Overheard at Work

[4alpacas]

Why does it matter what the prices are?  I always thought the point of a bake sale was basically charity where you get a small treat for participating.  Kinda like giving blood... The value of the snack afterwards is irrelevant

Speak for yourself. I was pretty disappointed when the Red Cross stopped giving Nutter Butter's away. I never buy them, but I sure as hell ate my fair share at the blood drive. :)

I don't give blood.  I trade my blood for donuts.

[HairyUpperLip]

Note: This was a delivery pizza which arrived on schedule, sat on the table for an hour, and the leftover slices were put in a ziplock bag and refrigerated to be eaten the next day. It's not like the pizza was sitting at room temperature all night in case anyone is wondering. In my family this is a very normal thing to do with pizza. In hers, it was unthinkable. Someone else joined the conversation agreeing with her so I guess my family's leftover pizza routine is in the minority. They understood it was kept in the fridge. The idea that it was pizza from yesterday was just too much to handle.

Even if it did, I don't think it's a big deal. I've eaten pizza left out over night plenty of times. Especially as a kid. Never got sick from it.

Same here, but skip the trip to the fridge.  I'm still alive.

BTW - we waste a significant % of food in this country (and that contributes quite a bit to green house gases).  It is rather disgusting. So those that think leftover are disgusting they really ought to get a grip on the real problem.

I think pizza left out over night is fine too. But in this case the fact that it was in the fridge made their opposition ridiculous to me.

Weirdly enough, these same two people became very sick later that same month from eating something I refused to eat. We were at a restaurant and all ordered the same chicken dish. I cut into the chicken and it was rather raw inside and there was some blood so I complained that I wanted it cooked more. The two people that previously told me how dangerous my pizza was ate it anyway since we were at a restaurant and it's rude to send food back to the kitchen. They were really miserable the next few days.

haha, thats awesome.

[Threshkin]

Note: This was a delivery pizza which arrived on schedule, sat on the table for an hour, and the leftover slices were put in a ziplock bag and refrigerated to be eaten the next day. It's not like the pizza was sitting at room temperature all night in case anyone is wondering. In my family this is a very normal thing to do with pizza. In hers, it was unthinkable. Someone else joined the conversation agreeing with her so I guess my family's leftover pizza routine is in the minority. They understood it was kept in the fridge. The idea that it was pizza from yesterday was just too much to handle.

Even if it did, I don't think it's a big deal. I've eaten pizza left out over night plenty of times. Especially as a kid. Never got sick from it.

Same here, but skip the trip to the fridge.  I'm still alive.

BTW - we waste a significant % of food in this country (and that contributes quite a bit to green house gases).  It is rather disgusting. So those that think leftover are disgusting they really ought to get a grip on the real problem.

Cold Pizza and Warm Beer were staples for breakfast in my early 20s.  Whatever was left over and lying around from the party the night before.  Refrigeration?  Bah!

[dorothyc]

I think pizza left out over night is fine too. But in this case the fact that it was in the fridge made their opposition ridiculous to me.

Weirdly enough, these same two people became very sick later that same month from eating something I refused to eat. We were at a restaurant and all ordered the same chicken dish. I cut into the chicken and it was rather raw inside and there was some blood so I complained that I wanted it cooked more. The two people that previously told me how dangerous my pizza was ate it anyway since we were at a restaurant and it's rude to send food back to the kitchen. They were really miserable the next few days.

I think that goes to show that they don't cook from scratch, so they have no clue about basic food safety.

[Rezdent]

Note: This was a delivery pizza which arrived on schedule, sat on the table for an hour, and the leftover slices were put in a ziplock bag and refrigerated to be eaten the next day. It's not like the pizza was sitting at room temperature all night in case anyone is wondering. In my family this is a very normal thing to do with pizza. In hers, it was unthinkable. Someone else joined the conversation agreeing with her so I guess my family's leftover pizza routine is in the minority. They understood it was kept in the fridge. The idea that it was pizza from yesterday was just too much to handle.

Even if it did, I don't think it's a big deal. I've eaten pizza left out over night plenty of times. Especially as a kid. Never got sick from it.

Same here, but skip the trip to the fridge.  I'm still alive.

BTW - we waste a significant % of food in this country (and that contributes quite a bit to green house gases).  It is rather disgusting. So those that think leftover are disgusting they really ought to get a grip on the real problem.

