Balls and Walnuts
more than you ever wanted to know
One of the disadvantages of consumer survey-based bonuses and performance evaluations
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} The Barbarous Craft } One of the disadvantages of consumer survey-based bonuses and performance evaluations
. . . is that I am not free to speak my mind.
For example, I cannot tell a patient, no matter how much he may richly deserve it, that I cannot help him because in my particular specialty, we were not trained to treat assholes.
And when my evangelist patient tells me about an upcoming trip to the Dark Continent’s bush, “where some of them haven’t even heard of God,” I cannot supply the necessary correction: “They’ve undoubtedly heard of God. Several gods as a matter of fact. They simply haven’t heard about your god.”
Is it possible I am finally learning to hold my tongue?
D.
Dark Continent’s bush – sounds like a porn title.
I think you wouldn’t have too much trouble with the evangelical. They love the idea of pagan gods!
You’re saying they would take it as a statement of fact rather than an insult?
The joys of working in a service industry. When I was young I worked in retail and one of the things I learned was never to engage the loons, jerks, and dicks. Just smile noncommittally, and move on to get the transaction finished as soon as possible.
I wonder about those people – they go through their lives with people around them smiling uncomfortable smiles and being done with them as quickly as possible. It probably just reinforces whatever it is that makes them jerkwads.
Odd thing about that first patient: I treated him promptly and with courtesy, and now he’s being pleasant and courteous in return. Go figure. How often does that happen?