I took out a new hire at work for lunch..

[Le Gaucher]

Last edited Wed Apr 18, 2018, 11:49 AM - Edit history (2)

This guy comes across as a very calm and deliberate thinker ..

But when a homeless guy walked past us on the sidewalk while we were having our lunch .. his true colors started showing. He blamed entitlements for the deficit. I had to fight from blowing a fuse. I steered the conversation towards automation and companies are able to generate larger and larger revenues with smaller workforces... And he said the economy is humming along because of Trump and he liked it .. he is very happy with Trump and will vote for him again.

I am done being nice to this guy .. am not helping him with anything.. and he needs me big time. I will screw him very quietly.





On edit:

I am not actively Sabotaging or anything -- I just wont help him


Second edit:

The guy sensed he crossed a line .. and apologized for bringing up politics.

[BumRushDaShow]

1. Good luck with that

Different strokes for different folks.

[Doodley]

2. "I will screw him very quietly." Do what makes you proud.

[Tipperary]

13. I know. Geez, that was sad to read.

Backstabbers are no good to deal with in the workplace.

[LanternWaste]

30. Post what you think will be effective...

"Do what makes you proud..."
Post what you think will be effective...

(six of one, half a dozen of the other)

[Doodley]

40. To do others harm for what they believe is not an option, unless we are

to sink to their level. Strive to be a better person and live by example, that is what I would say is more effective. We cannot simply engage in a war on others because we disagree with them. If we find their views repugnant, then say why that is. "Quietly screwing" a colleague involves what? Backstabbing, conniving, plotting, wanting that person to fail? Is this what we want to become? You talk as if there is no other option. Yes, there are other options.

[Snackshack]

55. Agreed 💯%

Remain professional.

[Hortensis]

74. Go read again. He just won't help this guy. I was in

the same position when an employer took on a new appraiser trainee, who we could take into the field for teaching experience as we chose, something we did out of the goodness of our hearts, not pay.

I took him out first to get him started, a very valuable opportunity for him. This guy knew nothing but had heard a male comment on an area adjacent to the neighborhood I first took him to. He didn't learn a thing from my explanations because he was too busy obliquely critiquing every point of my evaluation based on the other he'd heard. From beginning to end I endured supposedly subtle implications that I should base my analysis on what he relayed to me. Charmingly delivered with nice smiles.

When we returned to the office I explained to the others (all men) exactly why I was dumping the entire burden of teaching this creep on them, knowing full well that he needed more than they'd give him.

Just like Le Gaucher's hostile conservative, this one killed his own chances by his too-indulgent acting out of antagonism against a woman in a position of authority. I had no duty to carry him. He had no idea of course. I even heard him badmouthing me to my courteously listening colleagues, and it only took a few more days for the business owner to fire him.

[Sherman A1]

3. I would suggest rethinking your position

and keeping your political views separate from the workplace environment. What someone believes and how they choose to vote should not interfere with a professional work relationship. Screwing over a coworker based upon how they vote is hardly professional behavior.

[Le Gaucher]

4. He should have not bought politics up and played his card

I won't actively sabotage him .. but I am not helping him either.

[TheSmarterDog]

6. Supporting Trump shows ignorance & poor judgement.

At worst, it's actual stupidity.

Or he may just be an asshole.

[treestar]

10. And saying so at a new job

also shows some very bad judgment.

[sandensea]

31. I've been there - and I don't blame you

My experience with (some) Republicans in the workplace is that, the minute they learn you;re a Democrat, they will act on it.

They're definitely not above sabotage and even slander, and I'd keep a close eye on him if were you. Pretend there's "nothing wrong," of course.

All the Best to you, Le Gaucher.

[CatMor]

5. Maybe avoiding him socially...

and working with him professionally would be a better way to go.

[hlthe2b]

7. I would not have said a word but merely walked up to the homeless man and given him a few bucks

whatever I had available and wished him a good day.

I would not have said anything to the coworker unless he started in again and then I'd simply say that I live my life as much as possible according to my values. For some, that might be the golden rule...

Then I'd get my poker face on and dare him to say ANYTHING.


I think showing by example may well be the best thing you can do and then ignore the hell out of him.

[True Blue American]

37. Thank you for doing that!

Actions speak louder than words in your case.

