NationStates Jolt Archive

What annoying attitudes have you had to face? I don't mean political or economic views (I don't want yet another Communists vs. Capitalists thread), but attitudes toward other people.

:soap:

The situation: I have a hypothyroid disease. Symptoms include always feeling cold, chronic fatigue, and extreme sensitivity to chemicals. Perfumes, colognes, aftershaves, laundry detergents, air fresheners, and various cleaning agents can give me a migraine-type headache and nausea. I am also very slowly recovering from a work-related back injury for which worker's comp provided insufficient care. I cannot jog, climb stairs quickly, or do many other things others can. I look healthy, so it is assumed that I am healthy. Sometimes I need to avoid areas where someone has been cleaning. I avoid the cleaning supplies aisle, the hair care aisle, and scented candle shelves at stores because walking down those aisles always means a headache.

The problem: There are a few jackasses who seem to think telling me to 'get over it' or otherwise dismissing my current problems will help. I try to keep things in perspective. I push the limits of my capabilities. I do the best I can under the circumstances before me. It's just not good enough for some arrogant bastards blessed with no physical handicaps. I don't know how to deal with people who say, "I can't smell anything bad, so you're making thinks up! How can [product] make you sick?"

The question: So, knowers of all knowledge that is known, what advice do you have? What similar situations have you encountered? It's quite possible I commit the same sin against others without realizing it.

Luckily I personally haven't encountered this too much due to the relatively liberal area in which I currently live, but some of my transgender friends have encountered people who have the strangest idea that, through expressing their true selves, transgender people are actively inviting people to insult or attack them. Also the notion that while making insulting jokes about almost any other minority is now frowned upon, insulting us is somehow fine, and that if I say anything about it I am being "unreasonable". Grr:mad:

EDIT: Advice for OP: Jackasses are pretty much reason-proof. Not much you can do accept realise they are idiots and not to bother with them if they persist after you explain your condition. There's too many jackasses around even to kill them and hide their bodies :(

I would have to say that in my day-to-day responsibilities at work it is the individuals who think that society and the world at large owes them something simply because of who or what they are. I won't start pointing out the specific demographics of these people that look at me like I'm inconveniencing them by asking to get out of their chair and do their job because then it would appear that I'm stereotyping, but that just happens to be the case in the building in work in. Mostly due to race, gender, or given, not earned, position these people are under the notion that because they fill a required slot in the mechanics of an organization that this automatically entitles them to all the benefits without any of the work. The sad truth is, the policies that breed these personalities usually tend to agree with the monsters they create at least in practice and letter if not by word of mouth.

I work hard every day and get most of my own self-esteem and sense of pride out of the quality of work I produce and how much benefit those who go on to make use of that work get. I ask for nothing more and nothing less than a fair consideration for a full 50-60 hour work week minus the weekends I come in on my own time, and these arrogant windbags have the gall to smirk at me and insult my intelligence because I'm obviously not understanding how their methods are so much better than mine. We'll see how long they stick around when they start asking me if they end their shift after a long day of talking on their cellphones during work hours or taking 2-3 hours for lunch.

I went to a doctor and was diagnosed with depression and narrowly got out of being prescribed pills (I'm unable to get medical attention over the summer so I have to wait until fall before I start so I can see a doctor to make sure there are no serious side affects) and some of my family and friends think it's something that I should be able to handle by "growing up". They think that I should just "feel better" and I want to but I can't without help from a psychiatrist and I just wanted them to know because I thought that as my friends they would care. apparently I thought wrong.

What annoying attitudes have you had to face? I don't mean political or economic views (I don't want yet another Communists vs. Capitalists thread), but attitudes toward other people.

:soap:

The situation: I have a hypothyroid disease. Symptoms include always feeling cold, chronic fatigue, and extreme sensitivity to chemicals. Perfumes, colognes, aftershaves, laundry detergents, air fresheners, and various cleaning agents can give me a migraine-type headache and nausea. I am also very slowly recovering from a work-related back injury for which worker's comp provided insufficient care. I cannot jog, climb stairs quickly, or do many other things others can. I look healthy, so it is assumed that I am healthy. Sometimes I need to avoid areas where someone has been cleaning. I avoid the cleaning supplies aisle, the hair care aisle, and scented candle shelves at stores because walking down those aisles always means a headache.

