Topic: Sticking it to the man | |
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This will be a long post, but, its true, and you'll enjoy it.
I'm a software consultant, and previously I was part of a team to convert a large company's "paper and pen" process to an internet real-time system. This insurance company was ancient, and they were a pain in the azz about making sure every single character was exactly correct. Since we were mostly programmers who could care less about commas, or semi-colons, we sub-hired a bunch of spot checkers to make sure we got it all correct. One guy in particular was excellent - Pat. He had a real talent for analyzing a page, and quickly identifying missing punctuation, wrong numerical values and so on. He was mid 20s, fast, efficient, and always right. His personality was a little tough to deal with. He came off like a hard-azz. And when he was drunk, he came off as a real prick. When he was stoned, he was pitiful. He was often in some mixed state. Sometimes he'd stumble into work wasted from an all night party. Sometimes he'd come into work clearly beat up - bloody face, black eyes. But, it didnt affect his work performance. He was always excellent - even drunk he was twice as good as the next best copy-editor. Somehow, us programmers got along quite well with him. Dunno why. The management of this Insurance Company (a very large, and wealthy one) were appalled at his appearance, but, even more impressed by the quality of his copy-editing work. Project was ending. The managers asked if I wanted to become an employee there, and I politely declined. I said "..but ya know, Pat could really use a job. He's incredibly talented, and the medical benefits would be really important to him". My boss grinned, then grimaced. A few weeks later Pat was offered a full time 'employee position' which he immediately accepted. On my last day, Pat had realized that it was my recommendation that got him the spot. In a private conversation he said "Thanks man, I REALLY needed a full-time job. Thanks, I know it was your recommendation that did it." And it was the most sincere thank-you I have ever received. Just a thank-you that made me proud that for once I did the "right thing". A couple years passed. I ran into Jim, who was one of the guys from that project. I asked "Hey, hows Pat holding up? He quit yet?" Jim laughed. "No." with a sh1t eating grin. "Pat's still there?" "Nope" with that same grin. "Fired?" "Nope" "Wha? Pat isnt there, but wasnt fired, didnt quit - he didnt die did he??" "Nah. Pat aint dead." Now he was laughing, but continued talking "Pat is now Patricia. He had a full sex-change operation that was paid for by The Company! On your recommendation you azzhole - you cost them $50,000 in medical bills!!! Haa haa haa" |
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now that is funny!!
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It is kind of ironic though. He stuck it to the man, now the men stick
it to him. |
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so what if patricia is now cute? is that "ok"? oh man that would be so
weird. |
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