Author Topic: Overheard at Work  (Read 13252690 times)

Adventine

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7000 on: February 25, 2015, 07:59:23 PM »
I hated all my math subjects in school, but I love saving money. A true contrarian!

Zikoris

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7001 on: February 25, 2015, 08:58:32 PM »
So we got our annual performance bonuses yesterday. Pretty much everyone in the office went out to eat at various fancy places to celebrate. I was on leave, so I didn't spend on eating out. I just chucked my entire bonus into my investment account.

I used to have a smug sense of satisfaction, like I was superior to everyone else for making the right choices. But now, it just makes me sad, because I know for a fact that some of my co-workers are struggling, really, urgently, desperately struggling, with credit card debt and mortgages. They're mostly great people and hard workers. I just don't understand their priorities.

I used to work for a company that did annual bonuses, and that was exactly what people did there! To make it worse, the job was otherwise sort of low paying (around $12/hr) and most of the people regularly had money problems, debts, got their phone service cut off, or were on the verge of eviction. Yet bonus day comes around and suddenly everyone's shopping, going to bars and fancier restaurants, the works. The a week later crying on the floor because they couldn't afford rent. I felt like I was working in Crazyland.

Ann

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7002 on: February 26, 2015, 01:17:34 AM »
I guess I don't have a problem if you get a bonus and treat yourself to go out to eat once.  I used to set a rule that I would spend 10% of any "found" money -- bonus, gift, etc.  This was because for a time I was SO focused on my goals, I didn't let myself splurge ANY stuff  (well, I did, I wasn't that Mustachian at the time, but I was pretty focused and spending was accompanied by a lot of guilt).  I liked being able to enjoy a windfall in a guilt-free short- AND long-term way. Of course, now I'm out of debt and I don't do that.  "Extra" money all gets invested directly towards a few goals.  That's because my budget now includes some "extra" that gets whisked away to a on-line savings account that I transfer back when I want to spend it: guilt free.  I guess that's like Ramsey, but it works for me.

Of course, if your coworkers had that mind set, then their little celebration wouldn't bother you and they wouldn't be back to complaining the next week about money.

Ann

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7003 on: February 26, 2015, 03:04:43 AM »
Like I said, I am okay if the extravagant "celebration" for a bonus is one meal in a restaurant.  When you mentioned "shopping" is made me cringe.  One person I know got a new job and got a good deal of unused sick leave paid out to her.  I'm not sure, but she made it sound like two months worth of pay!  I KNOW she has credit card debt and a car loan.  What did she do?  I hope she used some of it to pay her debt down, but she did buy a trampoline.

And I know that she had a doctor's visit this year and get some imaging.   Her deductible hadn't been met yet, so she had to put that on a credit card.  Why?  Why is your deductible an "unexpected" expense!?!  That isn't even "emergency fund" criteria.  At most it is an "infrequent" expense.  Having credit card debit does not bother her AT ALL, almost to the point that she would rather HAVE it than NOT have it.  What?!?!?!

pancakes

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7004 on: February 26, 2015, 03:50:02 AM »
Another "I got speeding ticket" from a co-worked this week followed by "another $100 fine that I can't afford" followed by everyone discussing how difficult it is to not speed.

There are employers (primarily hospitals) that require employees to pass a drug test before they can start, I've also seen hospitals  that have nicotine on the drug test.  If you are a smoker, you don't pass the drug test and you now have no job.  It's only allowed in certain states, but the trend is growing, at least in healthcare.
I had the most intense physical examination and drug test before I started my current role (in an office). The company I work for employs a lot of physical labourers in high risk environments and they apply their hiring conditions across the board. Both the examiner and I were both completely perplexed as to why I had demonstrate the ability to do 30 squats/pushups/sit-ups in order to work in an office. I'm pretty sure I would have still be offered the job if I'd failed though but probably not if I'd failed the drug test.

We get randomly drug and alcohol tested too, at least once a year. Smoking tobacco is ok but not on company premises or within 5 meters of the building.

LennStar

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7005 on: February 26, 2015, 05:23:12 AM »
You're mixing up freedoms and privileges. Nobody has a "right" to a job, a job is a privilege provided by another voluntarily.
Oh, its more complicated then that.
In capitalism you have (in democracys) the right to not be forced to work, but if you use that right, you dont get any money and could die because of that.
In socialism you have the right to work (and get paid), but you can be forced to work, too, and (in dictatorships) could die because of that.

Which on right is worse? ;)

Quote
I know 2 people that have died of lung cancer having never smoked anything in their life and having no other risk factors.   That was not their choice.
anecdotal does not prove ;)
They chose to live where people are smoking, where they are driving cars and where industry pollutes the air.

You can't draw a border line at this topic. Bungee Jumping? Definitely unhealthy. skiing? Definitely, so many broken hips! Driving a long way by car to work every day? One of the most dangerous things you can do.