Cold Pizza and Warm Beer were staples for breakfast in my early 20s.  Whatever was left over and lying around from the party the night before.  Refrigeration?  Bah!

This just sounds so weird to me.  Trying to join those two words together in my mind; we have leftovers, and we have pizza, but we don't have leftover pizza.  Occasionally we intentionally make extras, but they're earmarked.

But if that ever happens, oh yeah.  I'm gonna eat it, assuming I win the race to the kitchen.  Refrigerated or not.

[Kitsunegari]

A boss brought in a huge pack of cherry tomatoes. While I was taking some, the closest workmate ask me "Are you gonna bring them home?". I guess my mustachian habits didn't go unnoticed...

[nybeccaboo]

I work in a very anti-mustachian place.  Everyone eats lunch out every single day, my boss eats dinner out every night, they wear high-end designer clothes, etc. I'm the weird one who brings my lunch every day, wears "normal" clothes and doesn't have cable.

Because of the area I work in, I  have access to salary information, and while the majority earn a ton of money, a few of them, like me, have "normal" salaries. (I put normal in quotes because in my book, we're still paid above average.) Every single one of them complains about not being able to retire. The market dips and they freak out (while I clap my hands and yell SALE). I decided to snoop around and see what everyone in my group contributes to the 401(k) plan. We have a 4% match which isn't amazing, but it's still free money. Plus the plan is with Vanguard and the funds we can choose from are great.  I'm the only one who maxes out their contribution. In fact, the very highly paid employees (we're talking mid to high 6 figures) contribute 0%. We automatically enroll employees at 3% so they had to physically go in and change that number to 0%.  I'm still trying to wrap my head around this one because we don't have any special retirement plans for highly compensated employees. Why wouldn't you max it out?!

Today's comment took the cake, though -   "I can't believe what a great investment Valentino shoes are.  They just look so good on your feet."  SMH

[trailrated]

Today's comment took the cake, though -   "I can't believe what a great investment Valentino shoes are.  They just look so good on your feet."  SMH

Don't worry, I am sure they "deserve" it. ;)

[MishMash]

I just had to teach three coworkers how to use...get this...an ELECTRIC tea kettle.  As in put in water, flip button...wait, pour.  They had been microwaving their water (tea kettle is on top of the microwave) in WAX lined cups and couldn't figure out what the stuff was that was floating in it.  I informed them it was wax from the paper cups so they had two options, use the previously mentioned ceramic cups to microwave, or use the tea kettle. 

CW1:  Nah, I really don't want to wash a cup out (we have a dishwasher)
CW2:  What's a tea kettle and where is it?
Me:  The giant silver thing sitting on top of the microwave
CW3:  grabs tea pot, can't figure out how to open the top (a button on the handle)
CW2: grabs it, figures out how to open it, looks inside and goes "now what do we do"
Me:  thinking they were joking starts laughing....seeing deadpan faces replies Uuuuhhhh put water in it
CW3:  From where?
Me:  Theeee faucet but I guess you can use bottled if you have it (previous discussion that I didn't get into among them was how bottle was cleaner then tap)
CW2: Puts water in it, can't figure out how to put it on the stand so I showed him just to set it on the knob base and said "now you just flip the switch to turn it on"
CW1:  starts trying to push the red "in use" light and I'm like no...literally the giant switch on the handle and he flips the switch.

I parted the kitchen with them going "How do we know when it's done!!"  to which I replied when it starts making a noise it's drinkable temperature, if you want it boiling let it go until the whistle.

I seriously shit you not...that just happened, and they were NOT joking...and these guys are between the ages of 29 and 38...not ONE could figure out 1.  What was floating in their heated water and 2.  how to heat water in a freaking electric tea kettle.   I figured they would figure out the wax thing or that they were pulling my leg, but one of them mentioned it daily for over a week before I said anything.

[Dollar Slice]

That is hilarious, MishMash.

Maybe this should become part of the interview process for new hires at your company. Can prospective employee X figure out how to use one of the simplest kitchen appliances of all time?

[MgoSam]

Sadly, this was my office until I went and got us an electric kettle. I should add that everyone using it could figure it out, but it was funny that many people were nuking a wax cup full of water previously. I would have gotten an electric kettle much sooner had anyone requested it.

[horsepoor]

I just had to teach three coworkers how to use...get this...an ELECTRIC tea kettle.  As in put in water, flip button...wait, pour.  They had been microwaving their water (tea kettle is on top of the microwave) in WAX lined cups and couldn't figure out what the stuff was that was floating in it.  I informed them it was wax from the paper cups so they had two options, use the previously mentioned ceramic cups to microwave, or use the tea kettle. 