Not sure how you handle the work place. I could never understand those who allow jealousy and anger of their fellow man to blind them to the fact they were voting for those who were against the worker.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

8. So how do you feel about your company's recruiting and selection process? Who's the bad fit, him or

you?

[dawg]

9. Go ahead and screw him quietly.

He's an asshole.

The world will be better off if he doesn't advance.

[Texin]

36. He may not be an asshole exactly, but he definitely displayed his ignorance.

[Bonhomme Richard]

11. I would keep an eye on the person because..

he clearly cannot process information correctly in order to come to a logical conclusion.

[MineralMan]

12. I was sympathetic with your position until

you said that you "will screw him very quietly." That is, I believe, completely unconscionable. Ignore him, if you must, but to take negative action in a job situation against a coworker is just ugly. Sharing it here was a mistake. If I were you, I'd self-delete or edit your post.

I hope you rethink this.

[Tipperary]

14. Yes, I agree with you.

I wonder if the op would want the same done to them based on their politics. Sad to see this here.

[Aristus]

15. So, this dude sees someone who is cold, hungry, tired, possibly mental ill

and/or addicted to drugs, and vulnerable to theft, physical or sexual assault, and he thinks the guy is living high on the hog at government expense?

I disagree with the posts above. Cuts the legs out from under him as quickly and unobtrusively as you can.

Such people are a cancer on our society.

[Tipperary]

17. So I have to assume from this,post that you would not treat a patient of yours who supports 45

the same as a liberal patient?

[Aristus]

18. No. I give all my patients 100% of my time and effort.

Most of my patients, however, are homeless, and would be looked down upon by the asshole described in the OP.

My concern is for the most vulnerable among us, not for some smug assclown who thinks he's all that just because he has a roof over his head.

[Tipperary]

24. Hmm. Interesting.

But the op should backstab some idiot simply for his political beliefs? That is a very slippery slope.

[avebury]

78. Le Gaucher modified his comment to say that he would not sabotage the guy.

What he indicated was that he would not go out of his way to help the guy which is totally different. He is putting the guy in a position of suceeding or failing on his own merits (or lack thereof).

There is nothing wrong with keeping to yourself. I live in an ultra red state with a lot of Conservatives and/or Republicans. When I deal with them at work I keep it pretty much to work topics only and try to minimize my contact with that group of people beyond what is absolutely necessary. It helps to keep your BP down.

I have learned from experience that sometimes you need to put a person on the road to self discovery (when he or she isn't willing to listen to you when you are actually giving them good information or advice). I had a boss one time who I tried to alert him to a situation in our Department and he was not interested. A situation arose where I had the oppotunity to put him in on the path to finally see what I had been trying to tell him all along. I sat back and watched the explosion when it happened. It was funny. Hey I had tried to warn him and he wouldn't listen. That was not the first time that I had to do it to the guy. If it comes to a situation that is really harmful to the organization I cannot sit back and do nothing. I will find a covert way to handle it to handle the sitation that prevents disaster with people never realizing what I did.

[Duppers]

76. Agree.

[Blue_true]

16. My suggestion is for you to seperate politics and work immediately.

DO YOUR JOB!!!!! If I were your boss and found out that you were causing inefficiencies by tripping up a coworker, I would fire you.

You what you know about the guy's politics to fight harder at keeping people that he likes out of office. If the guy is a bastard, believe me, others in your office will soon see that and he will sink from his own weight.

[Sherman A1]

20. Precisely

The workplace is not a location for political discussions. It is also not a democracy and I agree with you that

"If I were your boss and found out that you were causing inefficiencies by tripping up a coworker, I would fire you."

[Doodley]

41. Good advice. He would deserve to be fired if he plotted the downfall of a colleague.

[dalton99a]

19. It is best not to discuss politics at work

Besides, people's true beliefs are often hidden.

Avoid him socially. That's all you can do.

[bigtree]

21. DUers scolding you

...there should be more understanding.

I think Trumpers should be shunned and isolated. I hope this clown falls flat on his face without support. I certainly wouldn't want to work with him.

These fuckers have brought us to the edge of apocalypse. They shouldn't be given an inch of room to practice their fuckery.