Quote
Please, provide me with a diet that will, with measurable certainty, prevent me from getting cancer.
Bio-Vegetarian and not eating more then necessary is a good start.
For more detailed things you could look at Okinawa, called island of the 100 year olds.
My favorite opening line of all films:
[grave] here lies Mrs. Tanaka, she was still quite young, just 95 years.

The diet is an often underestimated factor of your wellbeeing, including how you feel. Probably the most recognizable and testable part is sugar, and we have a long thread here.
But you cant say that eating A (or not) will cause cancer or heal it. That doesnt happen. To develop cancer several protections in your body have to fail.
But your eating habit will make a failure more or less propable.

oh, thanks intirb, nicely put.


@pancakes. Ha, I have been driving since... lets just say more then a decade :D
I did do a crash (caused by suddenly blinding by the sun), but I was never ticketed for speeding.

SwordGuy

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7006 on: February 26, 2015, 05:36:10 AM »
If someone wants to give birth to a child they cannot afford to raise we should [...] fine the parents
If someone has no money you want to take away their money?

We can take away their smartphone, tv or custom rims for their car.   There is bound to be something they value. 

GuitarStv

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7007 on: February 26, 2015, 06:49:24 AM »
If someone wants to give birth to a child they cannot afford to raise we should [...] fine the parents
If someone has no money you want to take away their money?

We can take away their smartphone, tv or custom rims for their car.   There is bound to be something they value.

Why not just harvest their organs?  They've clearly failed your monetary morality test, why continue to let them draw breath?

Adventine

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7008 on: February 26, 2015, 06:56:01 AM »
I guess I don't have a problem if you get a bonus and treat yourself to go out to eat once.  I used to set a rule that I would spend 10% of any "found" money -- bonus, gift, etc.  This was because for a time I was SO focused on my goals, I didn't let myself splurge ANY stuff  (well, I did, I wasn't that Mustachian at the time, but I was pretty focused and spending was accompanied by a lot of guilt).  I liked being able to enjoy a windfall in a guilt-free short- AND long-term way. Of course, now I'm out of debt and I don't do that.  "Extra" money all gets invested directly towards a few goals.  That's because my budget now includes some "extra" that gets whisked away to a on-line savings account that I transfer back when I want to spend it: guilt free.  I guess that's like Ramsey, but it works for me.

Of course, if your coworkers had that mind set, then their little celebration wouldn't bother you and they wouldn't be back to complaining the next week about money.

Ah, if only they were that responsible about enjoying their bonuses. But the vast majority... just aren't.


shelivesthedream

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7009 on: February 26, 2015, 09:52:08 AM »
Not hiring someone because they are a smoker is clearly different from things like racism. Smoking is something you DO. You can stop. Try stopping being black, Welsh, disabled, a lesbian, whatever...

austin

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7010 on: February 26, 2015, 10:08:09 AM »
Not hiring someone because they are a smoker is clearly different from things like racism. Smoking is something you DO. You can stop. Try stopping being black, Welsh, disabled, a lesbian, whatever...

Apparently some of the top minds here at MMM think you can stop being disabled by changing your diet.

fantabulous

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7011 on: February 26, 2015, 10:09:49 AM »
Not hiring someone because they are a smoker is clearly different from things like racism. Smoking is something you DO. You can stop. Try stopping being black, Welsh, disabled, a lesbian, whatever...

Some people believe at least one of those things can be overcome if you just pray really hard.

zataks

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7012 on: February 26, 2015, 10:29:48 AM »
So we got our annual performance bonuses yesterday. Pretty much everyone in the office went out to eat at various fancy places to celebrate. I was on leave, so I didn't spend on eating out. I just chucked my entire bonus into my investment account.

I used to have a smug sense of satisfaction, like I was superior to everyone else for making the right choices. But now, it just makes me sad, because I know for a fact that some of my co-workers are struggling, really, urgently, desperately struggling, with credit card debt and mortgages. They're mostly great people and hard workers. I just don't understand their priorities.

I'm the same way.  I've come around to this (what I believe to be better) line of thinking and acting with money but now feel so sad for some coworkers and friends because of how mindlessly they are wasting money and will be relegated to working they're butts off they're entire lives to "scrape by" on fantastic wages.  I've had a handful of different stories lately I've considered posting here but have not to avoid embarrassment/shame should I be able to convince them to start checking this site out. 

Makes me really sad.

QuirkyNurse

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7013 on: February 26, 2015, 10:33:41 AM »
People are ridiculous.

Co-worker #1 just bought a new house that three times bigger than her old one (nearly 3000 sq feet). Her husband spends more time on the road than at home, reserving all that space for her and her two dawgs, and now they both commute between 45 minutes a day.