CW1:  Nah, I really don't want to wash a cup out (we have a dishwasher)
CW2:  What's a tea kettle and where is it?
Me:  The giant silver thing sitting on top of the microwave
CW3:  grabs tea pot, can't figure out how to open the top (a button on the handle)
CW2: grabs it, figures out how to open it, looks inside and goes "now what do we do"
Me:  thinking they were joking starts laughing....seeing deadpan faces replies Uuuuhhhh put water in it
CW3:  From where?
Me:  Theeee faucet but I guess you can use bottled if you have it (previous discussion that I didn't get into among them was how bottle was cleaner then tap)
CW2: Puts water in it, can't figure out how to put it on the stand so I showed him just to set it on the knob base and said "now you just flip the switch to turn it on"
CW1:  starts trying to push the red "in use" light and I'm like no...literally the giant switch on the handle and he flips the switch.

I parted the kitchen with them going "How do we know when it's done!!"  to which I replied when it starts making a noise it's drinkable temperature, if you want it boiling let it go until the whistle.

I seriously shit you not...that just happened, and they were NOT joking...and these guys are between the ages of 29 and 38...not ONE could figure out 1.  What was floating in their heated water and 2.  how to heat water in a freaking electric tea kettle.   I figured they would figure out the wax thing or that they were pulling my leg, but one of them mentioned it daily for over a week before I said anything.

It's amazing that these people manage to get dressed and make it to work in the morning.  WTF.

[LennStar]

A electric tea kettle?
Like in a kettle but with inside you have a heater? Like a water heater just for tea?
How decadent!!
We use one pot for all small hot water needs. gas btw., no electric.
If they would have figured out that you need to use a spark to ignite the gas?

[MishMash]

A electric tea kettle?
Like in a kettle but with inside you have a heater? Like a water heater just for tea?
How decadent!!
We use one pot for all small hot water needs. gas btw., no electric.
If they would have figured out that you need to use a spark to ignite the gas?

Exactly that.  It's a regular tea kettle but sits on a base that super heats the water when plugged in. *Insert evil idea to unplug kettle and see how long it takes them to figure it out tomorrow*
Starting a gas stove and not having an electric starter (I grew up with one like that)...I'm pretty sure they would have blown themselves, and the office, up.

[AlwaysLearningToSave]

*Insert evil idea to unplug kettle and see how long it takes them to figure it out tomorrow*

Do it.

[zephyr911]

People who buy bottled water…one day we’ll look back at them and laugh the way we do for people who bought pet rocks in the 70’s. I hope.

Interesting story, I had this exchange recently with a friend of a friend on FB, gave my standard dismissive opinion... apparently this person had lived through some kind of mass contamination event, 400,000 people affected in Milawaukee and 100+ died. Hard not to sympathize on an emotional level. But the odds of it ever happening again? If that person ever died from some weird freak event, it'd probably be something totally different.

Every few years I replenish the stock of silverware at work with pieces from a thrift store. Not sure if coworkers are tossing them in the trash or taking the pieces home, but the forks have a tendency to walk off frequently.

I can't believe I never thought of that! Totally grabbing a load today.

[frugalnacho]

Every few years I replenish the stock of silverware at work with pieces from a thrift store. Not sure if coworkers are tossing them in the trash or taking the pieces home, but the forks have a tendency to walk off frequently.

I can't believe I never thought of that! Totally grabbing a load today.

I'm going to start stealing silverware from work as well.

[MgoSam]

*Insert evil idea to unplug kettle and see how long it takes them to figure it out tomorrow*

Do it.

And come back here to share any stories.

[zephyr911]

I'm going to start stealing silverware from work as well.

*snort*

CW w/ probably $60K in consumer debt, who always talks about getting out of it, just described a $200 restaurant dinner at a new place in town. Eek.

[MgoSam]

I'm going to start stealing silverware from work as well.

*snort*

CW w/ probably $60K in consumer debt, who always talks about getting out of it, just described a $200 restaurant dinner at a new place in town. Eek.

I don't think I could consider enjoying myself upon spending that much money. Any idea if it was $200 a person or for a couple? I wonder how much of that were drinks. I've stopped drinking for the past few weeks and am amazed at how much money it can save.

[mtn]

I'm going to start stealing silverware from work as well.