The problem: There are a few jackasses who seem to think telling me to 'get over it' or otherwise dismissing my current problems will help. I try to keep things in perspective. I push the limits of my capabilities. I do the best I can under the circumstances before me. It's just not good enough for some arrogant bastards blessed with no physical handicaps. I don't know how to deal with people who say, "I can't smell anything bad, so you're making thinks up! How can [product] make you sick?"

The question: So, knowers of all knowledge that is known, what advice do you have? What similar situations have you encountered? It's quite possible I commit the same sin against others without realizing it.

I have celiac disease and another auto-immune disorder. I'm often tired and in pain and due to my celiac I need tons of accomodation when I am out of the house. People don't understand. They don't understand that touching my food with their hands after they touch gluten will make me sick. They don't understand that "a little bit" of bread on my plate will make me sick or that they shouldn't try to offer me cheesecake. I politely refuse, but they push and push and push and then they get defensive. "Well, I would eat the cookie, just to be nice".........yeah nice, I'm sick for 5 weeks and have a much higher risk for cancer over your moldy cookie, nice.

I hurt, constantly, my joints are degenerating, and so sometimes I'm slow walking up the stairs or using the ATM because my knee won't work or my hand freezes up......and people say very rude things. People who know better, people who know my situation.

People are selfish, and unless something directly affects them they are insensitive. Most people haven't ever really been tired, they go to sleep, they wake up drowsy, but they haven't been so tired they can't move, and if they had it wasn't for 3 months unending. People in general aren't in pain 24 hours a day for 10 years, they don't understand, and besides we don't "look sick" and we get up and do normal things, things they do, only they don't know how much harder it is for us, and they don't care.

[/rant]

Well, that wasn't very productive was it? My hand hurts so I have to go take some meds and try to sleep now.

Advice would be ignore the assholes and do what you can and refuse to do what you can't.

The problem: There are a few jackasses who seem to think telling me to 'get over it' or otherwise dismissing my current problems will help. I try to keep things in perspective. I push the limits of my capabilities. I do the best I can under the circumstances before me. It's just not good enough for some arrogant bastards blessed with no physical handicaps. I don't know how to deal with people who say, "I can't smell anything bad, so you're making thinks up! How can [product] make you sick?"

My advice: ignore it. Get through high school and move on. We all have flaws. I have as many as anyone. No one gives a shit after you're out of school. You live your life and others live theirs.

Sympathy to the OP.

My mother has MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity). I'll admit it was severely annoying at first. Things that were just over the threshold of scent perception for me would send her into her room with a migraine. Diesel fumes get her wheezing so bad she had to get an inhaler and a handicapped parking placard (WA allows them for those who have sensitivity to exhaust). When I was living with her, I grudgingly switched over to unscented versions of everything I used, and I now find that I prefer them to their scented cousins.

In fact, while not overly sensitive, I find that I actually detest the cloying odors of things like scented detergent, and I don't even use fabric softeners of any kind anymore. I can smell so-called "fresheners" like Febreeze, which has more chemicals in it than all of northeastern New Jersey -- and is smells awful to me. It's to the point where I walk through the first-floor makeup/perfume counters in the usual department store (like Nordstrom or Dillard's) and I wonder how anyone can stand to shop in that area, let alone work there.

One thing that helped friends understand my mom's plight was a film called Safe (1995 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114323/)). It was especially helpful to see how dismissively people can be treated by those who can't imagine anyone having bad reactions to the incredible number of chemical agents present in everyday modern life.

I hate class snobbishness, down with the Toffs! as my British comrades would say.

I hate class snobbishness, down with the Toffs! as my British comrades would say.

Who mentioned class?

Who mentioned class?

Attitude problems.

My mother also has MCS. It's a bit annoying, but I understand that my selfishness shouldn't hurt her. Almost everything I have is now scent free or something like that.

On the topic of problems, I absolutely HATE people who stereotype me as a Mexican. Is anyone with slightly tanned skin immediately generalized as having a sombrero and crossing borders illegally? Even when I tell people I'm Panamanian, they still make fun of me as if we're the same as Mexicans. It's not like being a Mexican is bad, but it gets seriously annoying when every ignorant Californian thinks I just ran over the border

So how about this:
I'm a lifeguard.