Co-worker #2 spends everyday complaining into her cafeteria lunch about how they'll never make ends meet and they're worried about losing their house. Mixed into these conversations are how wonderful their recent Mexico trip was, and how parking is just the most inconvenient thing at work ever (She lives three miles from work in an incredibly bike friendly city)

Co-worker #3 commutes a total of 240 miles PER DAY. She insists that this is a necessary evil to be able to pay down any of her debt. I tried to tell her about how I live eight miles away in a reasonably priced apartment and can bike commute, and how the cost of gas, repairs, car payments, etc are working against her, but it's falling on deaf ears.

I've given up trying to talk to any of them. None of them want to take financial advice from a 22 yr old anyways.

johnny847

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7014 on: February 26, 2015, 11:15:38 AM »
Not hiring someone because they are a smoker is clearly different from things like racism. Smoking is something you DO. You can stop. Try stopping being black, Welsh, disabled, a lesbian, whatever...

And yet you can stop being a Christian. But religion is a protected class.
And as austin said - since when can you always just stop being disabled?

dandarc

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7015 on: February 26, 2015, 11:15:52 AM »
Co-worker #3 commutes a total of 240 miles PER DAY. She insists that this is a necessary evil to be able to pay down any of her debt. I tried to tell her about how I live eight miles away in a reasonably priced apartment and can bike commute, and how the cost of gas, repairs, car payments, etc are working against her, but it's falling on deaf ears.
Wow - that's costing at least $60 per day (IRS would say more like $120).  Hope she gets paid a shit-load of money to make that worth it.  Even if there is a reason to have a house at that location (maybe SO works there / kids go to  . . . OK I'm struggling to find a reason to live that far away), it is probably better to just rent a place near work and only do the commute once per week.

Not to mention the 3-4 hours per day that must take.

boarder42

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7016 on: February 26, 2015, 12:04:00 PM »
Co-worker #3 commutes a total of 240 miles PER DAY. She insists that this is a necessary evil to be able to pay down any of her debt. I tried to tell her about how I live eight miles away in a reasonably priced apartment and can bike commute, and how the cost of gas, repairs, car payments, etc are working against her, but it's falling on deaf ears.
Wow - that's costing at least $60 per day (IRS would say more like $120).  Hope she gets paid a shit-load of money to make that worth it.  Even if there is a reason to have a house at that location (maybe SO works there / kids go to  . . . OK I'm struggling to find a reason to live that far away), it is probably better to just rent a place near work and only do the commute once per week.

Not to mention the 3-4 hours per day that must take.

she is spending between 15k - 31k a year just to commute. thats more than some people make on the high end. 

QuirkyNurse

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7017 on: February 26, 2015, 12:10:02 PM »
Co-worker #3 commutes a total of 240 miles PER DAY. She insists that this is a necessary evil to be able to pay down any of her debt. I tried to tell her about how I live eight miles away in a reasonably priced apartment and can bike commute, and how the cost of gas, repairs, car payments, etc are working against her, but it's falling on deaf ears.
Wow - that's costing at least $60 per day (IRS would say more like $120).  Hope she gets paid a shit-load of money to make that worth it.  Even if there is a reason to have a house at that location (maybe SO works there / kids go to  . . . OK I'm struggling to find a reason to live that far away), it is probably better to just rent a place near work and only do the commute once per week.

Not to mention the 3-4 hours per day that must take.

She's a traveler - she works for us 13 weeks out of the year, and they pay her a housing stipend, but she says she can't afford a rental deposit. She also said that if she found an apartment that didn't accept pets, she would pay $120 a week for someone else to take care of them. She's really lovely too, but unfortunately, the financial common sense isn't there...

MgoSam

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7018 on: February 26, 2015, 12:14:56 PM »
Not hiring someone because they are a smoker is clearly different from things like racism. Smoking is something you DO. You can stop. Try stopping being black, Welsh, disabled, a lesbian, whatever...

And yet you can stop being a Christian. But religion is a protected class.
And as austin said - since when can you always just stop being disabled?
BUT BUT BUT the Speaker said that you can pick your orientations but can't pick your religion!

mm1970

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7019 on: February 26, 2015, 12:32:49 PM »
I'm all for public financing of healthcare - except for what I refer to as "diseases of choice".  If someone chooses to get or stay sick, they should pay for those healthcare costs themselves.

Not saying I disagree, but that's a slippery slope.  Where does it end?  Should parents have to pay their own costs of birth?  How about first 2 kids are covered but after that they're on their own because of population concerns?  On the flip side, what about women that choose not to have kids and are at higher risk of some types of cancer?  If they develop cancer later in life is that their problem because they made that risky choice?  Smokers don't get coverage for lung cancer costs?  What about coal miners because they chose the job?  Or do we just draw the line on diet and exercise related problems?  What about children who are overweight and diabetic because of their parents?  Covered until they turn 18 then turn off the tap?