*snort*

CW w/ probably $60K in consumer debt, who always talks about getting out of it, just described a $200 restaurant dinner at a new place in town. Eek.

I don't think I could consider enjoying myself upon spending that much money. Any idea if it was $200 a person or for a couple? I wonder how much of that were drinks. I've stopped drinking for the past few weeks and am amazed at how much money it can save.

Yup. It has been enough for me that I have started a facepunch worthy coffee routine, so I haven't noticed the difference.

[Beaker]

People who buy bottled water…one day we’ll look back at them and laugh the way we do for people who bought pet rocks in the 70’s. I hope.

Interesting story, I had this exchange recently with a friend of a friend on FB, gave my standard dismissive opinion... apparently this person had lived through some kind of mass contamination event, 400,000 people affected in Milawaukee and 100+ died. Hard not to sympathize on an emotional level. But the odds of it ever happening again? If that person ever died from some weird freak event, it'd probably be something totally different.

That was probably the Milwaukee Cryptosporidium outbreak in 1993. I was there for that, and still in school. Of course it was all over the news, so after the first day everyone should have known about it. The solution was just to boil water before you drank it - no big deal. So I acquired a new chore of boiling a big pot of water every day after school, which would then just sit there for all the water uses. Seems a heck of a lot easier than buying bottled water and dealing with the waste, but apparently not everyone agreed. And continuing to drink bottled water for 22 after the fact seems like an excessive response.

[zephyr911]

I don't think I could consider enjoying myself upon spending that much money. Any idea if it was $200 a person or for a couple? I wonder how much of that were drinks. I've stopped drinking for the past few weeks and am amazed at how much money it can save.

Brazil-style churrascaria. Family of 4, $45/plate + drinks/tax/tip, $220 total. Something about "we won't be doing that again, hahaha"

Don't get me wrong, those places are awesome, but the prices aren't a secret...

[zephyr911]

OH, and same CW last week, when thrift/consignment stores came up: "I should really look into that... just spent well over $100 on t-shirts for one of the kids"

[MgoSam]

I don't think I could consider enjoying myself upon spending that much money. Any idea if it was $200 a person or for a couple? I wonder how much of that were drinks. I've stopped drinking for the past few weeks and am amazed at how much money it can save.

Brazil-style churrascaria. Family of 4, $45/plate + drinks/tax/tip, $220 total. Something about "we won't be doing that again, hahaha"

Don't get me wrong, those places are awesome, but the prices aren't a secret...

Yeah, I enjoy Fogo de Chao but can't justify spending that much. It's Restaurant Week here and on Sunday a friend of mine organized a big dinner, and I might have gone had I been in town. For Restaurant Week dinner is $30/person, which while still WAY more than I would spend, I might be willing to treat myself as an indulgence. I probably wouldn't have gone, and instead might have gone to an ACYE sushi place that's about $28/person, but that's because I get way more utility eating sushi than churrascaria.

On a side note, our former receptionist told us a few years ago about how her and her husband went and didn't know what the prices were like until they got the bill. She isn't the smartest person in the world, so it is possible, but I had to shake my head. Places that don't have prices on the menu do so because they have customers that can afford it, and likely are out of the price range for nearly all of us.

[zephyr911]

I guess there are people that never had to do this, but on the rare occasions that I had enough money for restaurant food as a college student, I would either read the menu (if posted outside) or WALK INSIDE AND ASK FOR A COPY, before ever committing to dine there.

I felt awkward doing this, but I knew as a dumb kid that it was even worse to sit down without knowing what you could afford.

[zolotiyeruki]

Brazil-style churrascaria. Family of 4, $45/plate + drinks/tax/tip, $220 total. Something about "we won't be doing that again, hahaha"

Don't get me wrong, those places are awesome, but the prices aren't a secret...

I *LOVE* those places!  DW and I make a point of going once every year or two.  Yes, it's a splurge.  But we also make sure we can afford it first :)  And in our eyes, it's worth it every once in a while.

If you like meat and you've never been, you'll love it.

[Gondolin]

Because of the area I work in, I  have access to salary information, and while the majority earn a ton of money, a few of them, like me, have "normal" salaries. (I put normal in quotes because in my book, we're still paid above average.) Every single one of them complains about not being able to retire. The market dips and they freak out (while I clap my hands and yell SALE). I decided to snoop around and see what everyone in my group contributes to the 401(k) plan. We have a 4% match which isn't amazing, but it's still free money. Plus the plan is with Vanguard and the funds we can choose from are great.  I'm the only one who maxes out their contribution. In fact, the very highly paid employees (we're talking mid to high 6 figures) contribute 0%. We automatically enroll employees at 3% so they had to physically go in and change that number to 0%.  I'm still trying to wrap my head around this one because we don't have any special retirement plans for highly compensated employees. Why wouldn't you max it out?!

