TEACHSOC: bad mouthing subordinates

[Richard Butsch]

A while back, a thread developed on sarcastic comic comments about students.  Below is a collection of similar comments about employees.  I thought it might remind us, as sociologists, that this sort of hostile humor occurs in all kinds of situations in which one person is in a low to moderate authoritative position over and frustrated by another, perhaps especially when the authority can't simply escape or express frustation otherwise:  parent about kids, doctors about patients, etc. In other words,  it's a form of humor that is situational/structural, more than prejudicial. Chastise those who engage in it and nothing changes. Fix the structure and the need for the hostile humor will go away. Richard Butsch For everyone who has ever had an evaluation - just remember, it could have been worse.  These are actual quotes taken from federal government employee performance evaluations. 1. "Since my last report, this employee has reached rock-bottom   and has started to dig." 2. "I would not allow this employee to breed." 3. "This employee is really not so much of a has-been, but more   of a definite won't be." 4. "Works well when under constant supervision and cornered like   a rat in a trap." 5. "When he opens his mouth, it seems that it is only to change   feet." 6. "This young lady has delusions of adequacy." 7. "He sets low personal standards and then consistently fails   to achieve them." 8. "This employee is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot." 9. "This employee should go far, and the sooner he starts the   better." 10. "Got a full 6-pack, but lacks the plastic thingy to hold it    all together." 11. "A gross ignoramus - 144 times worse than an ordinary    ignoramus." 12. "He doesn't have ulcers, but he's a carrier." 14. "I would like to go hunting with him sometime." 15. "He's been working with glue too much." 16. "He would argue with a signpost." 17. "He brings a lot of joy whenever he leaves the room." 18. "When his IQ reaches 50, he should sell." 19. "If you see two people talking and one looks bored, he's the    other one." 20. "A photographic memory but with the lens cover glued on." 21. "A prime candidate for natural de-selection." 22. "Donated his brain to science before he was done using it." 23. "Gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train    isn't coming." 24. "He's got two brains cells, one is lost and the other is out    looking for it." 25. "If he were any more stupid, he'd have to be watered twice a    week." 26. "If you give him a penny for his thoughts, you'd get    change." 27. "If you stand close enough to him, you can hear the ocean." 28. "It's hard to believe he beat out 1,000,000 other sperm." 29. "One neuron short of a synapse." 30. "Some drink from the fountain of knowledge; he only    gargled." 31. "Takes him 2 hours to watch 60-minutes." --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Teaching Sociology" group. To post to this group, send email to teachsoc@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/teachsoc -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---