It sounds good in theory, but everyone is going to draw that line somewhere different, and no matter where you draw it someone that legitimately needs help is going to get caught on the wrong side.

Getting pretty off topic, but it's a good thought experiment and I always like to hear opinions on things like this because I'm not quite sure where I stand either.
A very fair and reasonable objection.   Anything we do with public money means someone gets an advantage and someone else gets taken advantage of.   There's no way to avoid that, so we just have to try to be fair and reasonable about it.

FYI - pregnancy is not a disease and it has definite benefits (in moderation) for society.   If someone wants to give birth to a child they cannot afford to raise we should pay for the pregnancy (it's not the child's fault!) and fine the parents for being a pain in the butt to the rest of us.  Then let someone who can afford to raise the child do so.  And yes, I'm a hard-ass when it comes to personal responsibility.
When do you decide they cannot afford to raise it?

What about parents with 3 children, aged 8 to 16, who fall on hard times?  Do you take away the children and give them away?  Foster care, poor house, child work centers?

GuitarStv

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7020 on: February 26, 2015, 01:35:27 PM »
ORGAN HARVESTING!  ORGANS FOR EVERYONE!

Marian

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7021 on: February 26, 2015, 01:43:26 PM »
One of the guys got a brand new car- but he got a good deal!  Sticker price was ~$30,000, and he haggled it down to $20-something thousand!  Fully loaded with all sorts of doodads and big engine and 4-wheel drive... all the good stuff that is soooo necessary in a car.

Also, we've been getting a "lot" of snow here lately, and yesterday the roads were a little icy.  In the parking lot at work, I saw a coworker of mine get out of this monstrous red F-series Ford (she usually drives a recent-model Honda Civic).  Upon seeing me, she exclaimed "Take that, winter!" with a big smile, like having a huge, high-off-the-ground truck was actually the safer option when driving icy roads with a max 1 inch of snow on them.  Sigh.


MgoSam

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7022 on: February 26, 2015, 01:51:45 PM »
I just don't understand their priorities.

They don't understand yours either. It is sad, but we are the weird ones. Always remember that.

I see this at my workplace. My company's receptionist and most of our warehouse staff will pick up food from Burger King or another fast food place, and it is disturbing especially as I know how much they make and how tight they are financially. I have tried to advice them on different ways to bring lunch, for instance bringing in bread and anything else (lettuce, tomatoes, meat) to keep in the fridge but no go. Meanwhile, the owner, me, our salesman, and warehouse manager (who all make more than the receptionist) all bring in a bag lunch at least 4 days of the week, my warehouse manager usually just makes a peanut butter sandwich each day. I'm hoping that this rubs off on them, as they are spending quite a lot of their take-home pay on fast food.

Travis

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7023 on: February 26, 2015, 01:57:36 PM »
Quote
Also, we've been getting a "lot" of snow here lately, and yesterday the roads were a little icy.  In the parking lot at work, I saw a coworker of mine get out of this monstrous red F-series Ford (she usually drives a recent-model Honda Civic).  Upon seeing me, she exclaimed "Take that, winter!" with a big smile, like having a huge, high-off-the-ground truck was actually the safer option when driving icy roads with a max 1 inch of snow on them.  Sigh.

A couple of us would make a morning ritual out of looking out my office window in the mornings during winter when I worked in Colorado.  I had a nice view of the parking lot and the road which led to it (with a decent incline).  My First Sergeant got the biggest laugh because he's from the area and most of us learned how you drive makes a bigger difference than the vehicle itself (within reason).  We'd watch a seasoned driver ease their way up the hill while the Mustang behind them revved and spun their tires and slid backwards. Sometimes we'd watch a Dodge or Ford truck do the exact same thing and spin out while someone's Honda made it up just fine.  In the Army we have way too many pickup truck owners (formerly myself included) without real reasons to have them.  It's like a rite of passage or membership requirement.  Sometimes I feel silly parking my Ford Focus (which I've had for 10 years) in between two new giant Dodge 3500s, but then I remember I'm not paying for their tires or fuel bills.

frugalnacho

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7024 on: February 26, 2015, 02:02:39 PM »
A coworker today complaining that he was too full...

cw: Ugh, i'm way too stuffed.  I feel like i'm going to be sick.
me: I knew that place was expensive, but the portions seemed reasonable the last time I went (several years), why are you so full?
cw: Oh I brought leftovers for my lunch and I ate it about a half hour before ken rounded up everyone for lunch. 
me: So you ate two lunches?
cw: yea

And right before lunch they were looking over options and decided on a local burger place because it gets good reviews and none had ever been.  I warned them it was pricey so they wouldn't be shocked when it was like $10 for a burger, plus fries, plus a drink, plus tax and tip.  I think they got out of there for around $16 each for a burger and fries.  The coworker in question has a brand new baby though, and his wife is staying at home with the kid right now.  So not only is he making less than me, but he has a wife and new baby to support! And he spent $16 going out to lunch just 30 minutes after eating left overs for lunch! I can't even!