To be fair, when you're making 500-900k, a <$2k match plus an $18k tax shelter becomes trivial. Although, it doesn't like they're saying the way they should

[maco]

OH, and same CW last week, when thrift/consignment stores came up: "I should really look into that... just spent well over $100 on t-shirts for one of the kids"

New, that was probably 5 shirts, which (depending on growth spurts and clothing refresh cycle length) might not be an unreasonable number of shirts.

[dragoncar]

I guess there are people that never had to do this, but on the rare occasions that I had enough money for restaurant food as a college student, I would either read the menu (if posted outside) or WALK INSIDE AND ASK FOR A COPY, before ever committing to dine there.

I felt awkward doing this, but I knew as a dumb kid that it was even worse to sit down without knowing what you could afford.

I regularly ask to see a menu before sitting down, mostly because I want to see if there's anything I want to eat.

[notquitefrugal]

We have a 4% match which isn't amazing, but it's still free money... In fact, the very highly paid employees (we're talking mid to high 6 figures) contribute 0%.

To be fair, when you're making 500-900k, a <$2k match plus an $18k tax shelter becomes trivial. Although, it doesn't like they're saying the way they should

Wait, how would it be a $2,000 match if you were making $500,000 per year? A match is generally expressed as the first X% of the salary you defer. At $500,000 per year, I think you could contribute the full $18,000 (3.6% of salary) and receive an $18,000 match, since the first 4% of contributions are matched.

[wileyish]

People who buy bottled water…one day we’ll look back at them and laugh the way we do for people who bought pet rocks in the 70’s. I hope.

Interesting story, I had this exchange recently with a friend of a friend on FB, gave my standard dismissive opinion... apparently this person had lived through some kind of mass contamination event, 400,000 people affected in Milawaukee and 100+ died. Hard not to sympathize on an emotional level. But the odds of it ever happening again? If that person ever died from some weird freak event, it'd probably be something totally different.

Quite an anomaly. Municipal water sources have way more restrictions than bottled water. In my city, tests on municipal water are conducted daily and annual reports are available to residents. Also, fuck Nestle.

Every few years I replenish the stock of silverware at work with pieces from a thrift store. Not sure if coworkers are tossing them in the trash or taking the pieces home, but the forks have a tendency to walk off frequently.

I can't believe I never thought of that! Totally grabbing a load today.

I'm going to start stealing silverware from work as well.

So YOU are that jerk-face making off with the forks. You owe me at least $4.15, Mister!!

[Allie]

May I add a non-money related one?

Coworker sees me pouring in my coffee milk from a recycled juice bottle, inquires about it, and I explain him I ain't drinking that dairy-fluff stuff they give for free, because it's not actual milk and I prefer knowing what I drink. He looks conspiratorially at me and asks me "Is it your own milk?". The guy next to me almost spit his coffee. (And no, I'm not lactating)

On the other hand...when I was actually lactating and pumping at work for my baby, I started bringing my coffee creamer in one of the little pumped milk bottles.  They were leak proof and fit into a little cooler with a specially fitted ice pack.  Made total sense to me.  They stayed cold and accessible.  Every time I went to get coffee, I would bring a little milk bottle with me and add a bit.  Only a close friend ever dared to ask if I was adding breastmilk to my coffee.

[Goldielocks]

In copier room...

CW: Damn, the machine is out of paper again, why doesn't anyone load this thing.

Opens a skein of paper, removes 3 sheets, puts them in the side feed, hits print, leaves open skein on top of printer and walks out.

Me: Cringe.

At least he didn't toss the 'extra' paper out...

[theadvicist]

As I was filling the tray with freshly washed thrift store forks once:

CW: "Ewww, gross. Those are used? I’ll stick to the disposables. I’m a germaphobe."
Me:  “So you never eat at restaurants that use real silverware?”
CW: Startled stare.

Yeah, 'cos plastic forks made in a non-sterile factory in China and moved half way around the world in a shipping container are way cleaner than this one I just washed right in front of your face...

