henrygeorge
Level 2 Member
I just added his post quote. I wish I could add a [Debunked] to the title.
Always my first clue to delete without reading.Coworker just sent me what looks like a chain email.
Most people have eloquently debunked most or all of the statement, I did not think it was necessary to respond as they did a better job I could have done. Apologies if misinterpreted, I mostly used the dislike as I like this forum and it's non-political bent. However, I think it is good to go through these kinds of tirades as we are all smart people, so in retrospect my dislike is not warranted but, unfortunately there is no undo, so I offer my apology.Far right simpleton coworker forwarded it. I knew the claims were exaggerated, but I didn't just want to leave it at that if he brought it up later.
@wasser @Panache, the dislikes really aren't necessary. I'm not advocating this whatsoever. I wanted more information from everyone else to disprove it. I didn't take a stance in the OP as I wanted to promote neutral discussion.
So which is it? Should he engage and correct the person in front of an audience thus likely leading to a debate on work e-mail which will then only fuel your sense of harassment or should he run and tell HR? It seems you advocate both. Would you behave similarly with an e-mail forward you agree with?You could do as InstinctX suggests, and copy/paste into a return email some of the debunking comments. Even better, as I assume he sent to a list, do a "reply all". Also, FWIW, it's probably against company policy for people to send this kind of excrement via company email. If he continues, I'd have a little chat with HR, myself. It's considered harassment.
See belowbut, unfortunately there is no undo
There is an undo. It's on the right side below Quote/Reply.Most people have eloquently debunked most or all of the statement, I did not think it was necessary to respond as they did a better job I could have done. Apologies if misinterpreted, I mostly used the dislike as I like this forum and it's non-political bent. However, I think it is good to go through these kinds of tirades as we are all smart people, so in retrospect my dislike is not warranted but, unfortunately there is no undo, so I offer my apology.
@Matt you really need to get going on a 'bollocks' buttonPerhaps a "bollocks" button.
If a dislike button causes this much consternation I am not sure we are quite ready for that yet.@Matt you really need to get going on a 'bollocks' button
Ha ha! To me, bollocks means the idea has issues, not the person, so it seems less personal. Maybe that is bollocks...If a dislike button causes this much consternation I am not sure we are quite ready for that yet.
Done. ThanksThere is an undo. It's on the right side below Quote/Reply.
It's ingenuity if their own people do it. It's leeching or gaming the system if other people do it. That's how far-right wing bozos view it.OK, so it seems like a predictable rant from someone on the right trying to gather support to decrease entitlements. No one gets all worked up when @Free-quent Flyer suggests he got a free education. Why is that?
Totally agree. But you should follow that instinct whether or not your agree with the person's viewpoint. The key principle is that it's unprofessional to forward propaganda in the workplace. Punishing disagreement with your world view (a reply all debunking and ensuing debate, going to HR etc) makes you lose the high ground. Give them a chance to fix it.If I agreed, I'd probably talk privately to the sender, telling them that it's a bad idea to do this in the workplace, and why.
You are correct. That should be the response when such behavior happens once.Totally agree. But you should follow that instinct whether or not your agree with the person's viewpoint. The key principle is that it's unprofessional to forward propaganda in the workplace. Punishing disagreement with your world view (a reply all debunking and ensuing debate, going to HR etc) makes you lose the high ground. Give them a chance to fix it.
Really? Every credible study done on any of the safety net type systems in place have shown that the cost to weed out the extremely low percentage of what Reagan so famously named "welfare queens" is far and beyond the cost of any fraud involved.The problem with the welfare system isn't the people taking advantage of the system; it's the system that allows them to do it. The government needs to cut out the loopholes and generous subsidies for lazy people.
By the way, anyone see the irony in this thread? It identifies some ways people take advantage of the welfare system. This Saverocity a group focused on taking advantage of the credit card, frequent flyer, and banking systems.
The welfare system operates for the benefit of needy recipients. I can assure you the other three you named do not operate for the benefit of us the recipients .By the way, anyone see the irony in this thread? It identifies some ways people take advantage of the welfare system. This Saverocity a group focused on taking advantage of the credit card, frequent flyer, and banking systems.
