Re: [silk] On Silk, by Silk

[Bruce A. Metcalf]

Dear All,

Udhay has responded to my foolish remark by calling my bluff:


I also worked at the front desk of a hotel (part-time) for ten
years. Got some stories from that!


​Please share (you too, Udupa!)​


​*cough*​


Okay fine, here's one.

In the hotel business, there is an unfortunately common process 
euphemistically referred to as an "involuntary checkout". This is where 
the hotel obliges the guest to check out early, and against his wishes. 
It's usually the result of the guest doing something stupid. One example:


I was standing at the front desk, minding my own business, when a woman 
approached the desk, the smoke already coming out of her ears. Wishing 
to avoid having one of my twenty-something colleagues muff the job, I 
waved her over and said, "Tell me what's wrong."


She opened her hand and displayed a tissue containing a cigar butt. "The 
asshole upstairs from me is smoking, which he shouldn't be doing in a 
non-smoking building, and dropping his ashes and butts on my balcony ... 
where my toddlers were playing!"


(If the geometry of this sounds off, know that the building is built on 
a slant such that it's hard to drop something off one balcony without it 
landing on the next.)


Seeing immediately that this was a matter well above my pay scale, I 
promised to bring prompt attention to the right parties and nipped into 
the office to inform my supervisor that the duty manager was needed.


At that point, I was taken out of the loop, but what followed was 
amusing and instructive.


The duty manager went to the smoker's room, knocked on the door, and 
explained that he was in a non-smoking building, and that other guests 
had complained about his use of their balcony as his ashtray. Before he 
got to the point of deciding if they could stay, the smoker says 
something disparaging and obscene, and slams the door in his face. This 
made his decision about whether to eject the smoker simple.


Fifteen minutes later, he knocks on the door again, this time in the 
company of a maintenance man with bolt cutters, a security guard with 
discrete recording equipment, and a county deputy sheriff (local police) 
with all the tools that come with.


He shouts more dismissive obscenities through the door, upon which the 
duty manager uses his pass key to unlock the door, and pushes it open 
against the security chain. The maintenance worker cuts said chain with 
his bolt cutters, and the deputy steps in and resumes the conversation.


After much high-volume debate, the smoker was given the options of 
leaving in his own car or the back of the deputy's. Foolishly he chose 
the latter, and was promptly cuffed and dragged off to face charges of 
commercial trespass, defrauding an innkeeper, and resisting arrest.


The manager then turned to his wife, and informed her that the rest of 
the family was also being evicted. She voiced the same opinion as her 
husband, and challenged him to get another deputy to arrest her.


However, after hearing that her arrest would place her children into the 
custody of the state child welfare agency, where she wouldn't see them 
again for at least six months, and possibly never (since they lose kids 
all the time), she elected to depart in her own vehicle.


The family forfeited the rest of their week's rent (paid in advance), a 
$500 cleaning fee for both their room and the one below, a free night 
for the family below, the cost of replacing a security chain, the 
remaining value of their theme park tickets, and of course the cost of 
bail, lawyers, and all that goes with.


Morals abound here, of course, from "complain politely but immediately" 
to "don't piss off a deputy sheriff". Sadly, this little scene was 
repeated on average of once per month in our 1000-room hotel. Sadly, 
there is much stupid in the world, and it's not *just* in politics.


Cheers,
/ Bruce /

Re: [silk] On Silk, by Silk

[Udhay Shankar N]

On Wed, Aug 3, 2016 at 6:54 AM, Udhay Shankar N  wrote:


>> It's worse than you think. I also worked at the front desk of a hotel
>> (part-time) for ten years. Got some stories from that!
>
>
> ​Please share (you too, Udupa!)​
>

​*cough*​



-- 

((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))

Re: [silk] On Silk, by Silk

[Udhay Shankar N]

On Tue, Aug 2, 2016 at 10:41 PM, Bruce A. Metcalf 
wrote:

Not to paint you as a father-figure, but that's exactly what my dad did for
>> over three decades! Substitute railroad conductor with running the cash
>> register at Hotel Pai Vihar near Bangalore's Corporation building, that's
>> all.
>>
>
> It's worse than you think. I also worked at the front desk of a hotel
> (part-time) for ten years. Got some stories from that!


​Please share (you too, Udupa!)​

​Udhay​
-- 

((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))

Re: [silk] On Silk, by Silk

[Deepa Mohan]

Bruce, your point about civil discourse is interesting in view of the
fact that until I joined, entry to the group was not moderated. (I
don't know if the two were related!)

And yes, in today's "uncivil" world, where offence is taken so much
more easily than the path to assuming goodwill...our silken courtesy
to one another seems like a gem of purest ray serene...

