Waaaaa!
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HI,
I'm new to the forum. I have been reading posts for a while now but I have never contributed. I wanted to get your opinion on someone I work with.
He's a real young guy, but he acts much younger than he is. I am guessing he is 22? Maybe?
Anyways, he is really animated. He does weird things. And oh yeah, he's a programmer like me.
To give you an example, one day I was going to use the restroom and he jumped out and surprised me with some sort of ninja-like karate stance. He yelled out this loud "Waaaa!"
Yeah, I know that's pretty juvenile. I told him to stop it because that sort of thing could offend the whole Asian community, but he didn't pay attention.
He continues to do embarrassing things like that. I think he gives programming a bad name.
Another time he was doing his acrobatic stunts (he sits across from me btw) and he knocked over a large pitcher of coffee and a metal tray. It was so loud that our manager walked over and asked me what was going on. I tried to tell him, but he just said keep it quiet (to me) and for me to clean it up.
My coworker is like a little kid in a candy store. He's always moving and motioning and doing his stunts. What should I do?
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Call Fox and tell them you have a great location for a new reality TV show.
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@Pap said:
Call Fox and tell them you have a great location for a new reality TV show.
Some of his routines are pretty funny I'll admit, but sometimes they are a bit much. Like I remember when he did some kicking motions at his cube and he said in a sinister voice, "That desk just saved your life."
That's a bit over the top if you ask me.
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Medication.
Drug the ADD bastard.
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I see people with misbehaving dogs use water sprays, perhaps that might work?
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I'd buy a teaser, so you can tell him when you think he's taking it too far...
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Get him promoted to management, so he gets his own office. Preferable in another subsidary of the company, on the other side of the globe.
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@newguy said:
I told him to stop it because that sort of thing could offend the whole Asian community
You're the crazy one here.
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@asuffield said:
@newguy said:
I told him to stop it because that sort of thing could offend the whole Asian community
You're the crazy one here.
yeah... exactly how would that offend an Asian more than anyone else? How is it offensive at all in fact?
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@tster said:
@asuffield said:
@newguy said:
I told him to stop it because that sort of thing could offend the whole Asian community
You're the crazy one here.
yeah... exactly how would that offend an Asian more than anyone else? How is it offensive at all in fact?
And moreso, as an English Ninja, I'm offended that he failed to take note of my potential outrage, instead rolling out the old stereotype that all ninjas are Asian.
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@newguy said:
... I told him to stop it because
that sort of thing could offend the whole Asian community...@newguy said:
I think he gives programming a bad name.
So, let me see if I have this straight. Because one of your coworkers is very imaginative and enthusiastic, you've got your panties in a wad? He might be making himself look a bit ridiculous (and, if that's true and not merely your perception, it'll change eventually on its own), but you're making yourself look like an oversensitive twatrag.
He's probably doing it, whether he realizes it or not, because he likes the attention. The best thing to do would be to grow some skin, laugh it off, and don't worry so much about what other people are doing.
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@newguy said:
To give you an example, one day I was going to use the restroom and he jumped out and surprised me with some sort of ninja-like karate stance. He yelled out this loud "Waaaa!"
Wow! Is that accepted at your company? Can I too work there? It seems like a much more tolerant place than where I last worked. (Note: worked as in "I quit", not as in "fired for antics").
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I totally blame management in this case. This guy 1. should never have been hired and 2. should have been fired as soon as he started to act up. He sounds exactly like the type of person I try not to hire. He has loose cannon written all over him.
Furthermore, I think your manager is a cowardly bastard. Why do I say that? He didn't have the guts to confront the guy when he knocked the coffee and tray over. That makes him cowardly. Secondly, he questions you about the incident. That makes him a bastard.
I have seen this type of management style before and it looks very bad for you and not the ninja guy. This is my prediction. This ADD kid is going to continue to knock things over, kick, scream, whatever. Your manager will continue to go to you and ask what the problem is. It will look like you are always being called into question, and a case will be made to fire you. Why, you ask. Firing you will "serve as an example" to the ninja guy. Your manager feels comfortable confronting you, so he'll have no problem firing you...in a weak attempt to get the ninja guy to line up. It's a sick, perverted way of thinking, but I've seen it before. Someone is chosen as a "test fire" just so the troops shape up. It sounds like you are the perfect "test fire" candidate because no one has the balls to confront ninja guy.
