|
|
O.F.T.: Local Passive Aggressive Note
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status:
Offline
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status:
Offline
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status:
Offline
|
|
Hi Laminar!
It's really awesome to talk to you, but it would be even more awesome if you could be specific!
Thanks so much!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mac Elite
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Boston, MA
Status:
Offline
|
|
Sounds like they just want the mail carrier to do his/her job and they aren't home in order to ask him/her personally.
|
Emergency Medicine & Urgent Care.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mac Elite
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: San Diego
Status:
Offline
|
|
Ellen Feiss has such a cute mouth.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by bstone
Sounds like they just want the mail carrier to do his/her job and they aren't home in order to ask him/her personally.
That would be "please put post in mail slot".
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Vacation.
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by subego
That would be "please put post in femail slot".
Fixinated.
|
Been inclined to wander... off the beaten track.
That's where there's thunder... and the wind shouts back.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: inside 128, north of 90
Status:
Offline
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status:
Offline
|
|
To me, that's what makes it extra obnoxious.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by subego
To me, that's what makes it extra obnoxious.
Well, there's no winning with you, is there?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status:
Offline
|
|
Of course there is.
Just give me a straightforward directive, don't throw all this manipulative shit on top of it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by subego
Of course there is.
Just give me a straightforward directive, don't throw all this manipulative shit on top of it.
Some people don't take "straightforward" well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status:
Offline
|
|
IME, they take it better than being lied to, which is what the compliment is doing.
I'd so steal their Netflix.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status:
Offline
|
|
The compliment is an illustration that they appreciate what the person does for a living. Otherwise it'll just come off as a terse command.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Vacation.
Status:
Offline
|
|
DEAR POSTMAN,
PUT THE MAIL IN THE BOX OR WE WILL BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN AND STEAL YOUR PETS.
THANK YOU.
Caps.
|
Been inclined to wander... off the beaten track.
That's where there's thunder... and the wind shouts back.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status:
Offline
|
|
I think my example could be tarted-up without resorting to the structure:
1) Thanks for delivering our mail safely.
2) With that out of the way, can you actually start delivering our mail safely?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by subego
I think my example could be tarted-up without using the structure:
1) Thanks for delivering our mail safely.
2) With that out of the way, can you actually start delivering our mail safely?
Edit: We've officially reached the point where I no longer understand what you're trying to say.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status:
Offline
|
|
I'm saying it can be done without that structure.
What I wrote there is what, in effect, the original note is saying.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status:
Offline
|
|
How about we cut to the chase and you just post what you think the note should read?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Vacation.
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by subego
I'm saying it can be done without that structure.
I'd like to see that.
Have people been forced into this kind of structure by a society where using anything other than that structure will result in the postman wiping his bum with your letters?
|
Been inclined to wander... off the beaten track.
That's where there's thunder... and the wind shouts back.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar
How about we cut to the chase and you just post what you think the note should read?
Andrew Jackson.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by subego
Andrew Jackson.
...
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar
Edit: We've officially reached the point where I no longer understand what you're trying to say.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: inside 128, north of 90
Status:
Offline
|
|
Where I come from, you tip for good service. Giving the postman money at this point would just be rewarding bad behavior.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status:
Offline
|
|
Wouldn't most people consider it a bribe rather than a tip?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: inside 128, north of 90
Status:
Offline
|
|
Unless you're a lobbying firm, I don't think you can bribe a federal employee.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status:
Offline
|
|
Is it really that tough to write a note without lying to the person?
Because of all the rain, our mail has been melting. We don't want to dump more work on you but it would really help us out if you could pop it in the slot.
Thanks much!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status:
Offline
|
|
"We don't want to dump more work on you"? Now who's lying? Isn't that their effing job?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Washington, DC
Status:
Offline
|
|
"Please keep our mail dry by putting it in the mail slot. Thank you!"
There, done.
|
"One ticket to Washington, please. I have a date with destiny."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey
"Please keep our mail dry by putting it in the mail slot. Thank you!"
There, done.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Washington, DC
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar
"Researchers have found that the homicide rates per 100,000 workers at postal facilities were lower than at other workplaces. In major industries, the highest rate of 2.1 homicides per 100,000 workers was in retail. The next highest rate of 1.66 was in public administration, which includes police officers. The homicide rate for postal workers was 0.26 per 100,000."
From Wikipedia, referencing: http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/lps12068/33994.pdf
|
"One ticket to Washington, please. I have a date with destiny."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar
"We don't want to dump more work on you"? Now who's lying? Isn't that their effing job?
If you have a house with a gate and a big yard, it's something of a two-way street. Most people here set up a box by the gate for that.
Edit: I'm making an assumption that there's some genuine impediment involved here, and that the carrier isn't being a jag just to be a jag. So, not only am I'm absolutely not lying, I'm actually expressing genuine appreciation for the effort, unlike the crock being passed in the original.
(
Last edited by subego; Jul 8, 2011 at 12:17 PM.