I get asked to work tonight because the lifeguards want to throw a party, but the boss doesn't want to be liable so it's not a "staff party", it's a reserved party, reserved by one of the lifeguards, which means at least two lifeguards have to be officially on duty. So, no big, I say yes because hey, I'm getting paid to eat food, right?

So, no one apparently knew how to work the grill except for me, and no one brought lighter fluid for the charcoal, so out of the goodness of my heart, I drove to the store and bought some, and then proceeded to wrestle with the huge-ass smoker to try to use it to grill some burgers (the other option was the old-ass propane grill, and I didn't want to try to get it to work, especially since my experience has always been with charcoal grills). Well the smoker didn't work (duh) so we got the propane grill to work, but I was still the only person willing to grill the damn things.

So on the way out there were some cans left around, and I yelled up to the people "hosting" the party and told them, and one of the guys started bitching: "It's like, five steps! You couldn't just do it yourself? It's not like you're actually working tonight." Yeah, because I didn't just go buy lighter fluid, grill burgers for everyone, and not drink at all because I was on duty, all on my day off, and stay an hour and a half after the pay shift for the party ended so everyone else could stay. I'm not there to clean the hell up after them, I don't get paid to clean up after them, and for that matter I was promised 10 quid cash for coming in on my day off and never got it, even after I bought lighter fluid for them.

Lord Tothe, get over it. If they can't smell anything bad or don't think the smell is that strong then the problem is with you. You're weak and whining about it won't help.

Lord Tothe, get over it. If they can't smell anything bad or don't think the smell is that strong then the problem is with you. You're weak and whining about it won't help.

Joke?
Troll?
Stupidity?

Either way, not particularly funny. Lacks subtlety and a certain wit.

Lord Tothe, get over it. If they can't smell anything bad or don't think the smell is that strong then the problem is with you. You're weak and whining about it won't help.

The BAWWWW-ing factor is very large in this post.

Attitude problems.

So, the thread mentioned class all by itself? That's a stretch, even for you.

My mother also has MCS. It's a bit annoying, but I understand that my selfishness shouldn't hurt her. Almost everything I have is now scent free or something like that.

On the topic of problems, I absolutely HATE people who stereotype me as a Mexican. Is anyone with slightly tanned skin immediately generalized as having a sombrero and crossing borders illegally? Even when I tell people I'm Panamanian, they still make fun of me as if we're the same as Mexicans. It's not like being a Mexican is bad, but it gets seriously annoying when every ignorant Californian thinks I just ran over the border

Reminds me of Carlos Mencia:

"I'm from Honduras, so I'm Honduran. But when I'm in L.A., I'm a Mexican. And when I go to Florida, I'm CUBAN!"

Lord Tothe, get over it. If they can't smell anything bad or don't think the smell is that strong then the problem is with you. You're weak and whining about it won't help.

Neither will acting like an asshole.

What annoying attitudes have you had to face?

I find a wealth of both arrogance and pettiness in my day to day life.

*rest of post*

:( I agree with Dumb Ideologies: our cemetaries are already too crowded for any kind of counter-jackass retaliation. Which is too bad, really.

Also, anyone else really dislike the new smilies?

OP, you should try smoking Cannabis. It's safe, fun and will take your mind off your illness. It's also 100% non-addictive.

It's safe, fun and will take your mind off your illness. It's also 100% non-addictive.

Arguable, arguable, not likely since his illness is obviously related to airborne irritants (which smoke is generally described as being), and bullshit (I know a shyte-ton of potheads who couldn't quit if they wanted to).

Probably the attitude that bugs me the most is the one that I see more and more of these days and that is that it is the government's obligation to make my life is comfortable and easy and ensure I want for nothing and am immune to any and all possible risks and/or harm from those risks and if I do fall down or fail, it is the job of government to pick me up and bail me out.

Probably the attitude that bugs me the most is the one that I see more and more of these days and that is that it is the government's obligation to make my life is comfortable and easy and ensure I want for nothing and am immune to any and all possible risks and/or harm from those risks and if I do fall down or fail, it is the job of government to pick me up and bail me out.