In addition, it sounds like your company has a disaster waiting to happen. The whole "offend the Asian community" is actually a legitimate concern. I have seen companies sued majorly for much less than that. Imagine if you have a client walking through and they happen to be "Asian"...and they see that. Major law suit.
I would say the best thing to do in this case is talk to your manager...but...being that he is part of the problem, I would probably start looking for a new job.
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@Mikademus said:
@newguy said:
To give you an example, one day I was going to use the restroom and he jumped out and surprised me with some sort of ninja-like karate stance. He yelled out this loud "Waaaa!"
Wow! Is that accepted at your company? Can I too work there? It seems like a much more tolerant place than where I last worked. (Note: worked as in "I quit", not as in "fired for antics").
Anecdote 1
It was raining, and I took the company umbrella.
A part timer had his own.
A light-saber duel ensued (incl. sound effects).
Anecdote 2
I edit some graphics settings on my PC. "Hupsadaisy," I say.
"Hupsadaisy?" my coworker says.
"Hupsadaisy," I say, as I click another OK button.
"Hupsadaisy?!" my coworker says.
"Hupsadaisy," I say, and smile at him.Coworker mutters aggressively, "Alright. I've had it. Fucking hupsadaisy." and violently gets up as if to deliver a firm beat-down.
@CPound said:
I totally blame management in this case. This guy 1. should never have been hired and 2. should have been fired as soon as he started to act up. He sounds exactly like the type of person I try not to hire. He has loose cannon written all over him.
Such as instigating an umbrella duel.
Also,
Overreacting much?
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I think your best course of action is to spend some time observing more closely what he's doing and try to figure out why. Is he just looking for attention? Does he feel insecure? Is he pulling all this crap because it's his bizarre way of counting you as a friend? Just some ideas, but getting to the bottom of the behavior is the only way you're going to be able to influence it. Telling him to cut it out may have the opposite effect, since you're dealing with someone who seems to be pretty insecure.
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@newguy said:
I think he gives programming a bad name.
Well, but you didn't show his code. As far as I'm concerned, you can eat newborns for breakfast, kill five kittens a day instead of a smoke breaks, conspire with Satan himself or vote for republicans. If your code is good -- you are good programmer (and will go to digital heaven).
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ahhh, only on a forum like this do you get an in dept discussion about some guy that goes "Waaaa!".
Tricks to deal with guys when your stuck in this kind situation:
1) Kick him in the balls. A ninja will be disgraced and shamed by being defeated by such a simple move, plus i sincerely doubt he try to have you prosecuted or fired, after all how is he going to explain it to anyone: "All I did was jump out in front of him and pull out one of my ninja stances and yell 'Waaaa!' and he kicked me in the balls, like, what was that for???!".
2) Throw the pitcher of coffee at him. He might try and have you prosecuted or fired, but what's gonna happen if he did?: "I was just doing my uber ninja acrobatic stunts when I fell and knocked over the pitcher of coffee, then he picked it up and smashed it over my face, like, what was that for???!", to which you would reply, "Which sounds more plausable , that I, of sound mind, smashed it over his face for no apparent reason, OR that he, of not so sound mind, was doing his odd acrobatic tricks and fell face first into the pitcher of coffee???!".
3) Any time he does anything out of the ordinary, bitch slap him as hard as you can while holding a completely straight, emotionless face and without uttering a single word. And as you do so think to yourself as he yells: "OWWW!!!, like, what was that for?", if i do this enough he will learn to behave himself, If a Dog can learn so can he.He will not try to have you prosecuted or fired as he will fear you.
4) All of the above.
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You have my sympathy. I am leaning toward the viewpoint of CPound and Hitsuji. I hate being plaqued by asshole co-workers when your employer doesn't care anything about your discomfort. That may or may not be the case here, but you get my drift.
Does he have a car? If so, he has tires. Tires can be flattened. Now, this probably won't affect his behavior while at work, but probably nothing would do that anyway. What it will do is put a little smile on your face and a little sunshine in your heart the next time he acts like a jerk.
