Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Rants: Final Copy

Post here by 6:00 on Tuesday, April 29.

Posted by Brad at 4/23/2008 03:46:00 PM

9 comments:

andrew said...

Pyramid of Society

“I am busy and you come back later.”

This over-weight, arrogant manager turns me down in an extremely cold voice, without even looking at me.

This happens on my pay day in manager’s office, where I am supposed to pick up my paystub. The reason it happens is that I don’t perfectly catch this bullet-speed-talk-style manager’s question, which makes our less-than-five-minute encounter a waste of his precious time.

It’s definitely not fair.

I am aware that the higher academic background and the more local working experience a person own, the higher level he will be in the pyramid of the society; however, that doesn’t give a ruler the right to treat his subordinate in this way.

The wide range of bottom pyramid is filled with devoted and hard working people who deserve not to be treated like nothing but cheap labour. The so-called upper class tend to be superior to others and never show their respect. Of course a seemingly-friendly hello doesn’t equal the acknowledgement of value.

Some people believe in elitism and say the current society is well running by a few talented, wealthy and powerful “elites”. But in my eyes most of them are by no means better than cold and small-minded animals in modern jungle.

Being an immigrant without native-style English just makes my situation even worse. But this impact anyhow won’t stop me from working diligent and studying hard. Still, I really hope these on the top of pyramid would change their attitude one day. At least, I myself would never behave like this, if in the future I could be sitting in the comfortable leather chair of my private office, NEVER! (276 words)

April 27, 2008 at 8:15 PM
Lola said...

A Big Thorn in the Butt

When asked what “the rant” is for me, one obvious answer quickly comes to mind. That is miserably and frustratingly – my communication skill, in English of course.

For people who were born with a natural feel for words, they probably have no idea what I’m talking about. Well, I’ll just tell you.

As an adult, I am used to freely express my opinion on things and gain knowledge of other’s experience. That also is the main component of my recreation life—I’m such a chat lover.

When talking in English, all pleasantness simply disappears in thin air. Not only do I have to tolerant my own awkward speaking skills, I also have to sometimes put other’s feelings aside (good chance that they would be frustration) and force myself to just keep on talking.


It’s tough to count how many times, when the time comes for me to be able to speak, but, I just wedge there. All the great thoughts and ideas I would like to share what was building up in my head, with no where to leave!

I also still clearly remember how lonely and freezing I was on that chilly snow day; I had to wait for my other car-pools’ friends on the street just because I heard “two fifteen” instead of “two fifty.”

And what’s even worst? It’s when someone tells a joke, and boy! Do you have the encouraging comment to add? However, it just won’t come out right. Then of course, you spoil the joke, and also leave yourself in a sticky and discomfited situation which always turns out to be unexpectedly embarrassing.

So all in all, having difficulties with communications is a big thorn in the butt. But then again, what’s life without some troubles which gives you another goal to accomplish. (302 words)

April 29, 2008 at 5:05 PM
Claudia said...

Show Respect When you Place a Call

“Geek Squad Mission Control this is agent Claudia how may I help you?”

“What do you need from me, so you can help me?” Mr. Smith’s voice resounds in my ear.

After all, I am trying to sound blissful, but unfortunately Mr. Smith keeps shouting me and cutting me off. Like he wants to squeeze my neck and smack me because he keeps hollering in a despicable manner.

I get furious when customers use verbal abuse when I answer their calls. But,I become more irritate when they start screaming or insulting me just because they hear my accent.

Nevertheless, working in a call center has taught me several skills in how to listen and treat English speakers (Americans).

However, I have to say some of them are idiots! Perhaps because they pay for the service, they think that it gives them the right to bellow at the person.

It has passed ten long minutes when I decided to make a halt and try to paraphrase Mr. Smith’s issue. But, my intention does not work, so he rumbles in to my ear once again:

“Don’t you speak English?” or “Are you deaf?”

Immediately, I became upset,so I thought Mr. Smith does not need my help instead he may need a psychologist to listen to his frustrations.I did really want to help him –it was my last call- but,his ignorance was more powerful than his brains.

I think he will remember to be more respectful next time, as I did not stay until the end of his unbearable call.

268 words

April 29, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Claudia said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
April 29, 2008 at 10:28 PM
CATALINA19 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
April 29, 2008 at 11:30 PM
CATALINA19 said...

GET TO WORK!


Most of the Canadians homeless are a bunch of lazy people. I know so many people will be mad at me for saying this, but listen to my reasons.


In Colombia my mom, grandma and grandfather did not have a job and I spent more than a year applying for the job I never found. Most of my family members don’t get as much as they deserve in their paycheck, but still they have to go to work. Colombia unemployment rate is very high and the wages are terribly low. In Canada is totally different, you apply for a job and you don’t have to wait more than a week to find it. Almost every company is hiring and wages are decent. EVERYONE CAN WORK!