I was in the States recently and couldn't believe the amount of disposable stuff used everywhere. Every hotel that had a free continental breakfast used styrofoam cereal bowls! Ugh. Aside from the hideous hideous waste, it's just such a poor dining experience. The bendy spoon scraping along the bottom of the bowl. Buttering a muffin with a flexible knife, ah, it made me ragey!

And restaurants were just as bad. Ordered a coffee and bagel with cream cheese to go, from an independent hipster looking place. The coffee came in an 'Eco-cup!" proudly proclaiming how recycled it was. The bagel was placed in a huge clear plastic box (never even seen one of these in the UK, let alone been given one with something as cheap as a bagel, I'd best describe it as a display box), then in a huge paper bag. About 30 napkins were stuffed in, 3 FULL SETS of cutlery, and then, when I took it out to eat it (what a frigging palaver, trying to balance all that), I discovered my cream cheese was in a separate solo cup and I had to do it myself! Bendy knife, balancing a pound of disposable packaging, but oh great, the coffee cup was recycled. REDUCE, reuse, recycle.

Interestingly, the only place that did what I would consider the SENSIBLE thing of putting the cream cheese ON my bagel and handing it to me in a thin 6" square paper bag was... Starbucks. If some people don't want their cream cheese on immediately, just say, 'On the side?' like with salad dressing. /rant

[theadvicist]

I guess there are people that never had to do this, but on the rare occasions that I had enough money for restaurant food as a college student, I would either read the menu (if posted outside) or WALK INSIDE AND ASK FOR A COPY, before ever committing to dine there.

I felt awkward doing this, but I knew as a dumb kid that it was even worse to sit down without knowing what you could afford.

I regularly ask to see a menu before sitting down, mostly because I want to see if there's anything I want to eat.

Yeah I would never get a table at a restaurant without checking the menu to see if I liked it first. It never occurred to me this could be perceived as checking out the prices... but obviously I would always do that too.

[ShoulderThingThatGoesUp]

A boss brought in a huge pack of cherry tomatoes. While I was taking some, the closest workmate ask me "Are you gonna bring them home?". I guess my mustachian habits didn't go unnoticed...

Oh yeah. I'm that guy. I scored my dinner tonight (pizza, salad) from the break room. Got a couple jars of cocoa almond spread yesterday.. some cereal last week. I think I get a free item a week at least. In fact on some days, I go to the break room early in the morning or late in the day (when noone is around) just to see what I could grab. Maybe I'm being more cheap than frugal, but hey, it's put out there for somebody to take. Oh, and I'm not rootin in the fridge. There's a 'common' area for people to leave food, books, magazines, trinkets...

Back when my wife and I worked in offices, we frequently scored dinner this way by bringing home office meeting leftovers. This worked great except the one time we got food poisoning from her office when she was pregnant. An awful 24 hours of clearing every last drop of everything out of our alimentary canals, all the time worried about the baby, too. (Baby's fine, turning 2 next month.)

When she got back to her office, everybody had those little dot bruises around their eyes from vomiting with great force. The restaurant lost a solid corporate account that day.

I'd still bring home leftover office food if the opportunity presented itself. Things happen, but they usually don't.

[Geostache]

People who buy bottled water…one day we’ll look back at them and laugh the way we do for people who bought pet rocks in the 70’s. I hope.

A coworker spotted me filling up my mug at the water fountain at work. Granted, our building is old, and some of the faucets have a sign that say "Run water for at least 1 minute before consumption." Still:

CW: Wow, you're brave.
Me: Why, because I'm drinking from the water fountain?
CW: Yes.
Me: Well, there's no sign (warning to run water for a minute), so I'm assuming it's safe.
CW: I wouldn't do it.
Me: You have to die from something, right?

This coworker is a part of the $5/month water club. Yes, they pool their money to purchase those big bottled water coolers and drink from that.

[Pooplips]

People who buy bottled water…one day we’ll look back at them and laugh the way we do for people who bought pet rocks in the 70’s. I hope.

A coworker spotted me filling up my mug at the water fountain at work. Granted, our building is old, and some of the faucets have a sign that say "Run water for at least 1 minute before consumption." Still:

CW: Wow, you're brave.
Me: Why, because I'm drinking from the water fountain?
CW: Yes.
Me: Well, there's no sign (warning to run water for a minute), so I'm assuming it's safe.
CW: I wouldn't do it.
Me: You have to die from something, right?

This coworker is a part of the $5/month water club. Yes, they pool their money to purchase those big bottled water coolers and drink from that.

