Stupidity, Part II

[j4]

I went to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee, and noticed that the sugar bowl was empty, so I got the bag of sugar out of the cupboard. As I was doing this, a guy in a suit picked up the empty sugar bowl, looked at it, shook it, looked puzzled, and put it down again. Then I poured sugar out of the bag into the bowl. He looked surprised. "Thank you for doing the sugar," he said. "It's a good job somebody does it."

Comments

[addedentry.livejournal.com]

That tactic's worked for me for several years now.

[simonb.livejournal.com]

Its amazing how many supposedly intelligent people don't seem to think about the little things - like refilling the sugar bowl - which keeps stuff going. I sometimes get a similar reaction when I refill the sugar bowl at work as well and this is in a building full of academics.

I guess it comes down to "I need sugar and the sugar bowl is empty. So I'll refill the sugar bowl since that helps me and will help others as well without taking up much more time". Common sense I guess. Unfortunately IME common sense is regetably not very common at all :(

[wechsler.livejournal.com]

Obtaining milk or cutlery is apparently such an extreme act of self-denial around here that it qualifies you for sainthood or some such.

As such I've been compelled to stop doing it, because the response gets on my, uh, nerves.

[oldbloke.livejournal.com]

My officemate Ann is (?was?) in charge of The Milk Club.
We once had somebody storm into the office (Ann wasn't here) shouting a lot about how she DIDN'T USE MILK AND SHOULDN'T BE ON THE ROTA.
Or something. I don't trust the water in this place, even boiled, so I'm not in the milk club either. Pepsi Max is the thing. And chocolate covered coffee beans. Bounce bounce bounce

[j4.livejournal.com]

and this is in a building full of academics.

You say this as if you expected academics to display common sense...

[simonb.livejournal.com]

Well, true. In a way I expect academics to display less common sense.

[wechsler.livejournal.com]

Actually it reminds me of the Other (http://www.livejournal.com/users/wechsler/451478.html) Great Cry Of Our Times:

1) State boldly and in a tone of righteous indignation: "Someone should do something".

2) Wander off and watch "I'm a celebrity".

[addedentry.livejournal.com]

Something must be done.
This is something.

=> We must do this.

[sparrowsion]

And by such logic we end up with the (mis-)guided bus.

[ottah.livejournal.com]

I think I'm the only one at work who changes the sharps bins...I normally walk in after a day off and find them full to overflowing!! I hate to think what I'll get back to at the w-end after nearly 3 weeks off.

[kaet.livejournal.com]

I wonder if those are the days my front garden gets used as a sharps bin? :/

[ottah.livejournal.com]

only if you've moved into one of the kennels on site :)

[kaet.livejournal.com]

The sugar bowl is empty, we need a rota, a mailing list, a board of scrutiny and a steering group, :).