Probably the number one most irritating workplace person.
What is an e-mail bully? Well, 999 times out of 1000, as near as I can tell, it is a Republican wingnut who has just discovered cut and paste and right wing talking points and has no qualms about flooding the "send all" portion of Outlook with proof of his/her new mad skillz.
The latest example of this at my workplace (80+ attorneys spread over four regional offices)? The lengthy broadside against Obama from one of the partners sent last night via e-mail. To all attorneys. All attorneys including us lowly associates. Leading me to wonder whether I should scrape the Obama sticker off my car or risk losing my job.
What gets into people's heads who do this? Do they think they are the only ones with views? Does it not occur to them that others could do similar things (with regard to flooding in-boxes with political views) but choose not to because it is ridiculously inappropriate? And where is the filter that would stop a partner (and de facto boss) at a law firm from doing same?
At any rate, in lieu of being able to confront my latest workplace bully directly with the incredible wrongness of his missive, I will generally respond in this diary as an outlet.
Dear Bully:
A democratically controlled Congress and White House will not be the end of the world. Ironically, a Republican controlled Congress and White House damn near has been. The challenges that unholy alliance has left the world in 2008 are so staggering that many of us look at our children and wonder whether there is any future for them. In light of that, forgive us for wondering what having people in charge who are not completely beholden to oil companies and other large corporate interests might be like. Forgive us for working for that.
And, while we're here, if you are going to try and frighten co-workers and underlings into voting for McCain (the purpose of the e-mail), try something a little more fresh than Obama and the Democrats are coming for your money. What is this, 1976? Is that scare tactic remotely believeable nowadays?
At any rate, a hearty "fuck you" from me to you. Come early November, your pain? It will nourish me. Your anguish? It will be sweet nectar for my soul.
Your employee,
Memphis Bengal
There. Feels better to get to write that, even if I can't express those sentiments at work.