Yeah, I'm pissed at the bailout of Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and Bear Stearns, too.

There has never been anything wrong with me. I'm pretty much the paradigm of health, the few times I get sick, I don't have need of medicine, a day of rest and I'm good to go.

So yea, I can't really sympathize.. :)

imo they would leave you alone if you smack a few around, but depending on how old you are that may or may not be a good idea, the older you get the more serious violence is viewed, or the more serious the consequences to you are, if still in high school you can probably get away with it, to an extent. Unfortunately I've had to leave my brawling ways by the roadside for fear of the Man.

One of the most irritating attitudes I seem to constantly come across is that anything that happens on the internet doesn't matter at all and that anyone who feels hurt, sad, or, conversely, happy, joyful, and all that jazz are being complete and total "emos" or whatever.

It's basically an attitude that pretends the Internet somehow exists in some sort of Magical Vacuum Fairyland and that it's entirely separate from reality. Fact is, it's not. It's just another communications medium, and like any other, it can be just as affecting on our lives.

I also hate the whole way people like to refer to anything going on anywhere off the internet as "Real Life" because it, again, acts as if the Internet is Magical Vacuum Fairlyland, when it's not.

:soap:

I'd like to bitch about the fact that every single declared right-winger with whom I've had a real-time conversation, with the notable exception of one NS oldie, has turned out to be a complete and total idiot, even though NSG makes it abundantly obvious that an overwhelmingly, crushingly large number of Australian Liberals, British Conservatives, American Republicans and what have you, are quite sensible and of above-average intelligence.

EDIT: Actually, that's not quite true. All of the NS right-wingers I know are awesome people. The other ones, not so much.

I'd also like to bitch about two things.

a) I wear glasses. I get a lot of flak over this.

b) I have Asperger's Syndrome, and I've heard some totally idiotic things over this. Not badly meant, just horribly patronising and arrogant, from people who don't know the disorder's specifics. Just because I'm slightly autistic doesn't mean I'm suddenly going to burst into a killing rage.

Conversely, there is also the fact that a few people I've met believe autistic spectrum disorders are just 'states of mind' that one should 'get over' or else one is an idiot and unworty of social contact.

[/rant]

I'm done. :$

At least you get treated for illnesses...some people, in places that can't afford to give treatment, or the people themselves can't afford the treatment may not get called names for the illness, but can't keep it under control and it totally ruins their lives.

I know which I'd choose, if I had too.

I either get ignored, or talked to like I'm six. Apparently most people think my name is "the guy in the wheelchair". And then I'm the villain if I have the nerve to get offended by this.

I either get ignored, or talked to like I'm six. Apparently most people think my name is "the guy in the wheelchair". And then I'm the villain if I have the nerve to get offended by this.

:( People are stupid.

I either get ignored, or talked to like I'm six. Apparently most people think my name is "the guy in the wheelchair". And then I'm the villain if I have the nerve to get offended by this.

Get a Stephen Hawking style wheelchair with a spring loaded boxing glove for such situations.

My sympathies Tothe.

I find a wealth of Arrogance, hypocrisy, and pettiness, but it usually arises from a political debate.

ZOMG! THEY BROUGHT THE OLD SMILEYS BACK!!!:wink::tongue:

Get a Stephen Hawking style wheelchair with a spring loaded boxing glove for such situations.

My idea involved a taser.

My advice: ignore it. Get through high school and move on. We all have flaws. I have as many as anyone. No one gives a shit after you're out of school. You live your life and others live theirs.

Alas, I am out of HS and college and still need to deal with adults who haven't outgrown their juvenile attitudes.

I hate class snobbishness, down with the Toffs! as my British comrades would say.

I KNEW Andares couldn't resist a marxist dig. I said I didn't want yet another communists vs. capitalists thread!

OP, you should try smoking Cannabis. It's safe, fun and will take your mind off your illness. It's also 100% non-addictive.

Ugh. Airborne particulate matter. Second-hand tobacco is bad enough - I can't imagine first-hand smoke of any kind.

Lord Tothe, get over it. If they can't smell anything bad or don't think the smell is that strong then the problem is with you. You're weak and whining about it won't help.
The BAWWWW-ing factor is very large in this post.