On Tue, Aug 2, 2016 at 10:28 PM, Bruce A. Metcalf
<bruce.metc...@figzu.com> wrote:
> Shrabonti Bagchi wrote:
>
>>
>> http://factordaily.com/silk-indias-oldest-mailing-list-history-geek-culture/
>
>
> How very flattering to be mentioned favorably in such august company;
> especially in a week where I find myself dangerously short on positive
> energy. And to be called a philosopher to boot, well
>
> It seems that perhaps I have written with more elegance than information if
> I am thought primarily a railroad engineer. True, I was a railroad conductor
> part-time for six years, but mostly I've worked as a reference librarian and
> technical writer -- backed up for economic reasons with being a college
> instructor in electronics, tech writing, and subatomic physics -- and now in
> retirement I manage a non-profit historical society where my specialty is
> heraldry.
>
> If I do have wisdom to share from my years in the electronic trenches, it's
> knowledge paid for in blood. Mostly my own, but also that drawn
> (inadvertently or not) by my keyboard from others. I suspect that any
> reasonably intelligent person who has been actively online for over thirty
> years would have learned as much if they pay close attention -- and are able
> to keep their ego at bay (something my countrymen are notoriously poor at,
> vis the Cheezy Poof we have running for president).
>
> But the secondary point of the article (after Silk's historicity), is that
> online groups can indeed conduct civil conversations over long periods with
> minimal disruption. I think Silk's main advantage is not so much our 2.5
> rules than Udhay's careful allocation of invitations. That, and a certain
> amount of self-selection when pot stirring generates no response, or worse,
> gentle ridicule.
>
> The challenge is to find ways to translate this talent for civil discourse
> into civil society. This is a non-trivial task in this uncivil age we live
> in. I suppose my best hope is to practice here more, and hope it rubs off
> onto the rest of my encounters with humanity.
>
> Can't hurt to try.
>
> Cheers,
> / Bruce /
>

Re: [silk] On Silk, by Silk

[Bruce A. Metcalf]

Thejaswi Udupa wrote:


Bruce A. Metcalf wrote:


 mostly I've worked as a reference librarian and technical writer


Not to paint you as a father-figure, but that's exactly what my dad did for
over three decades! Substitute railroad conductor with running the cash
register at Hotel Pai Vihar near Bangalore's Corporation building, that's
all.


It's worse than you think. I also worked at the front desk of a hotel 
(part-time) for ten years. Got some stories from that!


Cheers,
/ Bruce /

Re: [silk] On Silk, by Silk

[Thejaswi Udupa]

On 02-Aug-2016 10:28 PM, "Bruce A. Metcalf"  wrote:
>
>  mostly I've worked as a reference librarian and technical writer

Not to paint you as a father-figure, but that's exactly what my dad did for
over three decades! Substitute railroad conductor with running the cash
register at Hotel Pai Vihar near Bangalore's Corporation building, that's
all.

Re: [silk] On Silk, by Silk

[Naresh]

Geeks Rule ,OK !. Nice one,Shrabonti!

Naresh Narasimhan
Sent from my Phone

> On 02-Aug-2016, at 12:36 PM, Shrabonti Bagchi <shrabont...@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> FYI, good people...
> 
> http://factordaily.com/silk-indias-oldest-mailing-list-history-geek-culture/

Re: [silk] On Silk, by Silk

[Deepa Mohan]

Ah. The Surgical Steel Kniveswallah. I only see cutting remarks from
him on FB (which I enjoy) ...don't see him here much. Romba tanks SRS!

On Tue, Aug 2, 2016 at 6:31 PM, Suresh Ramasubramanian
 wrote:
> Chugli is hindi for carrying tales / koL sollaradhu
>
> The knifeman is a certain bald, tubby and bearded guy who uses a lot of chef 
> knives very effectively if I don’t miss my guess.
>
> On 02/08/16, 6:23 PM, "silklist on behalf of Deepa Mohan" 
>  mohande...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Vot is "chugli" and who is the knifeman? Obviously I am out of touch
> with Intelligent Conversation!
>
> So much of "what is under one's nose"...Shrabonti, I never realized
> that I could write about this listserv. I enjoyed the write-up.
>
> Sorry...Gmail makes it too much pain to scroll to the end of the
> conversation and then tack this on. I know Udhay thinks it's all UP
> (Ulta Pulta)...butJTL (Just Too Lazy).
>
>
>
>
>

Re: [silk] On Silk, by Silk

[Suresh Ramasubramanian]

Chugli is hindi for carrying tales / koL sollaradhu

The knifeman is a certain bald, tubby and bearded guy who uses a lot of chef 
knives very effectively if I don’t miss my guess.

On 02/08/16, 6:23 PM, "silklist on behalf of Deepa Mohan" 
 wrote:

Vot is "chugli" and who is the knifeman? Obviously I am out of touch
with Intelligent Conversation!

So much of "what is under one's nose"...Shrabonti, I never realized
that I could write about this listserv. I enjoyed the write-up.

