Bagged at work - Damn!!

Status
Not open for further replies.
Rockrivr1

Rockrivr1

Member
Joined
Dec 25, 2002
Messages
1,871
Location
Massachusetts
Picture if you will a middle aged white guy with a high and tight hair cut and a salt and pepper Go-T sitting at his work desk intently looking at a pictue of a Glock 26 that he's looking to buy on a 21 inch monitor. :D

Now picture this guy all of a sudden hearing a voice behind him say:

"Should I be worried that your looking at handguns during work hours"

Again picture the startled guy spinning in his seat to look upon the companies new CTO (Chief Technology Officer) from Australia, which whom the guy now directly reports to. :what:

Again picture the CIO not waiting for an answer and getting down to the reason he's in the guy's office and then immediatly leaving, all the while the picture of the Glock 26 is still up on the 21 inch screen behind the guy.

Finally picture the guy saying to himself: "Oh s??t!!" "This is not good!"


Oh in case anyone has not figured it out yet, the guy is me! :banghead:

From a previous post of mine, I think this could possibly count against me if I try to get a job at the home office in Australia. Then again, if I'm lucky the CIO is a pro-gun guy. Not sure how I would breach that conversation. Hummmmm
 
From what I understand if you do end up working in Australia, all you will be able to do is look at pics of guns and not own any. At least if that's still legal in the "Land Down Under."

Rob
 
Breach the subject. Best to get it out in the open now than to have you worry over it forever.

Tell him you know attitudes towards handguns in Australia differ from those in the USA and that you are concerned he may have misinterpreted your action. Explain why you were doing what you were doing.

Sizing up a product you may want to purchase is a perfectly legitimate activity. Well - maybe not on company time but still it was innocent - it was innocent right - you don't work for the post office or any thing do you? :D
 
The job in Australia was a one to two year thing max because the money was really good. Wouldn't move permanently. I like my guns to much. Don't think I'll have to worry about that anymore anyway.
 
That's why I never, ever have my monitor facing anywhere where someone walking behind me can see it. I've been in situations where I've had to angle it almost ridiculously to make it harder to see, if that's the only choice I have.
 
Concur with Werewolf. Broach the subject with the guy at your earliest opportunity, get it out in the open.

I think we all cringe when our superiors (or someone in a position of authority in our organization) uses those stupid words, "Should I be worried ...?" and "...during working hours." Good luck with all this ... But I wouldn't worry too much until I heard those other words, "So, do you want to keep working here?"

Sure is good to work in an organization (military) where looking at pictures of guns on computers can be considered part of one's job ...
 
If you're allowed to browse the internet during work hours for any personal reason, then the CTO's political beliefs should have no bearing on how your performance gets rated.
 
OOOOOPS! How was this guy's demeanor? Was he seriously bugged/annoyed? I'll be the contrarian here and say you shouldn't bring it up again. If he's hardcore anti-gun you'll only alienate him more. Even if he's a fencesitter, it's not your job to win him over. Let it pass.
 
Not knowing the personality of the CTO it's hard to say what he might have really been thinking but I think his comments could be taken 3 different ways:

1)He's against the ideas of guns

or

2)You were looking at pictures instead of your doing your job

or

3)It was said in jest and doesn't mean much of anything


If he was really worried about guns, or with you having one at work, I doubt we would have phrased it the way he did. If he was against guns, he would have said more, if he was really worried about you going nuts, he would have asked if anything was troubling you etc. or said nothing in fear he would set you off.

If he was worried about you not doing your job, again, he would have said more, like if you need more work to do, or something along those lines.

So that leaves, saying it in jest. Or at least as some kind of greeting.

If you're worried in might actually mean something to him, go talk to him but with the idea that it's a "not doing your job" problem, and not a gun problem. What would you say if it was a picture of a new guitar, or a new car. The truth is always a good option. Say something like, I hope you don't get the wrong idea, I had just finished working on the X project, and was only taking a few minutes to do some research. I am thining of getting one so I want to be sure to get a good deal.

Either he will say it's not big deal, or give you a better indication if he was upset over it being a gun, or just not being work related.

If it really comes down to it, keep in mind that looking at a picture of a gun is in no way illegal or against company policy. Taking a minute or two away from your real work to look at pictures is a very minor offense (unless it's a continuous thing).
 
If his attitude was actually negative I'm with those who say to not bring it up.

If he was joking in attitude about it, bring up him walking in on you, and invite him to come shooting.

If you really don't know, you could bring it up, ask how he felt, and apologize if deemed necessary (or then ask him to come shooting).
 