Ah. So despite my best attempts to fight through my difficulties, I'm a whining cowardly baby. I have chronic fatigue, yet I get up at 6:30 anyway even though I'd rather sleep 'til 9. I have been in constant back pain for over a year since the accident, but I work a 40-hour week anyway. Any of you who call me a whiner are assuming that one post pointing out an issue I've seen constitutes whining. By that same standard, anyone who complains of racism, homophobia, class inequality, wage disparity, sexual harassment, or anything else would be a whiner.

Maybe my chemical sensitivity should be a warning that I'm feeling effects that you experience but don't notice. It's possible that in at least some circumstances I'm the miner's canary. If something sickens me, maybe you should be open to the possibility that it's harmful to you as well.

Probably the attitude that bugs me the most is the one that I see more and more of these days and that is that it is the government's obligation to make my life is comfortable and easy and ensure I want for nothing and am immune to any and all possible risks and/or harm from those risks and if I do fall down or fail, it is the job of government to pick me up and bail me out.

I agree. I haven't applied for government disability benefits and when I've lost my job in the past I got another job instead of milking the unemployment system. Despite the issues mentioned in my OP, I have scrupulously avoided government assistance in every way I could. I attended a community college and worked summers to pay for it. Self-sufficiency is possible even with the setbacks I've experienced.

What annoying attitudes have you had to face?
The idealism of your average Marxist chafes my biscuits.

OP, you should try smoking Cannabis. It's safe, fun and will take your mind off your illness. It's also 100% non-addictive.

Hmmm, with the airborn particulate sensitivity, smoking would not be fun...But tea, or brownies, or cookies, or pizza crust, with the extra added bonus of THC (Tenderlovin' Hookah Care) really should be considered!

Ugh. Airborne particulate matter. Second-hand tobacco is bad enough - I can't imagine first-hand smoke of any kind.

See above post

I have been in constant back pain for over a year since the accident,

Ever consider trying acupuncture, or acupressure?

Maybe my chemical sensitivity should be a warning that I'm feeling effects that you experience but don't notice. It's possible that in at least some circumstances I'm the miner's canary. If something sickens me, maybe you should be open to the possibility that it's harmful to you as well.

Sounds good, when can you start?

PS I never learned how to block out quotes *I am unworthy*

OP, you should try smoking Cannabis. It's safe, fun and will take your mind off your illness. It's also 100% non-addictive.
Bull... shit.

I lost my best mate to that shite, and he then moved onto harder stuff to get the buzz he lost after too much exposure to weed, which really fucked him up.

Also the OP's condition is related to the quality of air around him, so it really wouldn't hlep.

Sounds good, when can you start?

PS I never learned how to block out quotes *I am unworthy*

tags are [ quote ] and [ / quote ], but without the spaces shown here. Just add the [ / quote ] when you want to interject, and add the [ quote ] tag when you are ready for the quote box to resume.

tags are [ quote ] and [ / quote ], but without the spaces shown here. Just add the [ / quote ] when you want to interject, and add the [ quote ] tag when you are ready for the quote box to resume.

Thank you oh Lord:hail: You have added to my quality of life in general:tongue:

Regarding the marijuana suggestion, I'd just rather avoid that route. I know some who smoke that stuff without ill effects, and I know some who've been really screwed up. Since there's a tendency toward alcoholism and other addictive behavior in my family, I'd rather avoid narcotics. There is anecdotal evidence that dependency issues can be genetic, and I'd rather not run that risk. I don't need another handicap.

Bull... shit.

I lost my best mate to that shite, and he then moved onto harder stuff to get the buzz he lost after too much exposure to weed, which really fucked him up.

I don't know what exactly you're on about with this "losing the buzz after too much exposure to weed," but it's nonsense. Ask any old hippie if he agrees that 'too much exposure' to weed loses the buzz and forces one to move to 'harder stuff.'

And even if it wasn't, someone's choice to move on to something completely different is not based on anything but his own choice. You're trying to make it like oh, he did weed, so moving to "harder stuff" was inevitable. The old gateway drug (BS) argument.