(Just don't get caught)
(If you do get caught, this conversation never happened)
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@CPound said:
I totally blame management in this case. This guy 1. should never have been hired and 2. should have been fired as soon as he started to act up. He sounds exactly like the type of person I try not to hire. He has loose cannon written all over him.
Furthermore, I think your manager is a cowardly bastard. Why do I say that? He didn't have the guts to confront the guy when he knocked the coffee and tray over. That makes him cowardly. Secondly, he questions you about the incident. That makes him a bastard.
I have seen this type of management style before and it looks very bad for you and not the ninja guy. This is my prediction. This ADD kid is going to continue to knock things over, kick, scream, whatever. Your manager will continue to go to you and ask what the problem is. It will look like you are always being called into question, and a case will be made to fire you. Why, you ask. Firing you will "serve as an example" to the ninja guy. Your manager feels comfortable confronting you, so he'll have no problem firing you...in a weak attempt to get the ninja guy to line up. It's a sick, perverted way of thinking, but I've seen it before. Someone is chosen as a "test fire" just so the troops shape up. It sounds like you are the perfect "test fire" candidate because no one has the balls to confront ninja guy.
In addition, it sounds like your company has a disaster waiting to happen. The whole "offend the Asian community" is actually a legitimate concern. I have seen companies sued majorly for much less than that. Imagine if you have a client walking through and they happen to be "Asian"...and they see that. Major law suit.
I would say the best thing to do in this case is talk to your manager...but...being that he is part of the problem, I would probably start looking for a new job.
If I didn't know you I would think that you were joking. The only thing I can say to you is that you better stay FAR FAR FAR away from startups and really smart people. Why? Really smart people tend to behave differently and strangely at times. Startups tend to get a lot of really smart people.
CPound is probably just scared by this guy because he's afraid that people like him will be more productive than himself and be promoted above him.
As far as the original inquiry. I would suggest just approaching him very seriously and asking him to stop acting so strange. However, only ask him to stop doing the things that are actually distracting you from being more productive at work. While yelling "Waaaa!" in the bathroom is very strange, you really don't have the authority to tell him that he can't do it. It doesn't hurt anyone else.
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@tster said:
* is probably just scared by this guy because he's afraid that people like him will be more productive than himself and be promoted above him.
It appears to me that conformism (and expecting conformism from others) often goes hand-in-hand with the jealousy that average people feel against outstanding people.
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@ammoQ said:
It appears to me that conformism (and expecting conformism from others) often goes hand-in-hand with the jealousy that average people feel against outstanding people.
Before you go assuming that my coworker is some sort of uber-programmer, let me give you some background first.
We are a COBOL shop. Our group, with the exception of this junior programmer, is strictly command-line. The junior's role is to take COBOL into the 21st century, a la COBOL.NET.
None of us, including myself, are Visual Studio gurus by any stretch of the imagination. Visual Studio looks neat, I see our developer dragging and dropping stuff which would take us hours to accomplish. In that respect, I envy him.
But please don't assume that he is some super-coder. This is his first programming language and we typically have to help him understand the basics of the language. Yes, he may be good at the drag-and-drop aspect, but his command of the COBOL language is lacking and depends on his teammates greatly.
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@newguy said:
@ammoQ said:
It appears to me that conformism (and expecting conformism from others) often goes hand-in-hand with the jealousy that average people feel against outstanding people.
Before you go assuming that my coworker is some sort of uber-programmer, let me give you some background first.
We are a COBOL shop. Our group, with the exception of this junior programmer, is strictly command-line. The junior's role is to take COBOL into the 21st century, a la COBOL.NET.
None of us, including myself, are Visual Studio gurus by any stretch of the imagination. Visual Studio looks neat, I see our developer dragging and dropping stuff which would take us hours to accomplish. In that respect, I envy him.
But please don't assume that he is some super-coder. This is his first programming language and we typically have to help him understand the basics of the language. Yes, he may be good at the drag-and-drop aspect, but his command of the COBOL language is lacking and depends on his teammates greatly.
A COBOL shop? and you are expecting people to be sane?
You are demanding too much.
BTW: I'm actually like that guy, except that I act like that when I'm alone. When with people I'm as serious as this cat
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@newguy said:
@ammoQ said:
It appears to me that conformism (and expecting conformism from others) often goes hand-in-hand with the jealousy that average people feel against outstanding people.