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey
"Researchers have found that the homicide rates per 100,000 workers at postal facilities were lower than at other workplaces. In major industries, the highest rate of 2.1 homicides per 100,000 workers was in retail. The next highest rate of 1.66 was in public administration, which includes police officers. The homicide rate for postal workers was 0.26 per 100,000."
From Wikipedia, referencing: http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/lps12068/33994.pdf
Oh come on, it wasn't serious! On a Friday no less.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by subego
If you have a house with a gate and a big yard, it's something of a two-way street. Most people here set up a box by the gate for that.
So either way they're full of shit. Either they want them to do their job or they want them to do extra work because they don't have an easier set up.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: 888500128, C3, 2nd soft.
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by Doofy
DEAR POSTMAN,
PUT THE MAIL IN THE BOX OR WE WILL BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN AND STEAL YOUR PETS.
THANK YOU.
Caps.
Simpler:
IN THE BOX, BITCH.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Washington, DC
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot
Simpler:
IN THE BOX, BITCH.
That's what she said.
|
"One ticket to Washington, please. I have a date with destiny."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Washington, DC
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar
Oh come on, it wasn't serious! On a Friday no less.
Just trying to ruin your buzz.
|
"One ticket to Washington, please. I have a date with destiny."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey
Just trying to ruin your buzz.
When I go postal over this, the blood is on your hands, AstroChimp (Oh I went there!).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar
So either way they're full of shit. Either they want them to do their job or they want them to do extra work because they don't have an easier set up.
I don't think asking someone to do extra work necessarily means you're full of shit, it just behooves one not to be a passive-aggressive jackoff about it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by subego
I don't think asking someone to do extra work necessarily means you're full of shit
It does if you preface it with "We don't want to dump more work on you".
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: inside 128, north of 90
Status:
Offline
|
|
Obsequiousness ≠sincere.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar
It does if you preface it with "We don't want to dump more work on you".
Well, I can only go so far into these people's heads and out of my own.
I actually wouldn't want to dump more work on them, so this would be a request until I lived up to my side.
I think my note still works without that preface.
Edit: I also know my carrier (who may be the same guy) and I know he's overworked, so it was hard to resist putting that in there. Mea culpa.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by subego
Well, I can only go so far into these people's heads and out of my own.
I actually wouldn't want to dump more work on them, so this would be a request until I lived up to my side.
I think my note still works without that preface.
Right, but in your initial attempt you still fell into the trap of trying to soften the blow. I just don't see why your initial style is any better than "Thank you for delivering our mail", which seemed to be your huge point of contention.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: 888500128, C3, 2nd soft.
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar
Right, but in your initial attempt you still fell into the trap of trying to soften the blow. I just don't see why your initial style is any better than "Thank you for delivering our mail", which seemed to be your huge point of contention.
True. He should have put that at the end of the message, rather than the beginning, for subtle but maximum impact.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status:
Offline
|
|
There's nothing wrong with softening the blow.
What's wrong with the original note is that it's contradictory.
It's saying:
1) Thank you for doing X.
2) Now, will you actually start doing X.
The note is thanking the carrier for something that in reality the note writers don't think the carrier is doing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Washington, DC
Status:
Offline
|
|
I think what they meant when they were writing it was basically "thank you for getting the mail safely from your distribution center to our house. Now can you make sure to put it in the mail slot so it remains safe until we pick it up?" Not really a contradiction as intended, but poorly written.
|
"One ticket to Washington, please. I have a date with destiny."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by subego
There's nothing wrong with softening the blow.
What's wrong with the original note is that it's contradictory.
So is "We don't want to dump more work on you" with the request.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status:
Offline
|
|
Okay... Sorry. I see where I got lost here.
I submit I'm a far lesser asshole than these people, so when I said "I don't want to dump any more work on you", I meant it.
A scenario wherein the note writer doesn't want the carrier to do more work wasn't what was being discussed, and a note fitting that scenario wasn't being asked for. The loss of focus was completely my mistake.
If you remove that part of the note I believe what remains is a not horrible example of something which contains no passive-aggression, is not a terse command, and offers a minor incentive to comply by offering the carrier the chance to feel good about themselves for being sympathetic.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Vacation.
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot
Simpler:
IN THE BOX, BITCH.
We have a winner!
|
Been inclined to wander... off the beaten track.
That's where there's thunder... and the wind shouts back.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by subego
If you remove that part of the note I believe what remains is a not horrible example of something which contains no passive-aggression, is not a terse command, and offers a minor incentive to comply by offering the carrier the chance to feel good about themselves for being sympathetic.
Look how many posts and drafts it took to get to this. My free time is more valuable than worrying this much how my note may possibly be received.
(However my work time is not so valuable that I can't debate this ad infinitum)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status:
Offline
|
|
If it makes you feel any better, I was softening the blow. This is all your fault.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Rules
|
|
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
|
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|