This is a blog I wrote ages ago, that I meant to post, well, ages ago. On the plus-side, the catalyst for this blog has since seen the light and has now deserted said board, but as this is an ongoing situation on the IMDb, and having wandered into many 'debates' bordering on the ridiculous, I figured I'd post it anyway!! It might be a larf ......
Hey. At least it's not about work this time!! ;) Lol!!
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Now, I regularly frequent the discussion boards over on the IMDb – well I say discussion boards, but it generally seems as though they are more unequivocal praise boards nowadays than anything else.
Gone are the days where you could get the vitriol out of your system without fear of becoming the target of insults. I have recently spent time on one particular board where the overriding argument has been something in the following vein:
"He's a nice person -- I've never met him but he's definitely a nice person and anyone who says he isn't is just LYING and doesn't like him!!! I don't care if they've met him and might know a thing or 2, they're just wrong and it must be their fault. Not because he can be an arrogant twat at times!! He's PERFECT!!" or "It's shit, it's shit, it's shit, it's shit, it's shit, and anyone who watches it is either a Chav or as thick as pig shit!!!
Now, I'm not saying that I have never posted anything on there that praises someone for their work, or similarly that makes my negative views towards something or someone known, but I like to think that I do at least put some thought into my arguments, that I give reasons for my viewpoint and not just jump on the fandom bandwagon that celebrates the 'perfection' of something, or similarly that puts something down for the sake of it.
It seems to me that the IMDb has descended into some kind of entity where balanced viewpoints or rational discussion has been replaced by "I am right, everyone else is wrong and I'm not going to provide any sensible reasoning for that viewpoint so nur!!!" Though that could just be the boards I frequent.
Don't get me wrong – there are certain individuals that I have had sensible discussions with and that I have the utmost respect for, but I'm afraid the 'silly' element far outnumbers them. Any normal person would stop going over there but I'm afraid the nonsensical arguments on there are like a red rag to a bull for me. Even more so when I see the numerous sweeping generalizations that are posted willy-nilly. There may be truth to some of these generalizations but when I am lumped in with Chavs, as someone who has never knowingly been NEAR a council estate (not that there's owt wrong with that!!), I'm certainly not violent – I don't spend my Saturdays down the shopping centre, to quote a very funny man, "Happy slapping every fucker in the face!!!", there is not a hint of Burberry in my wardrobe, I don't walk around wearing enough cheap gold jewelry to put Mr. T to shame, and I have never owned a Pit Bull, THAT is when I get pissed off and feel the need to bite.
But of course, I'll head over there again sometime in the near future, play Mother and try to get some sense out of the myriad of immature, badly spelt, badly phrased, txt spk and self-contradictory comments, only to realise that I am indeed bashing my head against a brick wall and I really shouldn't bother, but will anyway because maybe, just maybe I'll make enough of an impression on someone for them to try and make a better argument, stranger things have happened!!! It's worked before!!! ;)
Wednesday 18 April 2007
Tuesday 17 April 2007
Confession Is Good For The Soul
They say confession is good for the soul, well, this week I've done something I've never done before in my LIFE! I pulled a sickie – not just 1 day, but 2. Now, the first day was relatively legit. I'd had a headache on Sunday which I put down to being overtired and getting too warm (and shopping in ACTUAL real-life shops!! ;)), but never got around to taking anything, and figured after a good nights sleep I'd be reet. When I woke up Monday morning I came over really dizzy and my head felt really thick. So mum phoned in sick for me. Now, I don't think you can justify having a bad headache as reason for a day off, so she told my boss I'd eaten something dodgy and had been up all night being sick – nice!! Food poisoning left the door open for another day off, but I must say I was torn. It doesn't happen regularly or EVER for that matter, but after the events of last week I wondered why I bother. I felt a bit guilty about even contemplating it as it meant Joss, who I actually hold a lot of respect and care for, would be the poor sod who gets my work dumped on her.
So here I am on my second day off 'sick', because after being treated like shit on a daily basis, and accused of slacking after working my arse off after the chaos that was left for me when I came back from my hols when they couldn't cope, I DID wonder why I bother and just for once I was going to be selfish. I put myself out on a daily basis for that lot and I get fuck-all respect for it. It's got to the point where they just expect it of me.
Some people think it's nothing to be worried about – everyone does it, right?? Well, I don't. I may say I'd like to but I still get up and go to work, because at the end of the day I feel guilty for not turning up. I've lost track of the number of times when I've come into work dead on my feet with full blown flu, or the like, when I should have been in bed looking after myself and getting better, and, to be honest ending up with all manner of lingering ailments where I've not taken the time to get myself better, whereas people stay off for lesser ailments.