Marian

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7025 on: February 26, 2015, 02:15:48 PM »
Quote
Also, we've been getting a "lot" of snow here lately, and yesterday the roads were a little icy.  In the parking lot at work, I saw a coworker of mine get out of this monstrous red F-series Ford (she usually drives a recent-model Honda Civic).  Upon seeing me, she exclaimed "Take that, winter!" with a big smile, like having a huge, high-off-the-ground truck was actually the safer option when driving icy roads with a max 1 inch of snow on them.  Sigh.

A couple of us would make a morning ritual out of looking out my office window in the mornings during winter when I worked in Colorado.  I had a nice view of the parking lot and the road which led to it (with a decent incline).  My First Sergeant got the biggest laugh because he's from the area and most of us learned how you drive makes a bigger difference than the vehicle itself (within reason).  We'd watch a seasoned driver ease their way up the hill while the Mustang behind them revved and spun their tires and slid backwards. Sometimes we'd watch a Dodge or Ford truck do the exact same thing and spin out while someone's Honda made it up just fine.  In the Army we have way too many pickup truck owners (formerly myself included) without real reasons to have them.  It's like a rite of passage or membership requirement.  Sometimes I feel silly parking my Ford Focus (which I've had for 10 years) in between two new giant Dodge 3500s, but then I remember I'm not paying for their tires or fuel bills.

My dad's still active duty Army, and bikes to work every day.  He has sent me pictures of his bike parked in his designated parking spot, lol.  Also, they have a policy where before holiday weekends, they have their cars safety inspected.  When the guys approach my dad in a panic because they haven't inspected his car yet, he just laughs and offers to let them inspect his helmet and biking gear. 

MrMoogle

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7026 on: February 26, 2015, 02:22:55 PM »
I just don't understand their priorities.

They don't understand yours either. It is sad, but we are the weird ones. Always remember that.

I live overseas in a location where you really can't show off your wealth, so everyone appears to be frugal.  But hearing about some of the things they do on vacation.  One guy just bought a new truck, you know for that month he's home every two years. 

Another goes on a month long vacation twice a year, and it sounds like he blows his entire salary on those two vacations.  Luxury hotel here for a few days, flight to the next luxury hotel.  It takes weeks of planning to hit all the spots and figure out all the flights.

But now, I'm moving back, so these will no longer be things I hear about, but things I get to see.

lizzie

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7027 on: February 26, 2015, 03:56:52 PM »
I'm all for public financing of healthcare - except for what I refer to as "diseases of choice".  If someone chooses to get or stay sick, they should pay for those healthcare costs themselves.

Not saying I disagree, but that's a slippery slope.  Where does it end?  Should parents have to pay their own costs of birth?  How about first 2 kids are covered but after that they're on their own because of population concerns?  On the flip side, what about women that choose not to have kids and are at higher risk of some types of cancer?  If they develop cancer later in life is that their problem because they made that risky choice?  Smokers don't get coverage for lung cancer costs?  What about coal miners because they chose the job?  Or do we just draw the line on diet and exercise related problems?  What about children who are overweight and diabetic because of their parents?  Covered until they turn 18 then turn off the tap?

It sounds good in theory, but everyone is going to draw that line somewhere different, and no matter where you draw it someone that legitimately needs help is going to get caught on the wrong side.

Getting pretty off topic, but it's a good thought experiment and I always like to hear opinions on things like this because I'm not quite sure where I stand either.
A very fair and reasonable objection.   Anything we do with public money means someone gets an advantage and someone else gets taken advantage of.   There's no way to avoid that, so we just have to try to be fair and reasonable about it.

FYI - pregnancy is not a disease and it has definite benefits (in moderation) for society.   If someone wants to give birth to a child they cannot afford to raise we should pay for the pregnancy (it's not the child's fault!) and fine the parents for being a pain in the butt to the rest of us.  Then let someone who can afford to raise the child do so.  And yes, I'm a hard-ass when it comes to personal responsibility.
When do you decide they cannot afford to raise it?

What about parents with 3 children, aged 8 to 16, who fall on hard times?  Do you take away the children and give them away?  Foster care, poor house, child work centers?

My dad left my mom for the last time when she was pregnant with my little brother. One of my two older brothers had leukemia, too. Tough times. We were on welfare for awhile.

I'm sure some people would find it easy to blame my mom for getting pregnant again. IIRC (I was pretty little) my parents' marriage had been on the rocks for a long time and my dad had moved out more than once, I think.