One day I went to down town, then I saw all these homeless people asking for money. They got on my nerves. I was above to tell them that I came here with nothing –not even English- and I found a job, rented an apartment and don’t ask anyone for THEIR money because I can work for it. I was impressed when I cross by Hastings and people sleeping on the streets while signs of “hiring” were hanging in the restaurants’ doors. I hate those homeless asking me for MY CHANGE, while they look at me with eyes of desertion, like saying “Don’t be mean, I have nothing”. You know what? I have nothing either, no family here, no money, and I’m facing my reality, now you face your own life. Don’t ask me for a penny because I WORKED hard to get that penny.


When I go to Colombia, I give money to homeless people because I know they don’t find jobs and life is not easy at all down there. When I’m in Superstore and those homeless stand up close to me to get the Looney from by buggy, I get so mad and I feel like saying: “GET TO WORK, LAZY! If I quit my job I would be here next month to beg for money as you do, so leave me alone with MY LOONEY!”

April 29, 2008 at 11:34 PM
Sunny said...

Bad Influence
My son takes the Tae Kwon Do lessons in the Oriental Martial Arts College three times a week. On April 4th, it was a rainy Friday. The weather was so cold that my son wore a new thick cotton coat. We walked twenty minutes to get there.

After my son finished his lesson, we couldn’t find his coat in the changeroom. Someone took it away because there was no additional coat left. My son only had a thin uniform which was wet after his hard practice. We reported to the grandmaster. He said maybe the coat would be returned next week, and he drove us to our home. I hoped that it was a careless mistake someone made. My son was very upset on the weekend.

Next Tuesday, nobody returned the coat. On Thursday, when we got there, the master told us that there was a coat left yesterday. The coat was the same style as my son’s, but it was very dirty and torn. Moreover, it was a small size that my son couldn’t put it up.

Obviously one kid’s parent changed the coat. There were tears in my son’s eyes as he saw this. I was angry but I couldn’t find the target. This was no different from steal! I surely knew that her behavior would badly affect her child. Although she got a good coat, she lost the basic principle as a human being.

Parents play the very important roles in the growth of children. Parents’ behaviors make a strong impact on the children’s. I hope that parent can realize the mistake, and becomes a good example of her child.
(275 words)

April 30, 2008 at 7:39 AM
Victoria said...

Late again!

I hate when people are late.
I am a punctual person myself. However, I understand that sometimes outer circumstances may delay your arrival. Traffic, bad weather, sicknesses, and a busy rhythm of life are parts of everyday routine. But for some people being late is the part of routine.
I have an example of total unpunctuality among my dear friends. This couple is always at least two hours late. Dinner parties are always delayed because of them. I feel uncomfortable starting a dinner without one of my guests, so those who showed punctuality are forced to hold their appetite for another few hours. And when the late-birds finally come they throw one of their “exclusive” excuses of how they were stuck in traffic even though other guests (from the same area) came on time. Or how they wanted to buy a bottle of wine and all liquor stores were closed (all four of them).
People who are late for work stress me out even more.

I have never been late for work no matter which shift I’ve had (morning or night). I come five minutes before start. Some of my co-workers, on the contrary, are late most of the time. Every time I hear from out-of-breath co-worker
“O My God! I am so sorry I’m late. It will never happen again.”
Or (performing with a sweetest tone)
“Hi ,Victoria. You know, it’s so funny. I didn’t set my alarm today! Ha, ha!”
I was buying it before, but now it pisses me off when I hear something like this.
“Are you ready to start your till? I need a break. I am starving” I respond with no smile. I am tired.

Being late is not just a bad habit or concourse of circumstances it is your negligence towards your job and lack of respect to your friends.

April 30, 2008 at 7:02 PM
Gwyneth said...

“F*** you- fine I take it back, un-f*** you”

I can not express the amount of frustration I feel when people approach me with inappropriate questions and assumptions. It drives me crazy when people start the character assassination and verbal abuse without second thought. When I was much younger I was quick to rebel in this area soon becoming one of the mouthiest people I knew. I knew two other women who were also quite mouthy. One said such nasty things she could move freighters with her mouth, the other made coffee nervous. After some time though I realized this was not the path in life I wanted as it was affecting my character more and more. I ascribed to the theory: mean people will be mean for so long then they meet someone who is bigger and tougher then they are and will put them in their place. But the nicer I became, the more I felt people trying to take advantage of me. When I would politely tell them to back off they would accuse me of being ‘mean’, ‘inappropriate’, ‘un-lady like’, or ‘over-reacting’. Yet the words they chose were outright abusive. Apparently nice people are not allowed to have boundaries. Here for some time I had been assuming it would be nicer for me to politely excuse myself rather than emotionally scare someone for life, it appears as if I’m wrong.

I have seriously had enough of ignorant people who think they’re being mean when really they’re just outright abusers who lack the intelligence to put together the facts: some people are nice by choice because when they walked down the street in New West they got sick of hearing about freighters and coffee cups running in the opposite direction. This certainly provokes another idea: let the hunted become the hunter.

295 words

June 10, 2008 at 2:29 AM

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