Thursday 15 December 2011

Why Being A Jerk At Work Is Not Cool.

Are you a jerk at work?
Are you a turd burger that doesn't let people merge in traffic?
Do you push in in front of people in lines?

If so, I implore you to stop it right now.

No one likes a jerk. No one says, wow, I really look up to that jerk. No. No one.
I read an article in Sunday Life a few weeks ago about whether jerks get ahead at work.
My outtake from that - no. They get what they want, but they don't garner respect, no one wants to work with an a$$hole. I know I don't, and I have managed to work with quite a few since beginning my working career. And is the stress of being an ass really worth  it?

Take letting people in in lines of traffic. I think it's more stressful to be an ass and not let people merge, than it is to spread some cheer and welcome someone into the traffic - because being a car length in front of someone is not doing anyone any good. It's not getting you to your destination that much faster, is it? So wave people ahead. Do it. Think of it as your Christmas gift to the punters.

And pushing in in front of people in lines. So. Not. Cool. I stood patiently in line on Monday, and not one but TWO elderly women edged me out of the way so they could take my turn. Seriously? I wasn't about to push them over, but really ladies? I was waiting there patiently, and I let them go - whatevs, but next time you come out in the Christmas peak of shopping, get in line. Unless of course I usher you in front of me, then by all means.

The crux of my argument - no one likes a jerk, and being a jerk is not fun for anyone, including the jerk. So stop being a jerk.


image via here

13 comments:

Jodie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

I agree! There's seems to be an extra amount of jerks around at this time of year too. I try to be extra nice to make up for them :)

dear olive said...

Turd burger! Hilarious. (Not to be confused, of course, with a NERD burger, who are actually decent people.) Kellie xx

Small Catalogue said...

Turd Burger is my favourite term of nastiness. It has such vile effervescence.

And what about car park stalkers who sit so close to your kaiver you can't actually reverse out of the carpark they are so covetous of? What is it with these people?

Helen said...

The only time I don't let people into the traffic queue is when they are being jerks and ride up the inside line and then try and push into the front...like they are better then everyone else who has been waiting, what give them the right! jerks!

shine little light* said...

Oh man! I had an elderly lady push in front of me in the supermarket the other day too! I was like... seriouly. Im all for respecting ones elders... but pushing in? = no respect. There are many jerks. I try very hard not to be a jerk. And as a cyclist in sydney i get treated to jerkism's alll the time! Spread the love and remember you're not more important than anyone else. *phew* nice post PMM. xsx

Jasmine said...

Working with jerks sucks but serving the general public is worse. Retail is probably one of the most depressing industries to work in. Many customers seem to think it's their god given right to be rude to the people serving them.
Get over yourself jerkwads! You're not better then me!

Sarah said...

hear hear

fast times in münchen. said...

Don't give up your seat for the elderly, pregnant, disabled? (happens ALL the time here) You're a bit, fat, juicy JERK.

Little Bird, Big Chip said...

i am trying to ani-jerk. i was getting my coffee the other day when a jerk cut right infront of a cute mum with her bub, like she wasnt even there! we exchange a 'wtf?' glance, then as i collected my coffee i decided to hand her my last 2 free coffee tokens and said 'heres to make up for that jerk that cut infront of you'

Cath @ chunkychooky said...

people loose their manners at this time of year. I always let people in in traffic- who cares if they went up the lane etc not worth worrying about. x

murphycl1 said...

Everywhere I go lately people seem to be hurling abuse at each other! So not merry....

[Good Mum Hunting] said...

Agreed x 1000.

I was often bullied at work, they were my friends but every now and then, would just taunt me because they were assholes.

My boss did nothing. She said, I was being too serious about it. I lost respect for her from that day onwards.

Jerks suck. Elderly people are the WORST sometimes. So impatient, but I guess they figure, they are on death's doorstep so they can do whatever they want.

There is an old crazy loon of a man that shops at my local Woolies. And he is SUCH an asshole. He bangs into people's trolleys while turning the aisles, he pushes in front of people when choosing items off the shelf, he mutters and swears at mothers with kids. Just a real jerky jerk.