For example, last March I came down with the flu (which really pissed me off because I was looking at going to Paddy's gig in Blackpool, y'know, the one he recorded!! ;)) and still dragged myself into work whilst the temp took time off for a cold, and that lingered for MONTHS afterwards, because part of me thinks I wound up with a touch of a chest infection from that. Lemsip's a wonderful thing!! Then last November/December I caught that real bastard of a cold that nearly everyone came down with at some point and took time off for, but I was at work every day and the cough that came with it also hung around for nigh on 3 months because I kept dragging myself into work instead of looking after myself. Bit of a tangent there, but you get the idea.
I know, I know. I'm not actually sick today but just once, in a work context, I'm thinking of me first. I'm sorry if that makes me seem evil, but I'm sick of playing by the rules unlike most. I make appointments after work unlike most, I drag myself in half dead unlike most, I try to be honest while others fuck over the system and get away with it. It sounds like I'm trying to justify this and I suppose to a certain extent I am. I'm trying to be honest. Well there it is. I've confessed, and I feel better for it. There's still a bit of guilt there, but I think I have to put myself first sometimes even if it is a bit deceptive.
So here I am on my second day off 'sick', because after being treated like shit on a daily basis, and accused of slacking after working my arse off after the chaos that was left for me when I came back from my hols when they couldn't cope, I DID wonder why I bother and just for once I was going to be selfish. I put myself out on a daily basis for that lot and I get fuck-all respect for it. It's got to the point where they just expect it of me.
Some people think it's nothing to be worried about – everyone does it, right?? Well, I don't. I may say I'd like to but I still get up and go to work, because at the end of the day I feel guilty for not turning up. I've lost track of the number of times when I've come into work dead on my feet with full blown flu, or the like, when I should have been in bed looking after myself and getting better, and, to be honest ending up with all manner of lingering ailments where I've not taken the time to get myself better, whereas people stay off for lesser ailments.
For example, last March I came down with the flu (which really pissed me off because I was looking at going to Paddy's gig in Blackpool, y'know, the one he recorded!! ;)) and still dragged myself into work whilst the temp took time off for a cold, and that lingered for MONTHS afterwards, because part of me thinks I wound up with a touch of a chest infection from that. Lemsip's a wonderful thing!! Then last November/December I caught that real bastard of a cold that nearly everyone came down with at some point and took time off for, but I was at work every day and the cough that came with it also hung around for nigh on 3 months because I kept dragging myself into work instead of looking after myself. Bit of a tangent there, but you get the idea.
I know, I know. I'm not actually sick today but just once, in a work context, I'm thinking of me first. I'm sorry if that makes me seem evil, but I'm sick of playing by the rules unlike most. I make appointments after work unlike most, I drag myself in half dead unlike most, I try to be honest while others fuck over the system and get away with it. It sounds like I'm trying to justify this and I suppose to a certain extent I am. I'm trying to be honest. Well there it is. I've confessed, and I feel better for it. There's still a bit of guilt there, but I think I have to put myself first sometimes even if it is a bit deceptive.
Monday 16 April 2007
WTF?!?!?!?!?
Explain something to me. I was on my jollies the other week, as you know, so figured I left my job in the capable hands of the accounts department. Allegedly my job is a piece of piss, as you also know from the blog the other day, but I just want one thing explaining to me because I don't understand the logic.
I came back to work last week which was Easter Monday week and therefore meant a 4-day working week and, as I explained, came back to sheer chaos. Well imagine my surprise on Friday when after spending a day and a half during the week clearing up everyone else's mess and then getting the bulk of my work done in 2 days (which usually takes 2 and a half to 3 days depending on how many interruptions I get!!), and leaving the rest after being told, by my manager, that she had something for me to do that I'm not familiar with because although I was in the same room for the training I wasn't actually HAVING it, which was more important than the REST of my stuff, and still had to jockey my phone calls as well as everyone else's while they were being trained *breathe* ...... meant I was getting back into those old habits that I got into bother about a couple of months ago?!?!?
It just proves, to me anyway, that they have no interest whatsoever in what my day-to-day work entails. I don't know if it's because I've been deposited in the department and not there since day 1 unlike the rest, but there's just no interest shown, save to tell me where I've cocked up. There's so much support shown for everyone else and they just leave me to get on with it, which is fine by me until I get the pointed comments.
Also can someone explain to me how a speech about accuracy addressed towards me (i.e. giving my name at the beginning of every sentence and only looking in my direction) is not just a swipe at me but a lecture to everyone in the room …… or am I missing something?!?!?