The Women's Christian Temperance Movement used that argument in the 19th century to show how evil tobacco was... smoking cigarettes leads - inevitably, of course! - to the sins of drinking.

The modern re-use of this shit argument is no less laughable.

What it really seems like is your 'mate' was stupid in going to 'harder stuff', and rather than face the fact that you had a stupid mate you'll blame the nearest handy inanimate substance instead. I guess it's easier to see him as a victim of Evil Weed than, you know, his own free will.

Despite the issues mentioned in my OP, I have scrupulously avoided government assistance in every way I could. I attended a community college and worked summers to pay for it. Self-sufficiency is possible even with the setbacks I've experienced.

Community colleges are heavily subsidized by the government. Why did you take a government hand-out?

Community colleges are heavily subsidized by the government. Why did you take a government hand-out?

Firstly, it's primarily State funding, not Federal. Secondly, I hadn't fully developed my philosophies yet. I was doing the best I could under the circumstances with what knowledge I had at the time.

Firstly, it's primarily State funding, not Federal. Secondly, I hadn't fully developed my philosophies yet. I was doing the best I could under the circumstances with what knowledge I had at the time.

What does it matter if its primarily state and locally financed if its a government handout? On another note do you think others in similar situations shouldn't use community colleges?

OP, you should try smoking Cannabis. It's safe, fun and will take your mind off your illness. It's also 100% non-addictive.
I know more than one person who has starved themselves to afford it. And that's not addiction?

People who get offended when I DON'T want to hug them. Better yet, get offended and I tell them not to hug me. No matter how many times I explain it, they think I'm being silly. I just hate hugs. The worse is when I'm with family and I try to make it clear through body language that I don't want to be hugged and I am given a bear hug... -_- blah!

Sure some people like hugs but why can't said people learn to accept that some of us just don't feel like being hugged.

I know more than one person who has starved themselves to afford it. And that's not addiction?

I don't think so...Sounds more like semi-creative priority setting to me...

Regarding the marijuana suggestion, I'd just rather avoid that route. I know some who smoke that stuff without ill effects, and I know some who've been really screwed up. Since there's a tendency toward alcoholism and other addictive behavior in my family, I'd rather avoid narcotics. There is anecdotal evidence that dependency issues can be genetic, and I'd rather not run that risk. I don't need another handicap.

As well as totally understanding and accepting your reasoning (Too late for me) I still suggest making some tea...(I know, I said I understood your reasoning, but I got's to try anyway:) ) BTW, Marijuana is not a narcotic ("the man" classified it wrongly eons ago), it's a mild halucinogen.

As well as totally understanding and accepting your reasoning (Too late for me) I still suggest making some tea...(I know, I said I understood your reasoning, but I got's to try anyway:) ) BTW, Marijuana is not a narcotic ("the man" classified it wrongly eons ago), it's a mild halucinogen.

well, toodle pip, old chap. I'm off to make some earl grey. OK, maybe just bagged peppermint tea.

well, toodle pip, old chap. I'm off to make some earl grey. OK, maybe just bagged peppermint tea.

Okay, for real, have you ever tried steeping whole dried chamomile flowers? With a dollop of honey? *wipes drool off space key* It is so calming (even without a pinch of "leaf") I'll send you a bit if you want, I grew it in a hydroponic system 90+% organically, both indoors and out...I have German Bodegold,massively apple scented and flavored, and Roman which has more of an almost menthol flavor...Well there it is...

Community colleges are heavily subsidized by the government. Why did you take a government hand-out?

Wait, so why do community colleges have large foundations with supporters and galas then? Because they're soooo much fun to organize and put on (and be the entertainment for that gets utterly ignored while the cash cows graze)?

Oh yeah, and the student tuition and fees?

Yes, government funding is a part of CC budgets, but "heavily subsidized" is such a mischaracterization as to be laughable.

Wait, so why do community colleges have large foundations with supporters and galas then? Because they're soooo much fun to organize and put on (and be the entertainment for that gets utterly ignored while the cash cows graze)?

Oh yeah, and the student tuition and fees?

Yes, government funding is a part of CC budgets, but "heavily subsidized" is such a mischaracterization as to be laughable.