Before you go assuming that my coworker is some sort of uber-programmer, let me give you some background first.
We are a COBOL shop. Our group, with the exception of this junior programmer, is strictly command-line. The junior's role is to take COBOL into the 21st century, a la COBOL.NET.
None of us, including myself, are Visual Studio gurus by any stretch of the imagination. Visual Studio looks neat, I see our developer dragging and dropping stuff which would take us hours to accomplish. In that respect, I envy him.
But please don't assume that he is some super-coder. This is his first programming language and we typically have to help him understand the basics of the language. Yes, he may be good at the drag-and-drop aspect, but his command of the COBOL language is lacking and depends on his teammates greatly.
So let me get this straight...
He is many times more productive than you. He knows the newer technology that helps him be more productive while everyone else is stuck in the past using only the command line. And you think he is a bad programmer because he doesn't know the basics of a computer language is should probably not be used anymore?
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@newguy said:
@ammoQ said:
It appears to me that conformism (and expecting conformism from others) often goes hand-in-hand with the jealousy that average people feel against outstanding people.
Before you go assuming that my coworker is some sort of uber-programmer, let me give you some background first.
We are a COBOL shop. Our group, with the exception of this junior programmer, is strictly command-line. The junior's role is to take COBOL into the 21st century, a la COBOL.NET.
None of us, including myself, are Visual Studio gurus by any stretch of the imagination. Visual Studio looks neat, I see our developer dragging and dropping stuff which would take us hours to accomplish. In that respect, I envy him.
But please don't assume that he is some super-coder. This is his first programming language and we typically have to help him understand the basics of the language. Yes, he may be good at the drag-and-drop aspect, but his command of the COBOL language is lacking and depends on his teammates greatly.
I was not refering to you. There is a lot of space between Conformism and Ninja Attacks; I'm confident you are at some comfortable place in between.
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@tster said:
So let me get this straight...
He is many times more productive than you. He knows the newer technology that helps him be more productive while everyone else is stuck in the past using only the command line. And you think he is a bad programmer because he doesn't know the basics of a computer language is should probably not be used anymore?
Assuming that working on the command line must be less productive than the IDE is a bit far-fetched. Anyway, in a COBOL shop, COBOL is to be used. There is not always a business case for "throw it all away, make it new".
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Sounds like you need headphones. Preferably noise canceling ones, maybe some seinheisers or something. They won't protect your body from a ninja attack but they will protect your mind from stupid comments. Headphones also provide the ability to ignore someone by pretending you can't hear them without causing offence and usually people won't make the effort of tapping you on the shoulder unless it's something really important.
I've worked with some guy's that have some pretty annoying auditory habits, ie. the tea slurp and the loud mouth breathing(not in themselves too annoying but i find them distracting when i'm trying to concentrate). But not having an office of my own i guess i just have to deal with it and chuck on some headphones.
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@ammoQ said:
@tster said:
So let me get this straight...
He is many times more productive than you. He knows the newer technology that helps him be more productive while everyone else is stuck in the past using only the command line. And you think he is a bad programmer because he doesn't know the basics of a computer language is should probably not be used anymore?
Assuming that working on the command line must be less productive than the IDE is a bit far-fetched. Anyway, in a COBOL shop, COBOL is to be used. There is not always a business case for "throw it all away, make it new".
@newguy said:
Visual Studio looks neat, I see our developer dragging and dropping stuff which would take us hours to accomplish.
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@tster said:
@ammoQ said:
@tster said:
So let me get this straight...
He is many times more productive than you. He knows the newer technology that helps him be more productive while everyone else is stuck in the past using only the command line. And you think he is a bad programmer because he doesn't know the basics of a computer language is should probably not be used anymore?
Assuming that working on the command line must be less productive than the IDE is a bit far-fetched. Anyway, in a COBOL shop, COBOL is to be used. There is not always a business case for "throw it all away, make it new".
@newguy said:
Visual Studio looks neat, I see our developer dragging and dropping stuff which would take us hours to accomplish.
Sorry, but that quote only says that they are slower. That does not mean every command line user is slower.
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@ammoQ said:
@tster said:
@ammoQ said:
@tster said:
So let me get this straight...