Sorry...Gmail makes it too much pain to scroll to the end of the
conversation and then tack this on. I know Udhay thinks it's all UP
(Ulta Pulta)...butJTL (Just Too Lazy).

 

Re: [silk] On Silk, by Silk

[Deepa Mohan]

Vot is "chugli" and who is the knifeman? Obviously I am out of touch
with Intelligent Conversation!

So much of "what is under one's nose"...Shrabonti, I never realized
that I could write about this listserv. I enjoyed the write-up.

Sorry...Gmail makes it too much pain to scroll to the end of the
conversation and then tack this on. I know Udhay thinks it's all UP
(Ulta Pulta)...butJTL (Just Too Lazy).

On Tue, Aug 2, 2016 at 5:09 PM, Bhaskar Dasgupta <bdasgu...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm going to do chugli on you guys to the knifeman
>
>> On 2 Aug 2016, at 12:30, Shrabonti Bagchi <shrabont...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> On Tue, Aug 2, 2016 at 4:41 PM, Amit Varma <amitbl...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> On Tue, Aug 2, 2016 at 12:36 PM, Shrabonti Bagchi <shrabont...@gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> FYI, good people...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> http://factordaily.com/silk-indias-oldest-mailing-list-history-geek-culture/
>>>>
>>>
>>> Great piece, Shrabonti!
>>>
>>> (Btw, it's an urban legend born out of playful banter that you'll get
>>> thrown out of Satin if you mention it publicly.) ;)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> I'm not risking it :P
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> --
>>> Amit Varma
>>> http://www.indiauncut.com
>>> http://www.twitter.com/amitvarma
>>>
>

Re: [silk] On Silk, by Silk

[Bhaskar Dasgupta]

I'm going to do chugli on you guys to the knifeman

> On 2 Aug 2016, at 12:30, Shrabonti Bagchi <shrabont...@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> On Tue, Aug 2, 2016 at 4:41 PM, Amit Varma <amitbl...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> On Tue, Aug 2, 2016 at 12:36 PM, Shrabonti Bagchi <shrabont...@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> FYI, good people...
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>> http://factordaily.com/silk-indias-oldest-mailing-list-history-geek-culture/
>>> 
>> 
>> Great piece, Shrabonti!
>> 
>> (Btw, it's an urban legend born out of playful banter that you'll get
>> thrown out of Satin if you mention it publicly.) ;)
>> 
>> 
>> 
> ​I'm not risking it :P​
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> --
>> Amit Varma
>> http://www.indiauncut.com
>> http://www.twitter.com/amitvarma
>> 

Re: [silk] On Silk, by Silk

[Shrabonti Bagchi]

On Tue, Aug 2, 2016 at 4:41 PM, Amit Varma <amitbl...@gmail.com> wrote:

> On Tue, Aug 2, 2016 at 12:36 PM, Shrabonti Bagchi <shrabont...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > FYI, good people...
> >
> >
> >
> http://factordaily.com/silk-indias-oldest-mailing-list-history-geek-culture/
> >
>
> Great piece, Shrabonti!
>
> (Btw, it's an urban legend born out of playful banter that you'll get
> thrown out of Satin if you mention it publicly.) ;)
>
>
>
​I'm not risking it :P​




> --
> Amit Varma
> http://www.indiauncut.com
> http://www.twitter.com/amitvarma
>

Re: [silk] On Silk, by Silk

[Amit Varma]

On Tue, Aug 2, 2016 at 12:36 PM, Shrabonti Bagchi <shrabont...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> FYI, good people...
>
>
> http://factordaily.com/silk-indias-oldest-mailing-list-history-geek-culture/
>

Great piece, Shrabonti!

(Btw, it's an urban legend born out of playful banter that you'll get
thrown out of Satin if you mention it publicly.) ;)


-- 
Amit Varma
http://www.indiauncut.com
http://www.twitter.com/amitvarma

Re: [silk] On Silk, by Silk

[Charanya Chidambaram]

This was an incredible read to wake up to!
Reminded me of my very first conversation with Udhay over a cup of 'not
beer'.


On 2 August 2016 at 13:02, Mahesh Murthy <mahesh.mur...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Nice, shrabonti!
>
> On Tue, Aug 2, 2016 at 12:36 PM, Shrabonti Bagchi <shrabont...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > FYI, good people...
> >
> >
> >
> http://factordaily.com/silk-indias-oldest-mailing-list-history-geek-culture/
> >
>

Re: [silk] On Silk, by Silk

[Mahesh Murthy]

Nice, shrabonti!

On Tue, Aug 2, 2016 at 12:36 PM, Shrabonti Bagchi <shrabont...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> FYI, good people...
>
>
> http://factordaily.com/silk-indias-oldest-mailing-list-history-geek-culture/
>

[silk] On Silk, by Silk

[Shrabonti Bagchi]

FYI, good people...

http://factordaily.com/silk-indias-oldest-mailing-list-history-geek-culture/