What Grinds Your Gears? :)

[Barkworm]

Civil service in Germany is kind of grinding my gears. I‘m an appointed civil servant myself so I do enjoy the benefits but when I look at my school, it is way too safe once you get in. I have a colleague who has just gone on extended sick leave for at least the third time in the last five years. And by ‘extended‘ I mean for more than five months at a time. All this for full pay! Can you imagine someone like that finding work anywhere else? And this is just one example, I know several other people like that.

[IndigoErth]

And they can just do it...because they want to, no reason required? Like, I dunno, battling cancer or being a full-time caregiver?

[Barkworm]

No, you need to get a medical report of course. But some doctors will just write them without looking into it too much. In the case I mentioned, it‘s something about her foot? No one really knows. Sure, in case you‘ve got something really bad, it‘s amazing to have this kind of security about your job but there are too many people who take advantage of it.

You can take a guess how people usually react when they find out you‘re a civil servant.

[IndigoErth]

Added a newly opened Hobby Lobby to my list of accounts, and first time visiting it alone was today.

A manager we'd met two weeks ago, when I was over there with my supervisor and our own district manager, seemed like a nice guy who will be easy to work with. I'd asked someone if he was around, so I could find shipments, and sent that poor girl off searching. I don't know who this other woman was who showed up, presumably some level of management, but she better only be there helping out temporarily and NOT there all the time. People who have a hostile attitude toward others by default the first time they meet someone can go f*** themselves.

I "can't touch any of it!" And why? Oh... because they're doing inventory. Oh no... Was a supposedly to psychically know this? (In a store that opened a month ago AFTER Christmas? Is that even normal? Shouldn't the company have a pretty good idea of what they currently have from the FIRST stock when it was set up, if they JUST opened?) Asked if it was okay if just straighten it up? At least somewhat do my visit even if any shipments have to wait. "You can't touch any of it!" They weren't even doing the inventory in that aisle at that time, nothing would have been messed up if I simply straighten it up. (And let's not even consider the customers who actually move stuff around the store, leaving things anywhere, and DO throw off the count.) Normally, when doing inventory in MOST stores waiting shipments NEED to be pulled from the back so they can be counted, too. In MOST stores it would have been helpful to pull that stuff and get it out before they get to that section. But I guess Hobby Lobby is kinda backwards, big surprise.

After I walked away I stopped only an aisle over to put my jacket back on and message my supervisor about the rudeness and failed attempt to service that store, I partially overheard that woman commenting, with an attitude, "she should have been here two days ago." Cleared my throat semi-loudly to give this hag the hint that yeah, I'm still right there.

Oh yeah, lady, doing real well upholding the so-called "Christian values" of that company!

Only other place I've encountered anyone with that kind of attitude is Walmart. They aren't far apart so maybe it's not impossible that she's a Walmart reject.


Edit: Funny thing I realized later after her "two days ago" comment... While I'm sure she was just doing the usual non-specific exaggerated spit balling most people do... yeah, two days before would have been SUNDAY -- and you aren't open! (Nor do I work weekends unless a holiday requires it, very rarely, so yeah no.)

She had said to me that I'd "have to come back tomorrow!" Forget it, I'm considering those few minutes my visit. I've got 10 accounts now, they're the NEW one, only every other week, and no way in hell are they getting special treatment over my longtime accounts who I need to keep their scheduled days consistent.

[ResidentEvil7]

I made a casual mentioning of this a few months ago, but I want to bring it back up because of an update on it: auto insurance.

My mom and I sat down and called our current auto insurance company to try to get my rates down, because I'm spending WAY too much on insurance for a car that I only drive an hour each week and are cautious of that I have a clean record. This month, I spent $99.65 from my $644.67 SSI, which is ridiculous considering how little and cautiously I drive. I haven't even put 1,000 miles on it in the 2 years I've owned my current car. The woman on the phone did nothing but complicate things to the point of extreme confusion and us wanting to opt out of State Farm. So we looked into All-State and got a quote, which that will only save me a lousy $4 a month for each month for the next 6 months, then it'll go down to $70 a month starting in July. So that's one to consider. Then we called my aunt who switched to Triple AAA and asked her what our options are and she's so far suggesting that or go with All-State.

The thing is go with the most coverage for as little as possible, because you need to be insured to drive.

Face it, insurance companies are NOT easy to deal with! Confusing to the point I can't recall what State Farm went through talking about my insurance and other technical mumbo-jumbo.