People are stupid. I work in the water industry. Bottle water has no special regulations; they fall under all the same regulations municipalities do for their drinking water. The treatment process is the same for both.

Most bottle water companies use tap water, run it through a carbon filter (the same type of filter is on your refrigerator that no one ever replaces) and pass it off as purified or specially filtered. Its a sham.

I wonder how many other products are shams like this. I once worked in a sourkraut facility and they used the same enormis vat of kraut to fill 7 "different" company labels. Buy the cheapest sourkraut its all the same.

[zephyr911]

I *LOVE* those places!  DW and I make a point of going once every year or two.  Yes, it's a splurge.  But we also make sure we can afford it first :)  And in our eyes, it's worth it every once in a while.

If you like meat and you've never been, you'll love it.

We hit one in Brazil on our honeymoon. Yes, yes, and yes! Eat till it f'ing hurts, 10 kinds of meat, etc. etc. etc.
I'm not opposed to the concept in any fashion... just opposed to a debt-ridden friend overpaying to experience it. :(

New, that was probably 5 shirts, which (depending on growth spurts and clothing refresh cycle length) might not be an unreasonable number of shirts.

I don't question the need or the quantity, I question paying retail for all of them after identifying consumer debt as a problem one would like to be rid of.

[theadvicist]

People are stupid. I work in the water industry. Bottle water has no special regulations; they fall under all the same regulations municipalities do for their drinking water. The treatment process is the same for both.

Most bottle water companies use tap water, run it through a carbon filter (the same type of filter is on your refrigerator that no one ever replaces) and pass it off as purified or specially filtered. Its a sham.

I wonder how many other products are shams like this. I once worked in a sourkraut facility and they used the same enormis vat of kraut to fill 7 "different" company labels. Buy the cheapest sourkraut its all the same.

I remember when Dasani was withdrawn from sale in the UK because the scandal broke that it was... tap water.

ETA reading up on it was not just tap water, it was tap water to which they apparently added carcinogens! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dasani#United_Kingdom

[MgoSam]

People who buy bottled water…one day we’ll look back at them and laugh the way we do for people who bought pet rocks in the 70’s. I hope.

A coworker spotted me filling up my mug at the water fountain at work. Granted, our building is old, and some of the faucets have a sign that say "Run water for at least 1 minute before consumption." Still:

CW: Wow, you're brave.
Me: Why, because I'm drinking from the water fountain?
CW: Yes.
Me: Well, there's no sign (warning to run water for a minute), so I'm assuming it's safe.
CW: I wouldn't do it.
Me: You have to die from something, right?

This coworker is a part of the $5/month water club. Yes, they pool their money to purchase those big bottled water coolers and drink from that.

Water coolers aren't that expensive to maintain, but then again I don't know how much water costs where you are and if they are paying for a service to deliver it. Here, we can fill up at 5 gallon drum of water for 39 cents a gallon. I have two jugs at the office and I will fill them up and bring them in, but then again mine is a small office so that water lasts a while. This is a necessity in my eyes as our tap is nasty, and I don't believe that my workers, especially in the warehouse, should have to bring in their own water.

[Dollar Slice]

Water coolers aren't that expensive to maintain, but then again I don't know how much water costs where you are and if they are paying for a service to deliver it.

We have a small office and it's about $5/mo per person when you include everything (delivery, rental of the cooler, etc.). It's a nice cheap perk to have, it dispenses hot water for tea as well as cold water... and we don't have a tap/sink anywhere in our office so people would have to get tap water from the sometimes-icky shared-with-other-companies bathroom sink, or buy bottled.

[MgoSam]

Water coolers aren't that expensive to maintain, but then again I don't know how much water costs where you are and if they are paying for a service to deliver it.

We have a small office and it's about $5/mo per person when you include everything (delivery, rental of the cooler, etc.). It's a nice cheap perk to have, it dispenses hot water for tea as well as cold water... and we don't have a tap/sink anywhere in our office so people would have to get tap water from the sometimes-icky shared-with-other-companies bathroom sink, or buy bottled.

I'm guessing that your's is a big office? For the cooler, we went on craigs' list and bought one and then bought two jugs and like I said, we refill them at the grocery store a block away for 39 cents a gallon or $1.95. I'm guessing that this wouldn't fly at a big office because people don't have time for that, but man does that add up.

[kimmarg]

People who buy bottled water…one day we’ll look back at them and laugh the way we do for people who bought pet rocks in the 70’s. I hope.

