I just told someone at work I was "mentally unstable."

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I answer phones for my place of employment, and just now someone called in to complain about a relatively minor issue. I'm not the best person at handling irate people on the telephone, so I've been trying to improve and be more polite. However, this woman kept going on and on about said issue in a very loud and rude way. I finally told her that I hated my job, was mentally unstable, and that she needed to calm down before I got "really upset." She told me. after a long pause, to "have a good day" and hung up.

I did it as a joke once I could see that the call was beyond solving, but to be honest I feel kinda bad about it now. FWIW, I don't think I'm mentally unstable. I just get bored/annoyed with people who prattle on about minor things and expect me to care about it. SO! Am I going to lose my job for this, or do you guys think she'll be too scared to call back and narc on me? kthxbye.

― sugarpants (sugarpants), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 16:26 (twenty years ago)

I think you're fine as long as your calls aren't monitored/recorded there.

― Archel (Archel), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 16:31 (twenty years ago)

Are calls monitored "for training purposes"?
If you are mentally unstable they might not be able to fire you for it, so maybe you'll have to act unstable for the rest of your time ther just to keep up appearances.

― beanz (beanz), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 16:33 (twenty years ago)

True dat. But I'm quiet, keep to myself and generally behave in other ways that could be construed as possible-psycho-nutcase activities while I'm at work. At least by my colleagues.

Luckily, no, the phone calls aren't recorded, so I always have plausible deniability. But upon further reflection, the whole thing was kinda cool: I said it all to her in this whispery, overly-serious voice that I think left her pretty well freaked.

I promise, I am nice in person!

― sugarpants (sugarpants), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 16:38 (twenty years ago)

One of my former bosses pulled the "i'm crazy" card once under pressure. He got a paid month or so off, a few months' grace period, then they demoted his ass.

― Snappy (sexyDancer), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 16:41 (twenty years ago)

You'll be on this thread soon: Yeah, OK, so I've been sacked... Again.

― The Obligatory Sourpuss (Begs2Differ), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 16:42 (twenty years ago)

and generally behave in other ways that could be construed as possible-psycho-nutcase activities while I'm at work.
What are we talking about here? Having conversations with Jesus and rabidly trying to gnaw your own neck off when you get stressed?

xpost

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 16:43 (twenty years ago)

Nah, just not getting together with my middle-aged fellow workers in the morning to talk about "The Bachelorette" and grandbabies. Where I work, not participating in these and other similar activities (gag) puts you in the minority.

The rabid gnawing I save for church.

― sugarpants (sugarpants), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 16:46 (twenty years ago)

Also, I'm about as low as you can get on the corporate ladder, so I don't think they could demote me if they wanted to. FuXors.

― sugarpants (sugarpants), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 16:47 (twenty years ago)

Haha I thought this would be a sugarpants thread.

― Drake Beardo (cprek), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 16:51 (twenty years ago)

You know me all too well. I shall be forced to smother you in your sleep shortly.

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

― sugarpants (sugarpants), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 16:52 (twenty years ago)

Once at work I called Mother Teresa evil, it didn't go down to well.

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 16:56 (twenty years ago)

After you kill him, you must eat his beard so as to acquire all his ninja magic.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 20:18 (twenty years ago)

Is the woman you talked to important in any way (does she know your supervisors)? Or is she just another customer? (I don't know what your company does.)

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 20:31 (twenty years ago)

I work for a newspaper, so I'm pretty sure she doesn't know the supervisors personally (else she would've called them). She was mad because sometimes we put the sports section in front of the city/metro section. No shit. Which sucks, I guess, but doesn't affect the content at all. You tell me if she has a legitimate gripe. I've heard so much of this sort of thing I don't even know anymore.

Short answer, though, she probably just cancelled her subscription at worst. Life goes on. No one mentioned it today, so I guess I'm in the clear.

Nick: Thanks for the tip! :D :D :D

― sugarpants (sugarpants), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 23:14 (twenty years ago)

seven years pass...

I'm usually very good at dealing with annoying or rude or just plain mean clients on the phone or in e-mail....but when you take a break you realize what bad behavior it is and how it is, at heart, inexcusable. It's inexcusable because the rude person just expects you to be "gracious" when you might have a family tragedy or sick relative, or maybe even one of your own office mates is going through a rough time! Or maybe there is a minor emergency at work that needs more of your attention!

It's just a matter of how much should I let bad behavior bother me at work. I often find myself disturbed that such people have jobs! I mean, I am even kind and understanding toward pushy telemarketers.

― โตเกียวเหมียวเหมียว aka Colored on TV! (Mount Cleaners), Sunday, 18 March 2012 15:44 (thirteen years ago)

!!!

― buzza, Monday, 19 March 2012 07:01 (thirteen years ago)

The boy you punched in the hall today. Committed suicide a few minutes ago. That girl you called a slut in class today. She's a virgin. The boy you called lame. He has to work every night to support his family. ... That girl you pushed down the other day. She's already being abused at home. That girl you called fat. She's starving herself. The old man you made fun of cause of the ugly scars. He fought for our country. The boy you made fun of for crying. His mother is dying. You think you know them? Guess what? You don't !

― Lester the Unlikely (crüt), Monday, 19 March 2012 07:34 (thirteen years ago)

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