I came back to work last week which was Easter Monday week and therefore meant a 4-day working week and, as I explained, came back to sheer chaos. Well imagine my surprise on Friday when after spending a day and a half during the week clearing up everyone else's mess and then getting the bulk of my work done in 2 days (which usually takes 2 and a half to 3 days depending on how many interruptions I get!!), and leaving the rest after being told, by my manager, that she had something for me to do that I'm not familiar with because although I was in the same room for the training I wasn't actually HAVING it, which was more important than the REST of my stuff, and still had to jockey my phone calls as well as everyone else's while they were being trained *breathe* ...... meant I was getting back into those old habits that I got into bother about a couple of months ago?!?!?
It just proves, to me anyway, that they have no interest whatsoever in what my day-to-day work entails. I don't know if it's because I've been deposited in the department and not there since day 1 unlike the rest, but there's just no interest shown, save to tell me where I've cocked up. There's so much support shown for everyone else and they just leave me to get on with it, which is fine by me until I get the pointed comments.
Also can someone explain to me how a speech about accuracy addressed towards me (i.e. giving my name at the beginning of every sentence and only looking in my direction) is not just a swipe at me but a lecture to everyone in the room …… or am I missing something?!?!?
Tuesday 10 April 2007
Yeah, Right ...... !!
Yep. My job's a piece of piss – that's why they had such a hard time doing it. Don't get me wrong, I don't blame Joss one bit, after all she was dropped into it on the Monday before I went away and being that she had a shit-load of timesheets to get onto the Accounts system at work too, she only had about 2 hrs training. Yes, she's done it before but that was nigh on 3 years ago and it has changed a bit since then!!!
It kicked off nearly as soon as I got in after I jokingly said "can I have another week off to recover??". Apparently they all had a go at my job last week and because it was a short week, even though to all intents and purposes, or from what I can gather at least, 3 of them had a go at it, and were cursing me because I'd chosen to have a bank holiday week off – I didn't realise I wasn't allowed to. I thought my days were my days to take when I fancied and if my manager says OK, then surely it's OK?!?!?
I was informed some time back that I was to leave my desk tidy at the end of every day so if someone was to pick up my work because I was ill, or "God forbid, knocked down by a Bus" (C'mon I'm right here!!!), they'd know what they have to do. Apparently the same courtesy isn't afforded to me when I come back to my desk after my hols. So I went in this morning to find a mystery pile of sheets which weren't deposited in the clearly marked trays and folders on my desk – literally just dumped on my keyboard. Now I don't know if that's people in my office, who would know there is a system (especially as my manager devised most of the system!!!), or the lads (who I will cut a bit of slack to because a) they wouldn't know and b) they're not paid to anyway!!).
I got told that anything at a right-angle to the rest of the pile of timesheets in my 'Entered' tray was a problem, but not actually told what these problems were. I STILL don't recall being told that a crystal ball or some kind of Psychic ability was a job requirement. Nobody even bothered to finish off the week for me by doing the filling from the previous week. I had a list of phone calls that had come in while I was off that I needed to return, and was told to finish off last week before starting this week – it took me all day!!! I have effectively lost a day in another short week because they didn't plan properly. Bless my lads though they were very good and didn't take it personally when I had to rush them off the phone or out the office.
It was a complete shambles, so I've been chasing my tail today, treading water and not really getting anywhere. The timetable's proper truncated now but I honestly don't think they'll take that into account or cut me a bit of slack. We shut down the March financial period next week and I have loads of journals to get on, partly because of my week off, but mostly because I couldn't get them done in advance because they're based on information I need to get from other people, mainly timesheets for other types of labour, the Plant department and other offices. I also get this nagging feeling that they're going to want me to do a Tracker Analysis on the company vans this week as well, being that I'm entering the timesheets for the first week of April.
I'd like to think maybe they'll now appreciate how pissy my job is but give it a week and another Informal Meeting and they won't. They'd better not string me up for stuff, if anything, which went wrong last week!!!
It kicked off nearly as soon as I got in after I jokingly said "can I have another week off to recover??". Apparently they all had a go at my job last week and because it was a short week, even though to all intents and purposes, or from what I can gather at least, 3 of them had a go at it, and were cursing me because I'd chosen to have a bank holiday week off – I didn't realise I wasn't allowed to. I thought my days were my days to take when I fancied and if my manager says OK, then surely it's OK?!?!?
I was informed some time back that I was to leave my desk tidy at the end of every day so if someone was to pick up my work because I was ill, or "God forbid, knocked down by a Bus" (C'mon I'm right here!!!), they'd know what they have to do. Apparently the same courtesy isn't afforded to me when I come back to my desk after my hols. So I went in this morning to find a mystery pile of sheets which weren't deposited in the clearly marked trays and folders on my desk – literally just dumped on my keyboard. Now I don't know if that's people in my office, who would know there is a system (especially as my manager devised most of the system!!!), or the lads (who I will cut a bit of slack to because a) they wouldn't know and b) they're not paid to anyway!!).