But going on welfare enabled my mom to get her nursing degree and she's been paying income taxes for the last ~35 years as a result. She raised four good kids who are all productive taxpaying members of society.

So, to satisfy your sense of moral outrage and superiority about my mom being such a fucking leech, you could take the risk of completely fucking up the lives of four kids who had just seen their parents get divorced. Or you could just get the fuck over yourself.
« Last Edit: February 26, 2015, 03:58:57 PM by lizzie »

Indexer

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7028 on: February 26, 2015, 05:20:36 PM »
3.  Chemotherapy is not "poison".  It does make you feel sick, so people sometimes use "poison" as a short-hand to explain how chemotherapy works and feels, but it's an oversimplification of the truth. There are a lot of different ways that chemotherapies work, but usually they target rapidly-growing cells.  Most cells in your body don't grow that fast, so they aren't affected at all by chemotherapy.  Some cells do grow fast - for example, hair cells, immune cells, and cancer cells.  Unfortunately, I've seen first-hand what cancer can do to a body, so believe me when I say that in most cases, the temporary terrible side effects of chemotherapy are better than the alternative.

I think it is pretty safe to call it poison, but that doesn't make it a bad thing.  Hydrogen peroxide is a poison, but serves a great purpose.  If you pour a small amount into a wound barely any gets in your bloodstream so you are fine, but any bacteria taking a bath in the stuff will die.  Result:  a slight burning sensation but you don't get an infection.  Chemotherapy is poison*, but like the peroxide it is a lot more dangerous to the disease than it is to the rest of you.  Result:  you feel like crap, but hopefully you live!


shanghaiMMM

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7029 on: February 26, 2015, 05:43:49 PM »
OK this wasn't at work but I'm in California on holiday and, as a Brit, it has been eye opening to see so much anti-mustachian stuff, especially car related. Here is my favourite overheard conversation:

Guy 1: Hey, I thought you drove a Prius?

Guy 2: (climbing into a ridiculously oversized truck) Nah, I traded it in for this!

Guy 1: Sweet, you can have your man card back now!

:/


ender

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7030 on: February 26, 2015, 05:49:03 PM »
OK this wasn't at work but I'm in California on holiday and, as a Brit, it has been eye opening to see so much anti-mustachian stuff, especially car related. Here is my favourite overheard conversation:

Guy 1: Hey, I thought you drove a Prius?

Guy 2: (climbing into a ridiculously oversized truck) Nah, I traded it in for this!

Guy 1: Sweet, you can have your man card back now!

:/

There is a ridiculous attitude among a lot of guys about "big truck = man."

It's somewhat reassuring because my portfolio is probably larger than nearly everyone I see boast about <<insert expensive consumer good here>>.


johnny847

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7031 on: February 26, 2015, 06:50:48 PM »
There is a ridiculous attitude among a lot of guys about "big truck = man."
I'm pretty sure they're overcompensating for something...

fantabulous

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7032 on: February 26, 2015, 06:53:05 PM »
There is a ridiculous attitude among a lot of guys about "big truck = man."
I'm pretty sure they're overcompensating for something...

I just assume I have a larger penis than they do, and go about with my day. I don't even like having one.

Metta

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7033 on: February 26, 2015, 09:49:29 PM »
ORGAN HARVESTING!  ORGANS FOR EVERYONE!

Is it organ harvesting season already? The year just slips by, doesn't it?

Metta

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7034 on: February 26, 2015, 09:51:38 PM »
One of the guys got a brand new car- but he got a good deal!  Sticker price was ~$30,000, and he haggled it down to $20-something thousand!  Fully loaded with all sorts of doodads and big engine and 4-wheel drive... all the good stuff that is soooo necessary in a car.

Also, we've been getting a "lot" of snow here lately, and yesterday the roads were a little icy.  In the parking lot at work, I saw a coworker of mine get out of this monstrous red F-series Ford (she usually drives a recent-model Honda Civic).  Upon seeing me, she exclaimed "Take that, winter!" with a big smile, like having a huge, high-off-the-ground truck was actually the safer option when driving icy roads with a max 1 inch of snow on them.  Sigh.

Yet another reason why a sports car is the practical choice. When ice closed Memphis down last week, I called in and said, "I'm sorry, my car refuses to drive in these conditions. I'm working from home."

gimp

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7035 on: February 26, 2015, 09:57:52 PM »
One of the guys got a brand new car- but he got a good deal!  Sticker price was ~$30,000, and he haggled it down to $20-something thousand!  Fully loaded with all sorts of doodads and big engine and 4-wheel drive... all the good stuff that is soooo necessary in a car.

