Co-worker confounded today

[4D5]

Well I really got a co-worker thinking today. It’s actually taken a few weeks to have the need to come up with a plan. Back about 3-4 weeks I had a Cabela’s flyer on my desk. Lots of guys that come by have a look and bs for a moment. Well one guy, I guess might be a closet anti-gun type sees it and comments, gee that’s something to have that out with all the guns on it. I remarked yea, it’s Cablea’s flyer, he says a few more comments which I didn’t pay attention to, and I remarked just about everyone has seen it already.

Couple weeks later… Cabela's flyer on my desk again, several people have been by and checked it out and chatted, one manager even borrowed it for a closer look. Well here he comes again, and says wow, more guns stuff, I said yea it’s got some things I want and some good buys on ammo and I know others would like to have a look. He says; I don’t know… always having this stuff with guns out. Then comes the something about postal. I calmly ignored it and that was the end of the conversation and I went back to work. Well now its time for a plan.

The new Cabela’s flyer came yesterday so I took it to work and displayed the bait prominently at my desk today. Sure enough, he sees it and says another thing with guns, I said yep, not many gun or ammo buys, mostly clothes. Then I set the hook. I said “well it must make you really uneasy working in this building”. He says why’s that? Well about 90 percent (which is true) of the people in this building are gun owners/enthusiasts! Then comes the look in his eyes I then proceed to tell him that there’s always some sort of gun related hallway/coffee pot conversation at least once a day, then he gets the look again.

And that my friends was the end of the conversation

 

[THE DARK KNIGHT]

Lucky you can do that. A lot of jobs would probably fire you on the spot for having that flyer out, much less saying you like guns.

 

[TheFringe]

I have a similar type fellow at my job who, upon seeing me wear a Benelli shirt asks me something to the effect of: "given what that shirt represents, do you really think it's appropriate for the workplace ?"

"Got something against motorbikes" ? was my reply

 

[4D5]

Not so much as luck as it is living in the United States. Went to NJ once for training, after hearing the horror stories I couldn't wait to get back to the United States.

 

[THE DARK KNIGHT]

Not so much as luck as it is living in the United States. Went to NJ once for training, after hearing the horror stories I couldn't wait to get back to the United States.

I always breathe a sigh of relief when I escape the border from time to time.

That said, you'll still find plenty of workplaces that are pretty intolerant of guns, even in "friendly territory"

 

[JoeSlomo]

IMO, this individual is obviously confused about firearms, and is a prime candidate for thoughtful education. I say, embrace this gentleman, and show him the true path that the overwhelming majority of law abiding citizens take with firearms.

Educate, and don't scare him. Educate him on how millions of law abiding citizens use firearms as a tool for legal purposes that benefit society. Harvesting game for food, competition for sport and discipline, and even defense of life and property.

This gentleman seems to be one of the many that have NO idea that firearms are used by anybody but criminals, for criminal pursuits.

I say embrace and educate this individual.

 

[Sav .250]

The work place ain`t like it used to be. Especially the "don`t want to offend anyone." sentiment.

 

[Manco]

Then I set the hook. I said “well it must make you really uneasy working in this building”. He says why’s that? Well about 90 percent (which is true) of the people in this building are gun owners/enthusiasts! Then comes the look in his eyes I then proceed to tell him that there’s always some sort of gun related hallway/coffee pot conversation at least once a day, then he gets the look again.

The poor fellow doesn't even know what country he's living in! His mind can't handle so much freedom all at once, so go easy on him. Sounds like he needs to take a class in naturalization at the range if you're willing to sponsor and translate for him.

you'll still find plenty of workplaces that are pretty intolerant of guns, even in "friendly territory"

Some people have definitely grown up and lived inside a state-dependent "bubble" of sorts, haven't they?

 

[NG VI]

"given what that shirt represents, do you really think it's appropriate for the workplace ?"

I give up, what does it represent? Our adaptation to our environment by wearing different clothes based on our surroundings?

Yeah, I too think you should do what you can to bring this guy around, help him figure out that scores of millions of people in the U.S. own firearms for peaceful or neccessarily violent reasons like hunting and defense against violent crime. People always have to figure it out for themselves, even when all the facts are right there for them to take.

 

[jonmerritt]

Maybe he is afraid of commiting his crime now with all those known gun owners?

 

[BCCL]

Of course an even bigger issue, is what is with his pathological obsession with what is on his co-workers desks???