People with little or less to lose from this administration will always counsel restraint and comity with this toxic, disruptive, and deadly party and their supporters. They should be ashamed treating those of us with zero tolerance left like we're the problem.

[procon]

28. Strange times we live in, maybe that attracts some posters who harbor

a more rightward tilt. I dunno, but it's surprising to see so much open support for pro-Trumpian views here on DU. This is the problem, not those who oppose everything associated with Trump.

I must be a bad person for not having any sense of blind corporate loyalty. I just can't see why anyone would pledge fealty to a boss on bended knee and vow to support any fool who says they like Trump.

[Doodley]

42. Because that is how it is if you are a team player in the workplace. You don't say I'm not working

with that group of people because I disagree with them. You focus on the job and work as a unit together without judgement or favor.

[procon]

46. If only life was so easily defined in such simplistic black and white terms.

The internal dynamics of almost every workplace is constantly in flux. There is a shifting morass of plots, schemes and backstabbing to be navigated. One day you might be all gungho with team spirit, but the next it's dog eat dog and survival of the fittest. Coworkers are like the cast of TVs Survivor show (out live, out last, out play) with everyone strategizing how to build their own empires on the backs of the vanquished.

[Doodley]

68. It is that simplistic. I have worked in corporate and have experienced the backstabbers and

the assholes. I don't play those games. Don't get sucked in.

[Inkfreak]

84. get a new job.

[Fla Dem]

22. I understand your reaction to your co-worker's comments.

But like many others here, I would urge you to not let politics interfere with your work responsibilities or performance. Do not jeopardize your career because of political disagreements. Do your job.

I have a number of "good" friends who hold positions contrary to my political views. Does it bother me? Yes, on some subconscious level. But in our day to day interactions those feelings are put aside because I see other sides of them that are reasonable, good and caring. Now if they were obnoxious about things and threw stuff in my face, then they would end up not being my friends. But they don't and I don't. We respect each other for the whole of us, not just the political part.

[RandomAccess]

23. Your protest would be more effective, by far,

if you would level with him about your thoughts and feelings. You can do it with kindness. But then I'd be sure to not APPEAR to be withholding help in any way -- esp. if it would affect your job with your superiors.

Good luck.

[lpbk2713]

25. One thing to consider ...

If you groom him too well and two or three years down the line he becomes
your superior you have only yourself to blame. I've seen it happen.

[Blue_true]

48. Unless the new guy came in as an executive, I doubt that he

will become a boss of an existing good employee, if the company is worth a shit. People change jobs for two reasons, they are undervalued by the old company, or they were a toxic presence at the old company and were driven out by other employees or management. My guess based upon what the OP provided about the new guy, the new guy was driven out of his old job after he burned all bridges with his conduct. The OP should not let puck like that trip up his own job performance by trying to set workplace booby traps for him.

[vlyons]

26. You are missing a big opportunity to be the better man

Have you ever heard the expression that you catch more flies with honey, than with a 2 x 4 board? It is very difficult to be around ignorant, bigoted mean-spirited people. But that doesn't give us a pass to be mean-spirited in return. You are averse to him, because of his stupidity and lack of compassion. Has it ever occurred to you why he might be the way he is? Maybe he grew up in a home, where arrogance and bigotry is what he was taught. Maybe he's never been around more enlightened people with kind and loving hearts. He feels no compassion for the homeless. How is that different from you feeling no compassion for him? I would tell him that political discussions with co-workers is entirely inappropriate. People have different politics about various issues, and it interfers with the smooth business operation to get into unpleasant disagreements over politics.

If you can't see a way to bring yourself to be nice and helpful to him, you can at least hold the aspiration to treat him with kindness at some future time. You be the better man. Show him a man with a kind and loving heart.

Best regards

[Doodley]

43. Excellent, thoughtful post. I agree and appreciated reading it.

[lunasun]

27. As he settles in he may become more vocal at work. No reason to befriend him now if he was triggered

by a homeless dude to start in on the talk
Others may find out on their own what he is about as he is new just like you did . Sorry the lunch deteriorated

IMO just be civil and work together as expected and hope he isn't too annoying right?

No extra friendly favors or chats are required I agree and they would just cause more nauseous banter your way

[True Blue American]

39. He will expose himself

You will not have to.