Also, we've been getting a "lot" of snow here lately, and yesterday the roads were a little icy.  In the parking lot at work, I saw a coworker of mine get out of this monstrous red F-series Ford (she usually drives a recent-model Honda Civic).  Upon seeing me, she exclaimed "Take that, winter!" with a big smile, like having a huge, high-off-the-ground truck was actually the safer option when driving icy roads with a max 1 inch of snow on them.  Sigh.

Yet another reason why a sports car is the practical choice. When ice closed Memphis down last week, I called in and said, "I'm sorry, my car refuses to drive in these conditions. I'm working from home."

A guy at work non-ironically uses a unicycle to get around places. I think he's got you beat if it ever snows here.

Metta

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7036 on: February 26, 2015, 10:09:25 PM »
One of the guys got a brand new car- but he got a good deal!  Sticker price was ~$30,000, and he haggled it down to $20-something thousand!  Fully loaded with all sorts of doodads and big engine and 4-wheel drive... all the good stuff that is soooo necessary in a car.

Also, we've been getting a "lot" of snow here lately, and yesterday the roads were a little icy.  In the parking lot at work, I saw a coworker of mine get out of this monstrous red F-series Ford (she usually drives a recent-model Honda Civic).  Upon seeing me, she exclaimed "Take that, winter!" with a big smile, like having a huge, high-off-the-ground truck was actually the safer option when driving icy roads with a max 1 inch of snow on them.  Sigh.

Yet another reason why a sports car is the practical choice. When ice closed Memphis down last week, I called in and said, "I'm sorry, my car refuses to drive in these conditions. I'm working from home."

A guy at work non-ironically uses a unicycle to get around places. I think he's got you beat if it ever snows here.

I feel a unicycle gap in my little heart. It probably gets better gas mileage, too. And it's pretty badass.

LennStar

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7037 on: February 27, 2015, 02:45:13 AM »
One of the guys got a brand new car- but he got a good deal!  Sticker price was ~$30,000, and he haggled it down to $20-something thousand!  Fully loaded with all sorts of doodads and big engine and 4-wheel drive... all the good stuff that is soooo necessary in a car.

Also, we've been getting a "lot" of snow here lately, and yesterday the roads were a little icy.  In the parking lot at work, I saw a coworker of mine get out of this monstrous red F-series Ford (she usually drives a recent-model Honda Civic).  Upon seeing me, she exclaimed "Take that, winter!" with a big smile, like having a huge, high-off-the-ground truck was actually the safer option when driving icy roads with a max 1 inch of snow on them.  Sigh.

Yet another reason why a sports car is the practical choice. When ice closed Memphis down last week, I called in and said, "I'm sorry, my car refuses to drive in these conditions. I'm working from home."

A guy at work non-ironically uses a unicycle to get around places. I think he's got you beat if it ever snows here.

I feel a unicycle gap in my little heart. It probably gets better gas mileage, too. And it's pretty badass.

It defintiely makes you more manly then a truck in my eyes :D


On the poison: Everthing is poison! Its just the dose that makes it.
Just look at water, probably the most dangerous stuff there is. Reasons:

1) if you have not enough you die, and there are a lot of places where there is not enough water
2) if you have too much of it, you die too, and there are a lot of places on earth where there is way to much water (2/3 of earth surface)
3) Lots of deadly other poisons can be in water


or the more funny version (DHMO = Dihydrogenmonoxid = water):
http://dhmo.org/

Quote
DHMO is a constituent of many known toxic substances, diseases and disease-causing agents, environmental hazards and can even be lethal to humans in quantities as small as a thimbleful.
but you can rest assured something will be done
Quote
A similar study conducted by U.S. researchers Patrick K. McCluskey and Matthew Kulick also found that nearly 90 percent of the citizens participating in their study were willing to sign a petition to support an outright ban on the use of Dihydrogen Monoxide in the United States.

Wiggle

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7038 on: February 27, 2015, 07:10:47 AM »
Not hiring someone because they are a smoker is clearly different from things like racism. Smoking is something you DO. You can stop. Try stopping being black, Welsh, disabled, a lesbian, whatever...

Apparently some of the top minds here at MMM think you can stop being disabled by changing your diet.

Well if you are disabled because you are overweight because you eat poorly and do not exercise then yes I would agree with them.  Unless we are talking legitimate medical barriers to having a healthy body weight.

infogoon

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7039 on: February 27, 2015, 07:35:14 AM »
There is a ridiculous attitude among a lot of guys about "big truck = man."
I'm pretty sure they're overcompensating for something...

I once had a coworker make some joke about my lack of masculinity because I was wearing a pink polo shirt. I pointed out that I rode a bicycle to work, while her husband drove an enormous truck to get there, and that I clearly have no need to overcompensate proving my manhood.

Ynari

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7040 on: February 27, 2015, 08:46:06 AM »

A guy at work non-ironically uses a unicycle to get around places. I think he's got you beat if it ever snows here.