A coworker spotted me filling up my mug at the water fountain at work. Granted, our building is old, and some of the faucets have a sign that say "Run water for at least 1 minute before consumption." Still:

CW: Wow, you're brave.
Me: Why, because I'm drinking from the water fountain?
CW: Yes.
Me: Well, there's no sign (warning to run water for a minute), so I'm assuming it's safe.
CW: I wouldn't do it.
Me: You have to die from something, right?

This coworker is a part of the $5/month water club. Yes, they pool their money to purchase those big bottled water coolers and drink from that.

I would have said never buy water but then I worked in an office with horrendous tasting hard water. I caved and joined the water club ($5/ month) not too many months after I did annual tests revealed the water (from a well) did not meet federal clean drinking water standards. After that my employer took over the cost of water.

[nobodyspecial]

The coffee came in an 'Eco-cup!" proudly proclaiming how recycled it was. The bagel was placed in a huge clear plastic box (never even seen one of these in the UK,.....but oh great, the coffee cup was recycled. REDUCE, reuse, recycle.

Their inability to handle the concept of a china mug (the only proper way to serve tea) is why there is no hope for the civlisation over here.
That and not playing cricket, and having discovered a way of making rugby both boring and more dangerous.

[jinga nation]

People who buy bottled water…one day we’ll look back at them and laugh the way we do for people who bought pet rocks in the 70’s. I hope.

A coworker spotted me filling up my mug at the water fountain at work. Granted, our building is old, and some of the faucets have a sign that say "Run water for at least 1 minute before consumption." Still:

CW: Wow, you're brave.
Me: Why, because I'm drinking from the water fountain?
CW: Yes.
Me: Well, there's no sign (warning to run water for a minute), so I'm assuming it's safe.
CW: I wouldn't do it.
Me: You have to die from something, right?

This coworker is a part of the $5/month water club. Yes, they pool their money to purchase those big bottled water coolers and drink from that.

At my workplace, bunch of folks trying to bring back the water coolers and monthly water dues, etc. I was asked and replied "FuckNo!". I told them that there's a water fountain in our office, two fountains in the huge shower facility next door that dispense supercoldaqua, and there's 50cent water bottles in the fridge (that I only use in an emergency, buying one and refilling for the day). I'm that Nalgene water bottle chap.

[jinga nation]

CW1 to CW2: Let's buy a Keurig machine for $96. (Yeah that damn 2.0 with the DRM hack)
CW2 sends out an email to 20+ people asking to pitch in to share cost.
I replied that I wouldn't participate, love my cheap instant coffee, can get 16oz of good Sumatran in the building café for $2, or use my weekly free Dunkin Donuts coupons nearby.
When CW1 brings in the new machine the next day, purchased without any consensus,
CW3: There's an unused Keurig machine in the back of the datacenter (CW3 is a fellow cheap bastard).
CW1: Huh, oh whatever.
I walk in.
CW1: Jinga, what's $96 divided by 7?
Me: just under $14. Why?
CW1: For the coffee machine
Me: Does that price includes sales tax?
CW1: Damn!
CW4: I'll contribute, even though I don't drink coffee or use Keurig stuff, but I don't want to be accused in the future of not paying. (Same guy who played in office fantasy football league last year but didn't pay his $20 until the season was over.)

[dragoncar]

People who buy bottled water…one day we’ll look back at them and laugh the way we do for people who bought pet rocks in the 70’s. I hope.

A coworker spotted me filling up my mug at the water fountain at work. Granted, our building is old, and some of the faucets have a sign that say "Run water for at least 1 minute before consumption." Still:

CW: Wow, you're brave.
Me: Why, because I'm drinking from the water fountain?
CW: Yes.
Me: Well, there's no sign (warning to run water for a minute), so I'm assuming it's safe.
CW: I wouldn't do it.
Me: You have to die from something, right?

This coworker is a part of the $5/month water club. Yes, they pool their money to purchase those big bottled water coolers and drink from that.

I probably wouldn't drink water from a building that had a sign like that

[MM_MG]

At the airport just now...

Bartender:  Yeah, some people worry about their credit score and stuff like that...not me.

Patron 1:  I absolutely LOVE my car!  I don't care what happens I am not getting rid of it no matter what! 

I could only hear part of the coversation, but I can imagine how the rest of it went.

Oh and a facepunch for me for paying for a drink at the airport.