[IMJ]

Originally Posted by Barkworm

Civil service in Germany is kind of grinding my gears. I‘m an appointed civil servant myself so I do enjoy the benefits but when I look at my school, it is way too safe once you get in. I have a colleague who has just gone on extended sick leave for at least the third time in the last five years. And by ‘extended‘ I mean for more than five months at a time. All this for full pay! Can you imagine someone like that finding work anywhere else? And this is just one example, I know several other people like that.

That happens here in America all the time. It's called "FMLA" and it's commonly exploited in blue-collar sectors.

[Barkworm]

There‘s nothing quite like what I was talking about in the blue-collar sector, only in civil service. Which just makes it even more aggrevating, teaching is a well-paid occupation but there‘s no difference in pay between me (who goes to work every day unless one of our kids is ill) and the occasional long-time absent colleague who is suffering from who knows what. Don‘t get me wrong, it‘s a good thing for people who are seriously ill but I know of more than enough cases where it is some dubious mental thing.

[IndigoErth]

Unessessary product formula changes!

If anyone uses the Target brand fiber powder, beware they've changed it and it's nasty now. Flavor and texture have both changed and my immediate thought was "laundry detergent"... Only had one glass just this evening (and prob won't have any more) but reviewers are saying it no longer even works for them. Wtf.

Bought the big pricey jar, guess I'll be seeing if I can get my money back.

[ResidentEvil7]

I found out Saturday that my 29-year-old sister is pregnant and now I'm upset, which made my mom mad and nag at me to the point I broke down saying "I want my dad and my old life back." I FU-CKING hate kids up until they become adults because they're annoying pain in the asses when they scream, cry, run around wild, giggle and force their company on me and expect me to fully involve myself in their lives.

Because of this, I now will have to put up with this kid for the rest of my life, especially when my sister comes over Fridays and special occasions for a visit on top of bringing a dog I also hate. I'm even going to really put up with this kid when my mom and stepfather pass and my sister will inherit the main house and if I piss her off, there goes my place to live here. My life is over!

After my mom got mad at me for being mad about my sister pregnancy, I went back online to look for a job and see if there's anything nearby I and my best friend could hopefully afford to live elsewhere. I want to go back to my old town of Geneva, IL where life was so much happier, houses are twice as big and half as much and much nicer looking as the ones here in Arlington Heights Cook County. I know, realistically, that I and my buddy won't be moving out anytime soon, but you can't blame a guy for being desperate.

[CyberCubed]

I dunno, being mad your sister is going to have a baby is very weird. It's not like you have to take care of it yourself, and only see it a few times when she comes over. You're an uncle, you should be proud.

[Snowglare]

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

Unessessary product formula changes!

If anyone uses the Target brand fiber powder, beware they've changed it and it's nasty now. Flavor and texture have both changed and my immediate thought was "laundry detergent"... Only had one glass just this evening (and prob won't have any more) but reviewers are saying it no longer even works for them. Wtf.

Bought the big pricey jar, guess I'll be seeing if I can get my money back.

This is the worst. Inflation is bad, but it has nothing on shrinkflation and enshittification. Every time I find a food I like, I have to hope it doesn't get worse packaging, smaller quantities, and most importantly, worse flavor.

[ResidentEvil7]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

You're an uncle, you should be proud.

Ooh, ooh, god.

[Barkworm]

Being disabled is no excuse for being an asshole. Grow the **** up.

[ResidentEvil7]

Originally Posted by Barkworm

Being disabled is no excuse for being an asshole. Grow the **** up.

Being disabled is no excuse for you and the rest of society to be assholes towards me and other disabled people: here, other sites, the workforce and in school. People with autism are not the bad people the world thinks we are! So get over yourselves!

[Barkworm]

Originally Posted by ResidentEvil7

Being disabled is no excuse for you and the rest of society to be assholes towards me and other disabled people: here, other sites, the workforce and in school. People with autism are not the bad people the world thinks we are! So get over yourselves!

So, I‘m just going to assume you’re for real and not some bored troll:

No, autism doesn‘t make you a bad person. Whining about your sister‘s great news makes you a bad person. Even a horrible one. That‘s why people are rightfully horrible to you. Be a better person to other people and people will automatically be nicer to you. Very simple. Until then, you deserve all the sh*t that‘s thrown at you.

[ResidentEvil7]

Originally Posted by Barkworm

So, I‘m just going to assume you’re for real and not some bored troll:

Yes, I'm real. I'm not some computer made person from Weird Science.

No I'm not a horrible person who deserves sh*t thrown at. I just don't like life-altering changes!

Look, I had to deal with monster kids my whole life, including my sister and my 4 cousins, and I don't want to have to put up with it again. I did the whole song and dance thing with kids in my family and those in public and in school years ago and I don't want to go back to that misery!