I know a few unicyclists who would be more likely to get to work unicycling on a snow day than most other people would driving. Unicyclists don't make excuses.  They're too badass.

Sibley

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7041 on: February 27, 2015, 08:54:21 AM »
There's a "lifestyle" going on with several coworkers. Basically, they're super into fitness, and to help them achieve some goal (I think?) they take all sorts of supplements. Pre-workout, recovery, endurance, muscle support, whatever else they can think of. One guy has little containers of various powders at his desk that he mixes into the most disgusting looking drinks multiple times a day.

These people spend anywhere between 700 - 1500 a year on this crap. Yet their meals are crap - fast food, pre-processed junk, etc. If I try to suggest that a healthy, balanced diet would properly supply their bodies with everything needed, they shout me down because I don't understand.

Oh, one guy loves to play basketball but can't because he damaged his shoulder. Another coworker has severe back problems -she can't sit all day often and will stand up to work. Why are they exercising so hard they "need" these supplements?

4alpacas

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7042 on: February 27, 2015, 08:56:00 AM »

A guy at work non-ironically uses a unicycle to get around places. I think he's got you beat if it ever snows here.

I know a few unicyclists who would be more likely to get to work unicycling on a snow day than most other people would driving. Unicyclists don't make excuses.  They're too badass.
Today at work, I'm going to try to work "unicyclists don't make excuses," into a conversation. 

Best quote of this thread!

MgoSam

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7043 on: February 27, 2015, 09:45:38 AM »
There is a ridiculous attitude among a lot of guys about "big truck = man."
I'm pretty sure they're overcompensating for something...

I once had a coworker make some joke about my lack of masculinity because I was wearing a pink polo shirt. I pointed out that I rode a bicycle to work, while her husband drove an enormous truck to get there, and that I clearly have no need to overcompensate proving my manhood.

+1, never understood the concept of being "manly." I believe that is way more manly to be yourself, I mean if you don't wear a pink polo shirt because you think it's unmanly, that is just plain silly. It takes more courage to not drink when out with friends, than to give in to be thought to be part of the bunch.

GuitarStv

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7044 on: February 27, 2015, 10:16:53 AM »
Cruise doesn't work on steep hills.  Or rather, it does but . . . it's a little too exciting for me to suddenly have the engine blast out revs.

RyanAtTanagra

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7045 on: February 27, 2015, 11:05:56 AM »
Cruise doesn't work on steep hills.  Or rather, it does but . . . it's a little too exciting for me to suddenly have the engine blast out revs.

Especially when going uphill around a curve and you're trying so hard to not hit that cancel button and just hang through the turn, then it down shifts and accelerates.   Weeeee

I agree, gods willing I will never again own a car without cruise.  Without it, I watch my speed enough that it's probably a distraction.  Having cruise on makes for both a more relaxing and more aware drive for me.

Pooperman

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7046 on: February 27, 2015, 11:24:28 AM »
Cruise doesn't work on steep hills.  Or rather, it does but . . . it's a little too exciting for me to suddenly have the engine blast out revs.

Especially when going uphill around a curve and you're trying so hard to not hit that cancel button and just hang through the turn, then it down shifts and accelerates.   Weeeee

I agree, gods willing I will never again own a car without cruise.  Without it, I watch my speed enough that it's probably a distraction.  Having cruise on makes for both a more relaxing and more aware drive for me.

I used to love attempting to hit the speed limit in a couple of over-mountain roads. Speed limit was 55, the sane speed limit was 40, but fun doing around corners and getting some air... Gotta do it once in your life.

antarestar

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7047 on: February 27, 2015, 11:30:16 AM »
There is a ridiculous attitude among a lot of guys about "big truck = man."
I'm pretty sure they're overcompensating for something...

I just assume I have a larger penis than they do, and go about with my day. I don't even like having one.

I assume the same thing and I don't even have a penis.

katstache92

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7048 on: February 27, 2015, 11:44:32 AM »
Here's a gem from a cube-neighbor...

While talking about credit cards with someone else: Yeah, I just try to pay a little bit more each month than I spend.

I'm taking this to mean that he has credit card debt.

Meanwhile he's meeting with contractors this week to put stone on the front of his house.  He's debating about putting the stone behind the shutters or not and whether the $1,700 savings is worth the worrying that when he goes to sell the home that will cause an issue.

Sigh, credit card debt is not an acceptable state of being.

Pooperman

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #7049 on: February 27, 2015, 11:52:56 AM »
So one of my bosses was complaining about having to pay $5k in extra taxes (liquidated UTMA for some house thing, not sure exactly). Apparently this means he doesn't have $5 sitting around to just pay. First thing in my head was "what, no e-fund?!" He's been to top billable hours person for the last 2 years!

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!