OT: Priorities...

[T-Bone]

I live in Minnesota and right now, in my area, we're getting heavy, wet snow poured on us. The roads suck ass and people are in the ditch all over the damn place.... Some because of the roads, and others because they're too stupid to drive in this stuff.

I work with the king of drama queens named Ryan. Every simple thing is made spectacular and over the top by this guy. If you're sick, he's worse... If you had a great day, his beat yours... etc

Anyway... This guy is ALWAYS whining about how broke he is, but in the same breath, will tell you about the awesome deals he just got on a bunch of authentic Hockey Jerseys on evilbay and the 52 inch flat panel he just bought, etc. When we have team feeds (potluck), he'll bring in the cheapest possible item, like a pack of buns or something, while others will go out of their way to actually cook something up or spend a little money. We just had a coworker (and his wife) that are having their first baby, and we all threw in $10 and got them some baby shower stuff. He donated nothing saying how broke he is, but then was bragging about the awesome seats he had next week for the Minnesota Wild Game. He and his wife eat out 7 days a week because she's too lazy to cook, but again... he's complaining about being broke.

To tie this all together, he got rid of his "gas guzzler" of a truck and bought a cheaper little car that would be better on gas. This car has a retarded headlight that's pretty much blown out, but he refuses to replace it, even though he complains that he can't see at night sometimes. The car needed new tires when he bought it... BADLY, but he's still not replaced them. He's been in the ditch 2-3 times this winter already (result: late for work), but has full intentions of making these tires work until summer. He went in the ditch again this morning and is again late for work, but he'll blame it on the weather again and not on his BALD tires.

The team is going to razz him silly about this, but supervision has had enough and is considering giving him an UNEXCUSED tardy because of his tires. We have people who drive 45-60 miles to work each DAY and make it just fine because they have their priorities straight, but Ryan can't even drive 8 miles without problems because he'd rather spend his money on frivilous things and have an unreliable vehicle for work.

We're considering calling the police and tipping them off about his headlight and tires, just so he gets a "Fix It" ticket and HAS to get them taken care of. His tires are well beyond illegal tread depth.



Would you risk you job, possibly your life and worse yet, everyone else on the roads well-being because you're too cheap to buy the proper things to make sure your vehicle is safe?

[conversationpc]

Would you risk you job, possibly your life and worse yet, everyone else on the roads well-being because you're too cheap to buy the proper things to make sure your vehicle is safe?

No. This guy is an asshole. Actually, it sounds like your company ought to fire the bum.

[T-Bone]

Sadly, the things he does Outside of work cannot effect his job status, but they (supervision) may take a different angle on the unexcused tardy because he's had enough already for the same reason, and can fix the problem, but chooses not to.

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

sounds like an wanker. I grew up in Minnesota, I ve seen people who are completely irresponsible in other areas of life make sure they take care of their tires and properly winterise their car. Its something you just dont fuck around with .

Call the cops on him.

By the way enjoy the weather, I miss that snowy shit since I moved away !

[ohsherrie]

Would you risk you job, possibly your life and worse yet, everyone else on the roads well-being because you're too cheap to buy the proper things to make sure your vehicle is safe?

No, but I've known a few who do just that. I've even seen some who spend all of their money of frivolities and then call on friends and family for "loans" when their car breaks down, needs tires, etc, so they can get to work.

[SteveForever]

Print this out anonymously and put it on his desk, he'll get clued in.

[Rip Rokken]

I LOVE your stories T-Bone -- especially the one about the guy who scratched up his new Cadillac. Keep them coming! You should write a column like "Grrrrrrr" (Mike Straka's column) on FoxNews.com. Better yet, we should team up and write a book full of this kind of stuff... Little tales of A-holes who finally get a measure of justice meted to them. People love to read those!

[T-Bone]

He just got to work about 2 hours late and so far everyone has razzed him. He's getting kinda defensive about it Even the leuitenant got on the radio and asked him if he got new tires yet... He's sick of people "bugging" him about it and he's going to look at them after work today


Our latest idea was to flatten the front tires (They're the bad ones) so he'd have no choice but to replace them. Of course it would look like he ran over some nails or something...

[T-Bone]

Well... supervision gave him a talking to about the tardy and "why" he was tardy, but they're going to hold off on the written warning. He's pissed off because he's holding on to the weather related incident rather than the fact that his tires are bald. They aparently told him if he has another "ditch" tardy, it'll be a suspension because he can at least try to correct the problem but chooses not to. He's a nice enough guy when he wants to be, but for fucks sake... think of others on the road too. Tires and brakes are something I would NEVER skimp on. They're TOO important

[Rockindeano]

Dude, give us all his email. We will rip his ass a new one.

Tell him Deano hates the Fucking Wild too.

[NealIsGod]

Get him a set of these airless tires:

[Rip Rokken]

He's a nice enough guy when he wants to be, but for fucks sake... think of others on the road too. Tires and brakes are something I would NEVER skimp on. They're TOO important

This is hilarious. There are lots of people like this who live under the illusion that their self-perceived extreme frugality actually saves them money, makes their life easier, etc. In reality, it doesn't at all -- he will eventually lose much more than the cost of a new set of tires in lost work time, tickets, accidents, etc. On the other hand, he apparently spends tons on junk he doesn't need, because he feels he's getting a good deal that can't be passed up, but at the expense of his priorities.

I know what some of this is like, except that I always have my priorities straight when it comes to taking care of the necessary things first. I see absolutely no point in spending more than I need to for anything as long as I'm fair and thoughtful to the other party, and am a notorious bargain hunter in my family. I've become an expert and finding things at the right time and at an unbeatable price, and that does actually make my life easier. Case in point -- the $5,400 elliptical machine in my gym. It's top of the line, and designed for health clubs. It was only a year old and in new condition when the owner passed away, and his son inherited it. His son didn't really want it, and didn't need the money either, and sold it to me for $700.00. I just made sure he knew what it was worth, and how much the actual resale value was (around $3,000-$3,400), and encouraged him to go that route, but he chose to sell it to me for $700.00. Can't beat that with a stick! But I've learned not to just go buy junk because it's a "hot deal".

I know someone else who is the opposite -- they also complain of being broke all the time, yet they are constantly blowing all their cash at garage sales and dollar stores scooping up "hot deals". Being broke ain't no hot deal, let me tell ya! They are truly pack-rats, and their house is just filled with junk. Literally every year they have a huge garage sale to get rid of junk they bought a few years previously. I've asked them before how they plan to retire -- just have the mother of all garage sales and live off the proceeds?

I like to save money in some areas so I have more to put into others. I do love to dine out pretty frequently, and I'm a really good tipper, for instance. Anyone who skimps on tipping (for good service) should be forced to eat in fast food restaurants for the rest of their lives).

Your co-worker needs a reality check. He lives under the illusion that his way of thinking and spending is actually making his life better, when it's actually extremely inefficient and is hurting him. It's kind of like people who line up for hours and hours as 3am at a Wal Mart Black Friday sale to save $50 on some silly electronic gadget-- is that all their time is worth?

Sorry, kinda rambled....