He is many times more productive than you. He knows the newer technology that helps him be more productive while everyone else is stuck in the past using only the command line. And you think he is a bad programmer because he doesn't know the basics of a computer language is should probably not be used anymore?
Assuming that working on the command line must be less productive than the IDE is a bit far-fetched. Anyway, in a COBOL shop, COBOL is to be used. There is not always a business case for "throw it all away, make it new".
@newguy said:
Visual Studio looks neat, I see our developer dragging and dropping stuff which would take us hours to accomplish.
Sorry, but that quote only says that they are slower. That does not mean every command line user is slower.
OK. Now please find my quote where I say that every command line user is slower.
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@dhromed said:
@Mikademus said:
@newguy said:
To give you an example,
one day I was going to use the restroom and he jumped out and surprised
me with some sort of ninja-like karate stance. He yelled out this loud
"Waaaa!"Wow! Is that accepted at your company?
Can I too work there? It seems like a much more tolerant place than
where I last worked. (Note: worked as in "I quit", not as in "fired for
antics").Anecdote 1
It was raining, and I took the company umbrella.
A part timer had his own.
A light-saber duel ensued (incl. sound effects).
Anecdote 2
I edit some graphics settings on my PC. "Hupsadaisy," I say.
"Hupsadaisy?" my coworker says.
"Hupsadaisy," I say, as I click another OK button.
"Hupsadaisy?!" my coworker says.
"Hupsadaisy," I say, and smile at him.Coworker mutters aggressively, "Alright. I've had it. Fucking hupsadaisy." and violently gets up as if to deliver a firm beat-down.
@CPound said:
I totally blame management in this case. This guy 1. should never have been hired and 2. should have been fired as soon as he started to act up. He sounds exactly like the type of person I try not to hire. He has loose cannon written all over him.
Such as instigating an umbrella duel.
Also,
Overreacting much?Damn you Rodrigues! Damn you to Hell!
Ok, you've convinced me to steal your identity and life! Now what was your social security number again? (Actually, you might enjoy the switch, Sweden is a great country, especially if you love moose (meese?)).
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@tster said:
Really smart people tend to behave differently and strangely at times. Startups tend to get a lot of really smart people.
There's this old strange crazy guy that bags my groceries....i don't think he's really all that smart.
I'm wondering where you're getting the basis for your thesis.
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@Hellz99 said:
@tster said:
Really smart people tend to behave differently and strangely at times. Startups tend to get a lot of really smart people.
There's this old strange crazy guy that bags my groceries....i don't think he's really all that smart.
I'm wondering where you're getting the basis for your thesis.
Gah! I've read this comment a lot lately. Some people really need to learn the difference between an implies (=>) statement and an if and only if statement (<==>).
(smart => strange at times) is not the same as (strange at times => smart)
Now, (smart <==> strange at times) would imply both of the above statements, but nobody said that!
Example: ( You are reading this site on your computer => your display is on ) however, ( your display is on =!=> you are reading this site ).
It's the basis of all math, logic, computer science, and common sense!
* here's hoping the angle brackets show up....
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@iAmNotACantalope said:
@Hellz99 said:
@tster said:
Really smart people tend to behave differently and strangely at times. Startups tend to get a lot of really smart people.
There's this old strange crazy guy that bags my groceries....i don't think he's really all that smart.
I'm wondering where you're getting the basis for your thesis.
Gah! I've read this comment a lot lately. Some people really need to learn the difference between an implies (=>) statement and an if and only if statement (<==>).
(smart => strange at times) is not the same as (strange at times => smart)
Now, (smart <==> strange at times) would imply both of the above statements, but nobody said that!
Example: ( You are reading this site on your computer => your display is on ) however, ( your display is on =!=> you are reading this site ).
It's the basis of all math, logic, computer science, and common sense!
* here's hoping the angle brackets show up....
I can't believe they needed this actually spelled out for them. Some of the people here seem to lack basic understanding of logic.
All cats are black.
Some people are black.
Therefore some people are cats?
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@newguy said:
To give you an example, one day I was going to use the restroom and he jumped out and surprised me with some sort of ninja-like karate stance. He yelled out this loud "Waaaa!"
Yeah, I know that's pretty juvenile. I told him to stop it because that sort of thing could offend the whole Asian community, but he didn't pay attention.