 

[Bovice]

put a CNN article on your desk and he'll be your best friend.

 

[Driftertank]

I have a similar type fellow at my job who, upon seeing me wear a Benelli shirt asks me something to the effect of: "given what that shirt represents, do you really think it's appropriate for the workplace ?"

"Got something against motorbikes" ? was my reply

- WIN

 

[Kevin5098]

I'm a quality manager for a small manufacturing facility. Occasionally I wear my ".357 beats 911 every time1" T-shirt. The shirt probably draws less attention than the bib overalls I wear in a "business casual" environment.

 

[Beelzy]

Good for you!

Out here in California a guy got fired for something similar. Enjoy your freedom comrade!

 

[TIMC]

I work for a large manufacturing company that has a very decent gun policy. The require you check your gun at the guard shack as you enter the plant. You lock it up in a nice lock box and you keep the key.
There is always some kind of hunting or shooting conversation going on in the plant. I have even had the plant manager ask about what shotgun I thought would be best for him.

 

[jonboynumba1]

RE: NJ...ROTFLMAO!! I grew up there (my family is from the midwest...NOT there BTW)...when I was 18 I moved (found out the boarders where in fact open and you could leave! ) to GA. and around 24 I moved to AL. Life is deffinately better here in America~!! I work managing a small pawn and gunshop now...ALL the watercooler conversation in hunting shooting or fishing related (well that and goils!) Life is good!

OK we occassionally talk cars to!

 

[kenno]

When I was a kid in Kali I was allowed to fire my M-1 carbine at the high school rifle range.
Times have changed!

 

[yakkingallover]

I feel lucky, my boss has stopped work in the middle of the day and gathered all the employees to prove he could hit a coke can on a fence post with his pistol. It was a long shot and he did it. Lunch was on me that day. Sorry for you guys who can't even read gun stuff.

P.S.- the shot was taken safely, as the fence post was located in front of an industrial dirt berm after the earth had been dug for a pond. We were outside the city and all safety rules followed.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Good for you! I agree Try to win the man over and educate him. I miss the days of Guns in back window racks at HS. Funny there were no school shooting back then either.

 

[kayak-man]

I can't have any gun/knife related material at work. Yet just about every other conversation with my boss is a glock vs 1911 or 9mm vs 45 argument.

yakkingallover, can I get a job with you guys

 

[MattTheHat]

It's nice not having to answer to a boss. It's one of the few benefits of self-employment.

A few months ago I had a guy in my office to purchase a P7M13 I was selling. We talked guns for a few minutes and a customer in the store (beyond view of my office, but within earshot) expressed disapproval of the the fact I was selling a gun in my office. I heard a snarky comment and ignored it. Then I walked out of my office to zip a copy of the guy's DL to make a receipt. I offered her a nice, friendly smile. Then came another snarky comment.

I smiled at her, and apologized if our conversation somehow made her feel uncomfortable. She made another comment about selling firearms in public.

I pointed to the door and with another friendly Texan smile, told her she would no doubt feel more at ease on the other side of it.


-Matt

 

[Manco]

I feel lucky, my boss has stopped work in the middle of the day and gathered all the employees to prove he could hit a coke can on a fence post with his pistol. It was a long shot and he did it. Lunch was on me that day. Sorry for you guys who can't even read gun stuff.

Well, even though I'm in California, at my previous workplace located in a suburban-rural transition area (I telecommute these days) a fellow employee once brought an Airsoft (don't laugh...OK, laugh if you want) M4, and several of us took a break and went to the parking lot and shot at some cans. Nobody else at the office owned a real firearm or even had a BB gun when they were a child, so for them it was a rather cool, even scandalous thing to do. Admittedly it felt pretty liberating even for me, actually, to be at work on a break shooting stuff with a "gun," as it were, right outside. There are some antis at my work, too, but most there are cool with guns. That said, I think I'm the only one of us who ever has shot and will shoot a firearm. I could probably change that for the better pretty easily, but I had promised my family that I would never combine firearms with the workplace.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

Next time he makes a comment say "If you are curious I'd be happy to take you to the range sometime and teach you how to shoot. It really is a lot of fun and nothing like in the movies."

 

[Tenacious B]

"Got something against motorbikes" ? was my reply

Nicely done.


The sad thing is that I've encountered just as much crap for bike talk as for gun talk, actually quite a bit more.