Ok, so, I just HAVE to share this (mainly cuz I need to vent, and once again, it backs my theory of my ability to be continuously amazed by the nerve of some people).
I am a subscriber to a 'forsale' listserv at the university, and get daily emails from people selling, wanting to buy, or giving away things... So I get this email from someone trying to get rid of cans of soup- some only recently expired, and the others expire in 2-4 months. This is my response to her email. Do keep in mind that my remark was not intended as a smart comment or anything of the sort, but a mere friendly SUGGESTION.
"You should give those to a food pantry ;) "
LITERALLY within a minute or two later I get a call from the woman who's trying to get rid of the soups. She says "Hi, this is so and so, you just responded to my email about the food."
Me: "Oh, hi! yes?"
Her: "What did you mean by that?" (in a condescending tone) "Cuz I got like 7 or 8 responses after yours from people who *wanted* the soups..."
Me: (a little taken back by her question..thinking it was obvious) "Uhhhh, I just meant that Athens has a food bank and maybe you could take it there instead."
Her: (still bitchy tone) "Yeaaah, I know about the food banks, I regularly volunteer at the homeless shelter.
Me: (now in shock that she's actually serious)"I just *meant* it was an option..in case ya didn't think of it."
Her: "But your comment...(recites it back to me) followed by a smiley face or a wink- whatever- what's UP?"
Me: (jaw dropped open, but still trying to be friendly and lighten the overly ominous tone): "Nothing's UP, it was a SUG-GES-TION. You don't have to take it."
Her: "Oooo-kaay, well, you have a GREAT day."
Me:.....................
So after I hung up the phone, I immediately vented to my co-workers about the audacity she had to actually call me up about a simple comment.
I DESPERATELY wanted to respond to that woman and say something like.. "Didn't mean to offend you by including a wink in my reply...just thought I'd suggest the food bank in case you were anything like me and sometimes forgot the obvious. (insert wink) ;) But I can tell by your "what's up with the wink" comment, you're obviously NOTHING like me (thank GOD) and didn't see where I was going with my friendly suggestion. (insert another wink here) ;)
But hey, sorry I bothered you and jumped to conclusions assuming you knew nothing about the food bank in Athens. Wait. That's right, I didn't assume. YOU did. I merely suggested an ALTERNATIVE to the listserv- you know, for ACTUAL hungry people, and not people who work here and actually have the money to PAY for their own food- and you decided to waste 5 minutes of my time to call and jump down my throat all butthurt, professing your not-so-modest public service outreach you 'regularly' volunteer for. Boy did you put me in my place. (I'm surely losing sleep over this tonight. Only not). Some people just suck all the fun outta emoticons. Congrats for being one of those people. We live in sarcastic times, my friend. May I suggest "How to Take a Sugggestion 101" and "Emoticons: Friends, Not Enemies" for your learning pleasure?
Now, being the nice, (usually) non-confrontational, peace-making libra I am, I opted for this version instead:
"Didn't mean to offend you by including a wink in my reply...just thought I'd suggest the food bank in case you were anything like me and sometimes forgot the obvious. But I can tell by your "what's up with the wink" comment, you obviously took my friendly suggestion the wrong way. Sorry I bothered you."
*shakes her head*
Good morning, everyone. Today's horoscope: Keep yourself busy today, but not by making random and unnecessary phones calls that are a waste of everyone's time..Oh, and, don't read too much into a wink! ;)
I am a subscriber to a 'forsale' listserv at the university, and get daily emails from people selling, wanting to buy, or giving away things... So I get this email from someone trying to get rid of cans of soup- some only recently expired, and the others expire in 2-4 months. This is my response to her email. Do keep in mind that my remark was not intended as a smart comment or anything of the sort, but a mere friendly SUGGESTION.
"You should give those to a food pantry ;) "
LITERALLY within a minute or two later I get a call from the woman who's trying to get rid of the soups. She says "Hi, this is so and so, you just responded to my email about the food."
Me: "Oh, hi! yes?"
Her: "What did you mean by that?" (in a condescending tone) "Cuz I got like 7 or 8 responses after yours from people who *wanted* the soups..."
Me: (a little taken back by her question..thinking it was obvious) "Uhhhh, I just meant that Athens has a food bank and maybe you could take it there instead."
Her: (still bitchy tone) "Yeaaah, I know about the food banks, I regularly volunteer at the homeless shelter.
Me: (now in shock that she's actually serious)"I just *meant* it was an option..in case ya didn't think of it."
Her: "But your comment...(recites it back to me) followed by a smiley face or a wink- whatever- what's UP?"
Me: (jaw dropped open, but still trying to be friendly and lighten the overly ominous tone): "Nothing's UP, it was a SUG-GES-TION. You don't have to take it."
Her: "Oooo-kaay, well, you have a GREAT day."
Me:.....................
So after I hung up the phone, I immediately vented to my co-workers about the audacity she had to actually call me up about a simple comment.
I DESPERATELY wanted to respond to that woman and say something like.. "Didn't mean to offend you by including a wink in my reply...just thought I'd suggest the food bank in case you were anything like me and sometimes forgot the obvious. (insert wink) ;) But I can tell by your "what's up with the wink" comment, you're obviously NOTHING like me (thank GOD) and didn't see where I was going with my friendly suggestion. (insert another wink here) ;)
But hey, sorry I bothered you and jumped to conclusions assuming you knew nothing about the food bank in Athens. Wait. That's right, I didn't assume. YOU did. I merely suggested an ALTERNATIVE to the listserv- you know, for ACTUAL hungry people, and not people who work here and actually have the money to PAY for their own food- and you decided to waste 5 minutes of my time to call and jump down my throat all butthurt, professing your not-so-modest public service outreach you 'regularly' volunteer for. Boy did you put me in my place. (I'm surely losing sleep over this tonight. Only not). Some people just suck all the fun outta emoticons. Congrats for being one of those people. We live in sarcastic times, my friend. May I suggest "How to Take a Sugggestion 101" and "Emoticons: Friends, Not Enemies" for your learning pleasure?
Now, being the nice, (usually) non-confrontational, peace-making libra I am, I opted for this version instead:
"Didn't mean to offend you by including a wink in my reply...just thought I'd suggest the food bank in case you were anything like me and sometimes forgot the obvious. But I can tell by your "what's up with the wink" comment, you obviously took my friendly suggestion the wrong way. Sorry I bothered you."
*shakes her head*
Good morning, everyone. Today's horoscope: Keep yourself busy today, but not by making random and unnecessary phones calls that are a waste of everyone's time..Oh, and, don't read too much into a wink! ;)