OMG... EVEYONE knows that when you are encountered by a ninja, you drop to the ground and play dead! He could've seriously injured you!!!
Jokes aside, who gives a rats ass? Let him do his shit. If a manager comes over and asks what's going on, tell him the objective truth and don't cover it up if you don't want too... But don't be all mean and pissy and pointing fingery... NO ONE likes that and you'll find the office will become an ever harder place to work at. And when you don't like someone jumping out and startling you, you don't tell them what they did offended the asian community. That's gotta be the dumbest thing you could've said. A simple "whoah, dude, you startled me there... uh... yeah, like don't do that dude." Would've told this person that you don't like being startled. Now, instead, you come off as what I would call a Bury.... long story behind that, but the point of it being that Bury's are so wound up, self absorbed, and paranoid that they fail to connect to anyone in the outside world... Like someone who wears a Mickey Mouse jacket not because they are a fan, but because it's what that person's parents bought them when they were 10... When you ask them why they are wearing a Mickey Mouse jacket, they first have to look to confirm it is a Mickey Mouse jacket, then think about it for 10 minutes and respond "It's the jacket I own."
Don't be that guy.
DON'T BE THAT GUY!!!
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@iAmNotACantalope said:
@Hellz99 said:
@tster said:
Really smart people tend to behave differently and strangely at times. Startups tend to get a lot of really smart people.
There's this old strange crazy guy that bags my groceries....i don't think he's really all that smart.
I'm wondering where you're getting the basis for your thesis.
Gah! I've read this comment a lot lately. Some people really need to learn the difference between an implies (=>) statement and an if and only if statement (<==>).
(smart => strange at times) is not the same as (strange at times => smart)
Now, (smart <==> strange at times) would imply both of the above statements, but nobody said that!
Example: ( You are reading this site on your computer => your display is on ) however, ( your display is on =!=> you are reading this site ).
It's the basis of all math, logic, computer science, and common sense!
* here's hoping the angle brackets show up....The key here is the word "tends". tends != implies
You're meager assumption could hold water (a few drops) if a different choice of words would have been used.
So boys and girls, the lesson here really is: You can have the all the logic/math/sense in the world, but if you fail in reading/understanding the definition....all is lost.
Good post though. I got a chuckle for a few seconds.
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@GoatCheez said:
@newguy said:
To give you an example,
one day I was going to use the restroom and he jumped out and surprised
me with some sort of ninja-like karate stance. He yelled out this loud
"Waaaa!"Yeah, I know that's pretty juvenile. I told him to stop
it because that sort of thing could offend the whole Asian community,
but he didn't pay attention.OMG... EVEYONE knows
that when you are encountered by a ninja, you drop to the ground and
play dead! He could've seriously injured you!!!
Nonsense! Everyone knows that when you are faced with a ninja
attack, the only correct response is to yell "WOH-PAH" at the top of
your lungs while unleashing your best karate flying-kick-death-chop!
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@Hellz99 said:
@iAmNotACantalope said:
@Hellz99 said:
@tster said:
Really smart people tend to behave differently and strangely at times. Startups tend to get a lot of really smart people.
There's this old strange crazy guy that bags my groceries....i don't think he's really all that smart.
I'm wondering where you're getting the basis for your thesis.
Gah! I've read this comment a lot lately. Some people really need to learn the difference between an implies (=>) statement and an if and only if statement (<==>).
(smart => strange at times) is not the same as (strange at times => smart)
Now, (smart <==> strange at times) would imply both of the above statements, but nobody said that!
Example: ( You are reading this site on your computer => your display is on ) however, ( your display is on =!=> you are reading this site ).
It's the basis of all math, logic, computer science, and common sense!
* here's hoping the angle brackets show up....The key here is the word "tends". tends != implies
You're meager assumption could hold water (a few drops) if a different choice of words would have been used.
So boys and girls, the lesson here really is: You can have the all the logic/math/sense in the world, but if you fail in reading/understanding the definition....all is lost.
Good post though. I got a chuckle for a few seconds.
You miss my point, I agree with tster, I disagree with Hellz99. Just because some (many?) smart people are quirky, does not mean that all quirky people are smart. The grocery bagger has nothing to do with any job applicant for a programming position.
