Some People Get Me Really Mad...

[rant]

A co-worker comes into my office to ask for my help on using one of my programs. She notices an open book in front of me.

"Oh, what's that?" she asks
"A PHP manual," I reply.
"What's PHP?" she asks.
"It's a scripting languange we use on our web pages. It's really good for... do you know HTML?" I realized that I couldn't extol the virtues of PHP if she had no understanding of HTML.
"No. I never got into that. If I had more time to goof off, I'd've had the time to play with that."

Seeing as I've been working here since the early 90's, I wondered if she was making a dig at me. She's been here longer than me and I'm the one who's working on the newer technologies. Maybe she's jealous. If I were quicker, I'd have told her "Yes, and you'd have a new job skill, too." Maybe it's a good thing I'm not a quicker thinker when people are surprising me with digs like that.

A few minutes later she notices a strange arrangement of magnets above my desk.

"Any significance to that arrangement?" She asks. Man, she's curious about what I do....
"Nope. Just some magnets I stuck to the wall. Here," I said, holding out a string of tiny powerful magnets "they're fun to pull appart. They're very strong."
"No, that's ok. I don't want to," she replies.

That's when I had the perfect comeback line that would have gotten me in trouble with her and my boss. I didn't use it, but here it is: "That's why you don't know HTML. You're not curious about things." I know it's just magnets, but it occured to me that she's the one who never took the time to develop the new job skills but wants to look down on me for taking the time to do so.

And yes, she asks numerous questions about my camera, too. I'm the one who did the staff portraits for the department web page. I think she's one of these people who martyrs herself on the altar of "Too Much Serious Work" so she doesn't have to admit she never took the time to do the fun-looking skill-building things that other people do.

[/rant]

It's probably a good thing you fail at snappy comebacks. It probably makes you job a lot easier.

As for your co-worker, just give one-word answers whenever she asks questions. If she asks a question to which a one-word answer won't suffice, just say, "You wouldn't understand."

Sounds like she had plenty of free time to screw around while chatting with you!

Sounds like she is looking for a reason to chat with you.............

Yep, I run into people like that all the time. They lack curiousity and desire.

Mark

I work with a bunch of Type-A personalities... you have to be quick with the comebacks. Not doing so is chumming the waters...

If you've ever edited around 1000-1500 pics, you'll understand how long it takes? Well, what burns me is when I get asked by my wife '...why are you PLAYING on the computer all the time?...'. The fact that I'm editing our own wedding pics is as lost on her as I'm sure the requirement to understand HTML is on your co-worker. I feel your pain.

Always speak to people at work with one thing in mind:

I may be their boss one day or they may be mine.

That's why I've enjoyed being self employed for 10 yrs

Moppie wrote in post #4057706
Sounds like she is looking for a reason to chat with you.............

Ha! That was my first thought too! Let her take you out to lunch.

I'll take Grace out for lunch.

cosworth wrote in post #4062270
Always speak to people at work with one thing in mind:

I may be their boss one day or they may be mine.

Do you think you could work under Grace?

cosworth wrote in post #4062270
I may be their boss one day or they may be mine.

Mark_Cohran wrote in post #4058632
They lack curiousity and desire.

Mark

I have quite a few folks working for me who I use to work for. It is always a bit uncomfortable at first and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

I manage an engineering group and am always surprised by some of the old timers and their resistance to change. The end result is that a lot of my younger guys are rapidly advancing because the have that desire and are not tied to what worked before. It's pi$$ed off some of the older guys and I have very clearly pointed out why things are passing them by. Some pick it up and regain their fire and some dont and turn bitter.

RTMiller wrote in post #4063391
Do you think you could work under Grace?

I'd try pretty damn hard.

BillsBayou you are hilarious. I hate to break it to you but PHP is serious work just because you find it fun doesn't make it less serious or important. If your company uses it then it is important to them and if they went outside for PHP support they may find it difficult to locate and expensive to purchase. Also many people would not find it fun interesting or enjoyable but simple drudgery.

Sounds like she is chatting you up but if not she may feel you are a threat because you have skills she finds difficult.