Correct. Furthermore, I had the sense to avoid Federal Student Financial Aid, government grants and loans. In my pursuit of education. I did the best I could with the knowledge I had at the time under the circumstances before me.

Maybe I ought to add "people who tell you to do something and then tell you that you did it wrong even though they just said to 'figure it out on your own' when you asked how they wanted it done in the first place" to my list of people with irritating attitudes. Anyone else ever experienced that?

I know more than one person who has starved themselves to afford it. And that's not addiction?

Sounds more like a suspicious anecdote than an addiction to me.

Wait, so why do community colleges have large foundations with supporters and galas then? Because they're soooo much fun to organize and put on (and be the entertainment for that gets utterly ignored while the cash cows graze)?

Oh yeah, and the student tuition and fees?

Yes, government funding is a part of CC budgets, but "heavily subsidized" is such a mischaracterization as to be laughable.

According to the American Association of Community Colleges local governments provides 21% of the revenue of community, states provide 37%, the feds provide of 16%, tuition and fees 17%, and all other sources contribute 9%. So the three levels government provides near three quarters of a CC's budget. This to me warrants the term heavily subsidized. Source (http://www2.aacc.nche.edu/research/index.htm).

The amount of times I hear people tell me, "Oh but my friend got a permanent job in teaching straight out of uni." Really? Go ask them if it was permanent to begin with or if the teacher they were replacing decided not to come back.

And the people who assume that I am judgmental just because I make different choices. I really couldn't care less if others do drugs, or have casual sex, its your choice. I just don't. But they keep calling me judgmental. I don't understand it.

To all those who's main points were about sickness. It is my firm belief that Jesus can heal you.

I think the most frustrating thing I come up against with my work (welfare) is that people are so selfish, they honest to God don't give a shit about anything or anyone but themselves. I hate that people are seen as burdens, if they are not seen as 'productive'. And I hate how a lot of people have this attitude of entitlement. Like the world owes you a living....give me a break..

What annoying attitudes have you had to face? I don't mean political or economic views (I don't want yet another Communists vs. Capitalists thread), but attitudes toward other people.

:soap:

The situation: I have a hypothyroid disease. Symptoms include always feeling cold, chronic fatigue, and extreme sensitivity to chemicals. Perfumes, colognes, aftershaves, laundry detergents, air fresheners, and various cleaning agents can give me a migraine-type headache and nausea. I am also very slowly recovering from a work-related back injury for which worker's comp provided insufficient care. I cannot jog, climb stairs quickly, or do many other things others can. I look healthy, so it is assumed that I am healthy. Sometimes I need to avoid areas where someone has been cleaning. I avoid the cleaning supplies aisle, the hair care aisle, and scented candle shelves at stores because walking down those aisles always means a headache.

The problem: There are a few jackasses who seem to think telling me to 'get over it' or otherwise dismissing my current problems will help. I try to keep things in perspective. I push the limits of my capabilities. I do the best I can under the circumstances before me. It's just not good enough for some arrogant bastards blessed with no physical handicaps. I don't know how to deal with people who say, "I can't smell anything bad, so you're making thinks up! How can [product] make you sick?"

The question: So, knowers of all knowledge that is known, what advice do you have? What similar situations have you encountered? It's quite possible I commit the same sin against others without realizing it.

People who act like they're Mr. Makeover. I know this isn't as serious as what most people have posted, but I have a mustache, and I'm sorta growing a beard. I am also 15. Therefore, I sometimes get a lot of flak (Nearly every week when I was at school last year). "Shave it, shave it!" Shut up, bitch. My business what I do with my hair. People have threatened to sign me up for a makeover show or something, so I can get rid of it. And then people wonder why I think many of the people I know are pissheads. Also, people who say I'm a mean person when I tell someone they're acting like a pisshead. Yes, I am a mean person. But, I am only mean to those who bring it on themselves. I try never to owe people favors, because they will usually ask me to shave. Also, "you know, you should blah blah blah because you look like crap." To quote Mick Mars, "I'm not a pretty person. I'm ugly as fuck, and I don't give a shit." I do some things to make myself look better, like comb my hair and stuff. I'm just tired of people trying to get me to shave my facial hair. It's just as annoying when people mention how much they like it, which some people do. I just want it to be treated like other parts of your face, for example a nose (Would you say to someone "Cut off your nose" or "I really like your nose"? Okay, some people might say the latter)

Yes, I do have a lot of rage and anger inside me. Wouldn't you?