[Blue_true]

49. I totally agree.

The things that I look for in a person's character is how they treat those less fortunate than they are, what they chose to do tell me everything that I need to know about them. My guess, the guy was likely forced out of the old job and will find himself shunned in the new one in due time. I have never met a deeply conservative person that was a decent human being, but I have seen plenty self-destruct.

[True Blue American]

54. You can listen to a person for just a few minutes

And pretty well know what they think.

The few times I have ignored that I find my first intact was right.

[RhodeIslandOne]

29. You should have just said Trumps a fucking idiot

Those exact words.

There’s no real good response to that.

[Le Gaucher]

33. That is getting in his face .. not my style.

[RhodeIslandOne]

47. Not really

You can say it in such a casual manner like it is accepted fact....which it is to normal people. That’ll shut them up faster than yelling it.

[Blue_true]

50. You did the right thing by remaining silent.

In a few minutes, the guy showed you what he is. Please don't focus on him, do your job. If you have decent job mates, others will see what the guy is and avoid him.

[Tipperary]

63. Your style is screwing him quietly.

Got it.

[IronLionZion]

32. I'm sure some of my coworkers are waiting for Trump to deport me

while others think I must be enjoying the tax cuts and roaring economy. Some assume I might be a Republican just not a Trumpster. I had a RW Trumpette friend at a previous company who we got along well but just agreed to not discuss politics.

It's best to avoid political discussions at work. You never know if someone might decide to quietly screw you.

[barbtries]

34. hey i had to get a prescription for klonopin

after the election because i feared i would not be professional toward certain people i worked with. i knew they voted for trump.

[lunatica]

35. Actually he will screw himself lickety split

All you have to do is nothing at all. You don’t need to jeopardize your professionalism. He doesn’t need any help from you to fail at the job.

Keep your powder dry.

[Texin]

38. Hmmm. Maybe he'll fail or maybe not.

It's good to be professional, because people with such a distorted worldview are likely to be somewhat paranoid thinkers, and he may likely be the type that will stab others in the back to advance his own career. Keep it professional, but keep your distance and be aware of the alliances he forms within the company. Your "bosses" selected this person to come aboard, so they saw something there they personally identified with. Be cautious, because he may be more like they are.

[Blue_true]

51. His bosses could have saw a fabricated resume.

Conservatives are good at fabricating their work experience, Ffrom what I have experienced. If the bosses were forming at the mouth righties, they would have shown that long ago.

[drray23]

79. In the short term not necessarily.

Ruthless assholes can climb the corporate ladder effectively as this behavior is often mistaken for leadership and go getter attitude by upper management who may not have a day to day view of the guy's behavior.

[lunatica]

83. His diarrhea of the hateful mouth will prevail

If he was stupid enough to spew his hatred of the homeless then he’s stupid enough to think every white persona feels the same way. It’s pretty safe to say he’s also a racist and a misogynist. Just give him all the rope he needs. His coworkers will sideline him. It doesn’t matter what the bosses think. Bosses are really irrelevant in cases like this, one way or the other. The guy will be ostracized by his coworkers because of his politics, or he will be elevated by them. Depending on their own prevailing political views.

[SomethingNew]

44. Refusing to help a coworker that needs it

is actively sabotaging him and your employer. You don't have to be his friend but I can't see any reason for being unprofessional. That reflects very poorly on you. I'm sure you'd be outraged if a Democrat was treated like that in a conservative office.

[Squinch]

60. As a Democrat, have you ever worked at a conservative office? Better yet, ever be a WOMAN

who is a Democrat working at a conservative office?? Conservatives treat others like that all the time.

Fuck 'em.

[MountainMama]

61. A-frickin'-men

I start a new job May 1. My boss is smart enough to keep his mouth shut, but our sales guy (and the boss' best friend) is a racist idiot who STILL thinks Donald Trump is the best thing to ever happen to this country.

I could live with the quirks of this place, but when that guy got added to the mix, I'd had enough.

Just yesterday, he thought it was great that he heard a lady use "midget" in conversation and he was so glad she wasn't "P.C." Always said with disdain, of course.

I have always been civil with him and helped him when he asked, but I hope I never have to see him again.

[SomethingNew]

69. "I hate when conservatives treat us like this!"

"I'm going to do the same right back!"

And the cycle continues.