"Should I be worried?"

Ive been asked that a few times. The answer is always, "not unless you plan on breaking into my house in the middle of the night...you're not are you?"

Stutter...stammer... "of course not".

"Then you've got no worries from me"
 
The guy is hard to read as he's really intense. I've known him now for around 3 months and he's always mad about one thing or other. Though he's never been mad with me, which is a good thing. I've talked to him at work about non-work related things only once and it was brief.

The way my office is I usually hear anyone coming into the office. I had just got off a conference call and had a headset on when I was looking, which is probably why I didn't hear him come in. Unfortunately I can't move the monitor due to the way it connects, so my back is usually to the entrance.

I'm going to be real careful going forward.
 
Rockrvr1, there's some good advice above.

I particularly like the recommendations re (a) inviting him to go shooting (or maybe even to attend a gun show to acquaint the Aussie with the American Gun Culture, and (b) asking the bloke if he intends to become a Target by breaking into your house some night.

I've also been down this same road, i.e., sustaining the barbs and wrath of Pacifist/Leftist/Elitist employers and bosses. You can wimp-out, back-peddle, and knuckle-under if/when they start to "target" you for **ahem** scrutiny. Or, you can face the issue straight-on.

I suggest asking your Aussie boss if he's familiar with the U.S. Constitution's 1st and 2nd Amendments... because both you AND your lawyerSSSS are -- and you're all prepared to take legal action, if necessary, on a future case of Discrimination In The Workplace based upon political orientation.

The latter approach has risks, but it just might gain you some respect, too. If you're good at your job, they'll think twice about harrassing you... or canning you. While it's important to be regarded as a "team player" in today's politically-correct workplace, it's also basic self-preservation to do what it takes to make yourself a Hard Target... vis-a-vis both criminals AND employers-with-a-political-agenda that conflicts with yours.

Welcome to the Culture War. It's got a long way to go.
 
Gotta disagree with Tonkin (respectfully of course).

Take the polite route first, if he comes back receptive, reel him in. If not, drop the subject. IF you get canned, have the lawyers as a surprise. I would bet MA is a state where employeers have a bit less leeway in firing than right-to-work states.

IF he comes back anti, like I said, drop it. If you get canned, give them the lawyer surprise. If you tip your hand (I have lawyers and know the law) they may scrounge up a real reason to do you in.

Don't walk on eggshells, deal with the problem, and go back to life as before.
 
From what I understand, Massachusetts isn't that different from Australia concerning guns.
 
Since he caught you with your hand in the cookie jar anyway,
you should have had a little fun and said (with an evil grin on
your face) "I'm an American. Yes, you should be worried..." :evil:
 
LOL! Been there, but I have a very gun-friendly workplace.

Does he come by your desk/office/cubicle often?

I'd say next time, get caught DOING your job, but leave out and around some gun magazines/catalogs and see if HE looks at them and brings it up. Hell, put a poster up.

If he's PRO-gun, stops by and notices the magazines and catalogs etc. and you're WORKING, I'd say he'd almost definitely bring up the subject and chit-chat. If he sees them, you're working and he's still not happy, you have your answer too. ;)

Let us know. We're all dying to know what happens next. :eek:

.
 
Angry people are not fun to be around, angry bosses are worse. All he knows now is that you have an interest in guns. If you ask him to shoot you will confirm you own guns.

Do what you want, I'd keep away from him myself.


Respectfully,

jkelly
 
"Should I be worried that your looking at handguns during work hours"
Click to expand...

"No, Sir,

If I buy one, would you like to go shooting some
Saturday?"

Never admit to aready owning one till you know his answer to that question.

I work for a company owned by Japanese, Most of them LOVE to shoot!

Only in America.
 
Situational Awareness Extends Beyond the Street!!

And what about your situational awareness. All it took was a piece of plastic and your boss sneaked up and busted you! :what:

I could have let it slide (no pun intended) if you were looking at something designed by JMB, but a Glock…for shame! ;)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

E
  • Locked
ND at the Cal Expo Gunshow...
2
Replies
33
Views
2K
stevelyn
S
B
  • Locked
Hassled at work about firearms
2 3 4 5
Replies
103
Views
6K
Jorg Nysgerrig
J
A
  • Locked
if you worked at a gun shop-loonys.
2 3 4
Replies
93
Views
5K
Robert
Robert
armoredman
  • Locked
Can you ID this one?
Replies
10
Views
1K
armoredman
armoredman
W
  • Locked
robbed at work years ago and situational awareness
Replies
0
Views
237
wagoneer1019
W
Back
Top