:soap:

I have finally gotten around to reading your thread, and may I say I am disgusted by people who have this attitude almost as much as people who have an attitude against people with or without religious beliefs.

While I can only comprehend how you may feel when people tell you to "get over it" and not had a medical aliment, at least not one which I can't hide from people. I have said something along the lines to people such as "as if this makes you sick" which I have felt ashamed and embossed when I find out later that they do indeed, I have not told someone to get over it.

I was in a situation where I had a workplace injury and managed t have my thumb nearly cut off completely thankfully it was able to be reattached. It took me 7 weeks till I was able to resume normal duties, despite the fact that I returned to work the next day on light duties I heard of people whispering that I was faking my own injury and extending the trouble so I wouldn't have to return to 'proper' work. I extend my sympathies to your poor workplace compensation.

The best thing always did and I would suggest is to talk to them about it those who have heard the stories from unsavoury characters are more easily swayed and may believe you. Those people who are the ones saying that you must be making it up are ones that will not see reason and it is best to either tell them off and/or just simply ignore them.

While I am sure that people have told you these things already, I thought I would say it again, this sort of behaviour is just as bad as any other behaviour such as homophobia and racism, and is something that must be worked on, and should not be allowed in the workplace as it constitutes harassment.

The amount of times I hear people tell me, "Oh but my friend got a permanent job in teaching straight out of uni." Really? Go ask them if it was permanent to begin with or if the teacher they were replacing decided not to come back.

Well I can say that I have friends who got a teaching job straight out of uni, not because the teacher decided to come back, however, some of my friends did get this job because a teache left for one reason or another. I thought you were in Australia, there are quite a lot of teaching positions open isn't there or have I been fooled by the AEU?

And the people who assume that I am judgmental just because I make different choices. I really couldn't care less if others do drugs, or have casual sex, its your choice. I just don't. But they keep calling me judgmental. I don't understand it.

It's because what you do is different from what they do, so you must be the judgemental one.

:soap:

I'd like to bitch about the fact that every single declared right-winger with whom I've had a real-time conversation, with the notable exception of one NS oldie, has turned out to be a complete and total idiot, even though NSG makes it abundantly obvious that an overwhelmingly, crushingly large number of Australian Liberals, British Conservatives, American Republicans and what have you, are quite sensible and of above-average intelligence.

EDIT: Actually, that's not quite true. All of the NS right-wingers I know are awesome people. The other ones, not so much.

I'd also like to bitch about two things.

a) I wear glasses. I get a lot of flak over this.

b) I have Asperger's Syndrome, and I've heard some totally idiotic things over this. Not badly meant, just horribly patronising and arrogant, from people who don't know the disorder's specifics. Just because I'm slightly autistic doesn't mean I'm suddenly going to burst into a killing rage.

Conversely, there is also the fact that a few people I've met believe autistic spectrum disorders are just 'states of mind' that one should 'get over' or else one is an idiot and unworty of social contact.

[/rant]

I'm done. :$

I could say the exact same things about left-wingers I have had to talk to over the years. But I have met lefties who are quite sensible and have intelligence; it is just unfortunate I have met others who wouldn't have a clue. I suppose it takes all sorts to make a group. And while I may say that all people on NS are awesome I am not that generous, however there are some right-wingers on here who are idiots just like there are some left-wingers who are idiots too, as I say it takes all sorts.

b) Yes Asperger's Syndrome, my sister has that and the amount of shit I have seen her cop over the years always makes me sad and mad at the same time, I feel sorry for her over many things some wankers have done to her, such as all the girls at school one year saying they will come to her birthday party and then they all ganged up and never arrived, this was one of the major things. What I also couldn't do is always be there to protect her, and due to my sensibilities and the fact that I am older I didn't always go out and exact revenge like I wanted to, that is not to say sometimes I didn't. I can say now that as she has gotten older she is now living a bit better social life and is happier at school, not knowing how old you are but I hope you also begin to live better life without having to deal with dickheads.