I got told that anything at a right-angle to the rest of the pile of timesheets in my 'Entered' tray was a problem, but not actually told what these problems were. I STILL don't recall being told that a crystal ball or some kind of Psychic ability was a job requirement. Nobody even bothered to finish off the week for me by doing the filling from the previous week. I had a list of phone calls that had come in while I was off that I needed to return, and was told to finish off last week before starting this week – it took me all day!!! I have effectively lost a day in another short week because they didn't plan properly. Bless my lads though they were very good and didn't take it personally when I had to rush them off the phone or out the office.
It was a complete shambles, so I've been chasing my tail today, treading water and not really getting anywhere. The timetable's proper truncated now but I honestly don't think they'll take that into account or cut me a bit of slack. We shut down the March financial period next week and I have loads of journals to get on, partly because of my week off, but mostly because I couldn't get them done in advance because they're based on information I need to get from other people, mainly timesheets for other types of labour, the Plant department and other offices. I also get this nagging feeling that they're going to want me to do a Tracker Analysis on the company vans this week as well, being that I'm entering the timesheets for the first week of April.
I'd like to think maybe they'll now appreciate how pissy my job is but give it a week and another Informal Meeting and they won't. They'd better not string me up for stuff, if anything, which went wrong last week!!!
Monday 2 April 2007
Random Witterings
I think Myspace did something to me. I never used to be a big sharer, not even with those who know me best. There are even some things which I have never told Mum. But then I found Myspace, and found myself with a group of friends (well in all honesty most of them came before Myspace!!) who I find myself sharing my deepest darkest secrets with. And you know what?? It doesn't bother me because unlike friends in the past who have feigned interest and then tried with a bit of the ol' one-upmanship (something which I'm pretty sure I've been guilty of myself on occasion!!!) I now have a group of friends who actually take an interest in what's going on with me. It was like I said at Xmas, and I'm quoting now (slightly paraphrased to fit) because I think it sums it up beautifully, friends who listen and don't judge, who support me without having to say a word, bring me up when I'm down and just indulge in complete silliness with. ;)
Don't get me wrong, I don't think I'm going soft in my old age, but I have now hooked up with a group of people with whom I actually share an interest and with whom I've been closer than any other 'friends' I've made in the past. My Dad used to call the friends I had at school fair-weather friends, friends who only seemingly came around when they wanted something and now I'm older I've come to realise he may actually have had a point, my GOD – he may even have been right!!! Who'd've thunk it – a parent who was ACTUALLY right!!! *thud* I haven't spoken to most of them since school and the few I went to college with I lost touch with soon after. I didn't really bond with many people at uni and actually only keep up with one of them (which reminds me, I haven't spoken to him since Xmas so I'd better email him and see how he is!!!)
You're probably wondering, then, why I've written this blog. Well mainly it's to say a massive thank you to everyone who gave a reply to my last 2, hugely depressing blogs. It means a lot to me that you took the time to read what I'd written and think about it and then take the time to leave a response or send me a message. Your support was much appreciated and it certainly bought me out of that funk that I found myself in for a few days. I could have just sent a message or posted a bulletin, but I wanted to post this here – IN PUBLIC!!! -- so I can show off to the rest of Myspace what fantastic mates I have!! ;)
So (in no particular order!!!!) Mel, Karen, Kegs, Nicky, Kerry, Mands – Thank You. Kudos to you, my friends!!
Don't get me wrong, I don't think I'm going soft in my old age, but I have now hooked up with a group of people with whom I actually share an interest and with whom I've been closer than any other 'friends' I've made in the past. My Dad used to call the friends I had at school fair-weather friends, friends who only seemingly came around when they wanted something and now I'm older I've come to realise he may actually have had a point, my GOD – he may even have been right!!! Who'd've thunk it – a parent who was ACTUALLY right!!! *thud* I haven't spoken to most of them since school and the few I went to college with I lost touch with soon after. I didn't really bond with many people at uni and actually only keep up with one of them (which reminds me, I haven't spoken to him since Xmas so I'd better email him and see how he is!!!)
You're probably wondering, then, why I've written this blog. Well mainly it's to say a massive thank you to everyone who gave a reply to my last 2, hugely depressing blogs. It means a lot to me that you took the time to read what I'd written and think about it and then take the time to leave a response or send me a message. Your support was much appreciated and it certainly bought me out of that funk that I found myself in for a few days. I could have just sent a message or posted a bulletin, but I wanted to post this here – IN PUBLIC!!! -- so I can show off to the rest of Myspace what fantastic mates I have!! ;)
So (in no particular order!!!!) Mel, Karen, Kegs, Nicky, Kerry, Mands – Thank You. Kudos to you, my friends!!
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