[ToTheNines]

I’m pretty sure he’s a troll. Cubed has legitimate autism and he knows you’re acting goofy:

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

I dunno, being mad your sister is going to have a baby is very weird. It's not like you have to take care of it yourself, and only see it a few times when she comes over. You're an uncle, you should be proud.

[Barkworm]

If Chris-Chan is real, this guy could just be as well.

[IndigoErth]

Adult Gen Z.... get your crap together. Figure out how real life, other humans, interacting and existing around other humans, and how public places work.



Was at Target, and was getting into a long self-checkout line just after a pair (one girl, one guy) from that age group were. Guy was to the side, think waiting for the girl. Apparently, before I showed up, he had tried to cut in front of an older woman who was quite inclined to not let them get away with that. (Good for her!)

So these adult 'kids' are then between me and the older lady. The line moves several feet ahead... Gen Zs just stand there. Girl looking off wherever like "where's [name]?" Gave them a moment to notice, they did not. So I mumbled something to them about well SOMEONE needs to move forward, so I cut past them. Either they realized they were holding the rest of us up and didn't bother reacting to my cutting in front, or they were too trapped in their own little bubble to even notice.

Now when I'm the next waiting for an open checkout, when one did open, and just as I stared heading toward it, the girl points it out "there's one over there" to the boy, like she expected they should just go to that one.

Who the hell forgot to teach these kids about how LINES work?? Or are they that deeply in their own little, entitled world that other people around them barely exist. It's almost funny for a moment before it's quickly depressing that they can't correctly and politely deal with such simple life skills.




Reminds me of another odd one...

Back around the holidays in one of my stores some younger Gen Z kid comes to ask me about number birthday candles. As I tell most people, I apologize and tell him I work for a vendor, not the store.

Blank stare. Walks way.

Was this baffling and left him at a loss for words? Most people usually go "Oh, sorry" as some kind of response, rather than act like nothing was said to them. I expect a small child, encouraged by a parent to ask something, not to know how to respond, but this guy was old enough he should have that down by now.



This is why I really hate seeing kids of any ages playing with a phone the whole time in a store. I realize people sometimes just want to keep the kid distracted to make the shopping easier, but they are 100% missing out on seeing and learning how people EXIST around each other like this and how strangers interact in public spaces. Too sad.

[ResidentEvil7]

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

Adult Gen Z.... get your crap together. Figure out how real life, other humans, interacting and existing around other humans, and how public places work.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/4c/90...64dea37cf3.gif

Was at Target, and was getting into a long self-checkout line just after a pair (one girl, one guy) from that age group were. Guy was to the side, think waiting for the girl. Apparently, before I showed up, he had tried to cut in front of an older woman who was quite inclined to not let them get away with that. (Good for her!)

So these adult 'kids' are then between me and the older lady. The line moves several feet ahead... Gen Zs just stand there. Girl looking off wherever like "where's [name]?" Gave them a moment to notice, they did not. So I mumbled something to them about well SOMEONE needs to move forward, so I cut past them. Either they realized they were holding the rest of us up and didn't bother reacting to my cutting in front, or they were too trapped in their own little bubble to even notice.

Now when I'm the next waiting for an open checkout, when one did open, and just as I stared heading toward it, the girl points it out "there's one over there" to the boy, like she expected they should just go to that one.

Who the hell forgot to teach these kids about how LINES work?? Or are they that deeply in their own little, entitled world that other people around them barely exist. It's almost funny for a moment before it's quickly depressing that they can't correctly and politely deal with such simple life skills.




Reminds me of another odd one...

Back around the holidays in one of my stores some younger Gen Z kid comes to ask me about number birthday candles. As I tell most people, I apologize and tell him I work for a vendor, not the store.

Blank stare. Walks way.

Was this baffling and left him at a loss for words? Most people usually go "Oh, sorry" as some kind of response, rather than act like nothing was said to them. I expect a small child, encouraged by a parent to ask something, not to know how to respond, but this guy was old enough he should have that down by now.



This is why I really hate seeing kids of any ages playing with a phone the whole time in a store. I realize people sometimes just want to keep the kid distracted to make the shopping easier, but they are 100% missing out on seeing and learning how people EXIST around each other like this and how strangers interact in public spaces. Too sad.

I agree that Gen Z is the worst. They think it's should be celebrated to be way overweight and lazy and not a care or thought in the world. These are also the same people that don't want to work, but the part that scares me the most is that they will be running things in this country and having to take care of the older generations which by then will be Gen X and Millennials.