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FOT Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: gravy boat on February 16, 2010, 01:19:16 PM

Title: Ghouliest email from a co-worker
Post by: gravy boat on February 16, 2010, 01:19:16 PM
There's a notorious workaholic assh*le person in my office.

They sent this email to ask if someone can help on a project:

"Hey – as luck would have it, I had a death in my family over the weekend and have to travel to _____ for a funeral on Wednesday.  Would either of you be available to cover...."

I don't who died but, gosh, what bad luck to my co-worker by inconveniencing their work schedule. 
Title: Re: Ghouliest email from a co-worker
Post by: Emily on February 16, 2010, 09:47:09 PM
what a d*uche!

time to start your own firm!
Title: Re: Ghouliest email from a co-worker
Post by: Sarah on February 17, 2010, 09:05:47 AM
What's wrong with that e-mail?
Title: Re: Ghouliest email from a co-worker
Post by: Pastor Josh on February 18, 2010, 02:34:48 PM
Don't you mean f*rm?
Title: Re: Ghouliest email from a co-worker
Post by: cutout on February 18, 2010, 07:44:52 PM
What's ghouly?
Title: Re: Ghouliest email from a co-worker
Post by: gravy boat on February 18, 2010, 11:39:01 PM
I guess I'm letting a separate dislike for the person bleed through. I stand down.
Title: Re: Ghouliest email from a co-worker
Post by: Nigel on February 18, 2010, 11:51:18 PM
one time my mom messaged me on facebook to tell me a family friend had died

then she used it as an opportunity to let me know what's been going on in her life
Title: Re: Ghouliest email from a co-worker
Post by: Pastor Josh on February 19, 2010, 12:12:06 AM
I stand with the Boat.  To make his relative's death nothing more than an inconvenience for himself is really crummy.  I see what's ghoulish about it.
Title: Re: Ghouliest email from a co-worker
Post by: cutout on February 19, 2010, 01:12:47 AM
Quote
To make his relative's death nothing more than an inconvenience for himself

Maybe I'm tone-deaf. All I'm hearing: "A relative of mine died and I'm attending the funeral. I need someone to cover for me while I'm gone". I've had to make that request twice this year unfortunately. Not sure what other tack should be taken.
Title: Re: Ghouliest email from a co-worker
Post by: Sarah on February 19, 2010, 08:13:35 AM
Plus I can see someone not wanting to display his pain in such an e-mail and in so doing coming off as a tad unfeeling.  I can imagine being similarly matter-of-fact in the same circumstance.  

Or maybe he just didn't care for the person who had died and was attending the funeral purely out of duty.
Title: Re: Ghouliest email from a co-worker
Post by: Pastor Josh on February 19, 2010, 12:48:21 PM
It's the "as luck would have it" that is assholey to me.  It seems designed to make us focus on his inconvenience, not the loss of a loved one.
Title: Re: Ghouliest email from a co-worker
Post by: Sarah on February 19, 2010, 02:57:47 PM
See, I could see that being bravado.  As one who tends sometimes to make jokes at inappropriate moments, I can sympathize.
Title: Re: Ghouliest email from a co-worker
Post by: gravy boat on February 19, 2010, 03:00:35 PM
See, I could see that being bravado.  As one who tends sometimes to make jokes at inappropriate moments, I can sympathize.

You monster.
Title: Re: Ghouliest email from a co-worker
Post by: iAmBaronVonTito on February 19, 2010, 03:38:32 PM
It's the "as luck would have it" that is assholey to me.  It seems designed to make us focus on his inconvenience, not the loss of a loved one.

yes, at first glance i took this email as "what the hell am i supposed to be mad about again?" but after a second read, the "as luck would have it" bit merely confuses me.

not sure what luck has to do with it, but the man needs to get to a funeral. 
Title: Re: Ghouliest email from a co-worker
Post by: Stan on February 19, 2010, 05:33:32 PM
It's the "as luck would have it" that is assholey to me.  It seems designed to make us focus on his inconvenience, not the loss of a loved one.



not sure what luck has to do with it, but the man needs to get to a funeral. 

 At least he didn't have to shop for a coffin.
Title: Re: Ghouliest email from a co-worker
Post by: JustSheaNo on February 19, 2010, 07:59:00 PM
It's the "as luck would have it" that is assholey to me.  It seems designed to make us focus on his inconvenience, not the loss of a loved one.

Exactly. Since I have also worked for/with a workoholic, and have also attended many more funerals in the last few years than I care to go into great detail about, its the "as luck would have it."

It adds a note of insincerity/brutishness to an otherwise very humanizing situation. If he wants to be matter of fact, he could have said something like "I have an unexpected obligation to attend to on X day. Would someone be able to help/cover/take on blah blah blah."  It's pointed, it doesn't over share, and it also doesn't reek of obnoxiousness. Deep down, OP may be thinking, this guy is a jerk, but maybe he's normal when he's not working. Oh, wait, no... he's an ass all around
Title: Re: Ghouliest email from a co-worker
Post by: JustNicole on February 19, 2010, 10:43:01 PM
Yeah, even if the person who passed away was someone the e-mailer was not fond of or who had caused them pain, usually you still feel that numbness of the passing of the person. "As luck would have it" would not be in the top ten ways I would send out an e-mail like this. I feel kind of bad for this person.

I also don't have to work with them, though, and I know how shitty people can be at work. For real.