I pointed out the irony further up the thread actually. I mentioned the concept of "othering", something that is happening in your comment about "lazy people". Assuming so many are taking advantage of these kinds of things (and I think the claim is wildly exaggerated), it takes a lot of work to make all these loopholes work for you, no?The problem with the welfare system isn't the people taking advantage of the system; it's the system that allows them to do it. The government needs to cut out the loopholes and generous subsidies for lazy people.
By the way, anyone see the irony in this thread? It identifies some ways people take advantage of the welfare system. This Saverocity a group focused on taking advantage of the credit card, frequent flyer, and banking systems.
Let people get butt hurt when they get a dislike. They shouldn't allow comments on some website to upset them. Go outside and quit getting upset about some image of a thumbs down.I really do like the dislike button if it gets people talking about stuff that matters. I think people get irked when they receive a dislike, and it provides an opportunity to really dive into how people feel about things.
Of course, that requires both sides to play.. but when they do I think it is a powerful tool.
I am hoping you didn't mean to generalize with the "generous subsidies for lazy people" comment, but just for the sake of argument...I have personally met (and often visited the homes of) hundreds of people who receive 'welfare' benefits. I can assure you that I have yet to see a situation that I envy or that I would wish upon anyone. The recipients that I personally have met are generally people who have, by life circumstances, been marginalized. Many have been treated badly throughout their lives, oftentimes brutally. Sadly, I have been in my job long enough that I am now seeing adults that were children when I first met them and their families. I have nothing but compassion for the people who are in need of this kind of help. Most of them are not proud of it, and are quite ashamed in fact. Many would work at jobs that would pay their cost of living if they could. The system is imperfect, people are also imperfect. I am not even a religious person, but in my head I often think "there but for the grace of God go I" as I am working. I was lucky to be born in a time, place and into a family situation that afforded me the opportunities to be where I am today. I don't think that makes me special or more worthy, just lucky.The problem with the welfare system isn't the people taking advantage of the system; it's the system that allows them to do it. The government needs to cut out the loopholes and generous subsidies for lazy people.
By the way, anyone see the irony in this thread? It identifies some ways people take advantage of the welfare system. This Saverocity a group focused on taking advantage of the credit card, frequent flyer, and banking systems.
1) While it is not offensive to me, I know several people who take offense to the term "butt hurt".Let people get butt hurt when they get a dislike. They shouldn't allow comments on some website to upset them. Go outside and quit getting upset about some image of a thumbs down.
Love this whole comment, but especially this part. We really are only one unexpected incident away from being as in need of help as anyone. I've seen people's lives taken down by head injuries, cancer and other illness of breadwinner, mental illness and natural disasters. Some people just do not have families who are capable of taking care of them, financially or otherwise, in times of crisis.2) We are all one good whack on the head away from being so helpless we can't take care of ourselves. Up to now, the only societies which didn't take care of their helpless, either adored the idea of being Nietzschean super-assholes or simply didn't have the wherewhithal to do so. The second is not true of our society, but the first is true of some people in our society. Oh, sad irony when they get a good whack on the head, and a social worker tries to make sure they are taken care of.
I really really detest the words "I deserve..." Because of course you do. And we all do. We all, by virtue of being human, deserve a decent roof over our head, decent food, decent educations, decent healthcare and a safe environment. But some of us never even have to think twice about the idea that we may not have it, and others never have it, at all.
This is a very important point... I believe that being hung up on desert also negatively impacts our criminal justice system. You can think of it in parenting also. If you ask the question... "what does this person who did something wrong/bad etc deserve as their punishment" You will often come up with something that while they may "deserve" it, will have a far more negative effect on the guilty party, any innocent party involved, and also society as a whole. I don't have all the answers to this, but I think more often we need to be asking partly what do they deserve, but also very much in the context of what is going to help them to not repeat this behavior and for them in the future to contribute positively to society (and the family, in the context of parenting). We also need to be looking at what circumstances lead up to the incident and if we need to try to change those as well, because surely they may lead to someone else doing the very same thing.3) We have a societal hangup around the notion of deserving stuff. This is a straw man no one really believes in.