I sometimes hate human beings, and I am one. We are a mentally messed-up lot when it comes to the basics of humanity such as manners, conscience and common sense. If it weren’t for our occasional moments when we act like donkey’s cabooses, we wouldn’t have anything to talk about at the gossip fence. I guess it’s social media now, though I can’t imagine Snuffy Smith’s wife Loweezy turning to Twitter or Facebook to chat with her friend Enviney (look it up, kids).
My company wanted to thank all of the contact center personnel for working through the severe weather of the past few weeks, so they arranged for lunch to be delivered. A head count was done and sufficient amounts of food ordered so that each person could get a meal; in our case, a burger or chicken sandwich and chips, and/or some salad. Naturally we over-ordered, but not by too much, since the budget is for the year and we’re just into February. There was sufficient for everybody to get their share.
The next morning I asked the night shift supervisor how the delivery which came after I left at 5:00 went. He said word got out that somebody tried to lift five burgers, so they had to post somebody in the pantry to make sure everybody got fed.
A worker had to stand guard duty because one of our own was partaking too much.
I don’t know about some people, but when a freebie is offered and I don’t think I’ll use it or a friend could use it, I turn it down and let somebody else get one. If there is free food, I’m usually counted in with the gang, so I may grab a slice of pizza, then wait until everybody has had theirs if I want a second. If the count is two per person, that’s all I get. If they bring coffee, I don’t drink it, but I won’t grab four slices of pizza to make up for it. I certainly wouldn’t plan on taking food home that wasn’t mine.
Some folks, however, feel that some slight in their lives entitles them to more than their fair share to make up for it, as if nourishment which will be feces in the toilet tomorrow will heal a bruised ego today. Life doesn’t work that way. When life hands you lemons, if you don’t like lemonade ask for the water: it’s better for you.
The office fridges are usually okay for storing your lunch, but occasionally things have disappeared, leaving some poor person hungry and possibly short of money to replace the missing food.
People who take the basics of life from others are high on my list of the despised of the world. People who pick on other people’s food choices are up there, too. One time somebody went off on me when I introduced them to the concept of scrapple, which is a regional staple. Nobody asked them to eat it, but it’s amazing how a simple topic can turn into a reason for prejudice. It was almost like being back in the high school gym locker room. I survived bullying, so I don’t take that malarkey.
I wonder who the person was who tried to get five burgers. We all make about the same money, so that shouldn’t figure into it. Maybe they had a tapeworm to feed, or they weigh 500 pounds or 110 pounds with a hyper metabolic rate. Whatever the reason, it’s sad to think that, in an adult workplace among peers, somebody would go to that extreme.
The staff may not do that again, so we would all suffer for the actions of one in a world where the majority is normally righteous. If the stomach is full and the soul starved, it’s the wrong meal for you.
Susan's Scribblings the Blog 