For what its worth, I work in a mild to moderately conservative office (read: not Trump worshipers but very pro-business/anti-taxes and regulation). Everyone is professional and polite, even when politics are brought up.

[Squinch]

70. OK. You advance their careers. I still won't.

[SomethingNew]

72. Don't complain if they adopt the same attitude.

[Squinch]

73. As I said before, they always have. I've gotten where I am despite them and where I am is

very comfortable. Mostly because I learned early never to trust or depend on them.

So it's no skin off my nose.

[joanbarnes]

45. K. He won't need help, he has 'his tRump.'

[Vinca]

52. Just for shits and giggles you should ask him who gave us a larger tax cut - Don or Obama.

Yes, it was demon Obama who gave us a much larger tax cut in 2013. And higher job growth. And a lower deficit. And he didn't cavort with porn stars either!

[Ferrets are Cool]

53. FuCK him and his small tiny mind. nt

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

56. Seen them, heard them before,

Unfortunate.
'Politics Is War'...Karl Rove. Once the 'picking a side started w Fx news began, it was just a matter of time.
'Us first GOP'...the Johnny One Notes of American Society. American Caste System.
There are none so blind that will not see. The taxes we pay are for all of us. They aren't entitlements. Every paycheck you worked for, we kicked in. You just can't explain alternative paradigms and dimensions of things bc all it does is exhaust you. Just have to say, no politics and religion. Works and takes care of 95% of stuff conversationally.
Despite the shrill voices there's far more of us than them. When the voting is counted correctly and, everyone gets to vote who wants to, we win by large margins. Strict scrutiny is required to do the best we can until then to stop another foreign intervention we don't agree with.

[oberliner]

57. "I will screw him very quietly" seems to be the antithesis of everything we should stand for

[Tipperary]

64. OP sounds a little timid to me. Will screw the guy quietly, I.e. backstab, but will not speak up.

Shameful. One must have the courage of one’s convictions.

[mokawanis]

58. Before I retired I experienced a similar situation

The guy was a new hire and he was very vocal about his political beliefs (yay tRump etc), even to the point of getting upset with me and others who disagreed with his conservative views. I told the guy he was putting his job at risk by being confrontational with co-workers, the very same co-workers who were being asked for their opinions of him by supervisors. What's worse, he was even being mildly confrontational with patients (we worked at a mental-health treatment facility). He ignored my warning and ended up getting fired, and my take on that is he got what he deserved.

[Squinch]

59. Lots of people here who are more virtuous than I. I would absolutely not help him. His vote

has hurt too many people.

They all just KNOW they're so much better than that homeless guy and all those people collecting "entitlements." You know, like their mothers.

Nope. I wouldn't help him.

[jcmaine72]

62. Screw him! Take him out before he takes you out.

Deplorables are strictly dog-eat-dog about everything in life. I wouldn't turn my back on this bigoted asshat for a second. He couldn't even muster up two second's worth of phony compassion for some homeless person for the sake of decorum in your conversation with him. What makes you think he'll have any genuine compassion for you when he's in a position to take your job or promotion?

[HipChick]

66. Agree..

[Tarc]

65. "I am not actively Sabotaging or anything"

Hell, I would in a heartbeat. Enablers of racist bigots are as much a problem as anything.

[pansypoo53219]

67. he can use his bootstraps.

[Squinch]

71. You win the thread!

[GeorgeHayduke]

75. Rule number 1:

Never discuss either religion or politics with people you are not intimately familiar.

[drray23]

77. Somebody who is that bad at critical thinking

Does not deserve any help. It's a valid criterion by which to judge people especially if that job involves any type of interaction with customers. If this guy can't even keep his cool in a low pressure situation I hate to think what will happen when the going gets tough. He will either break down or shift blame on others for his failures.

[prayin4rain]

80. I wouldn't help him, either. nt

[magicarpet]

81. Hip - hip - hooray - MAGA..... Oops I mean ..... sorry.

[Duppers]

82. Good for you.

How can threads about hating and never forgiving republicans often be rated high on the Greatest page, yet when it comes to not helping these rethugian asshole professionally, it's hands on deck attitude to bash a poster's honest, justifiable feelings?

And they admit if the tables were turned, these Republicans would be hurting you.



I have no Republican friends. My choice.