Uneasy work environment

[SHRED]

---

I have about 3.5 years to retirement so "quitting" isn't an option.
My position is a crew leader in Public Works for a Municipality.

I occasionally get grief about my hair length. "Hippie" and references to pot.
I wish there was a protected class for guys with long hair sometimes.
My co-lead is a full on dittohead who loves to bring up subjects like global warming and Al Gore with others but makes sure I over-hear it.

People can be so fucked in the head at times. Why do they want a fight? I don't respond at all. I pretend to not hear him.
If I respond emotionally then I give them(him) what they want.
Not all whom I work with are like this thank goodness.

Just ranting a bit here. I'll get through it but sometimes I marvel at the utter shallowness of thought and miserable existence that drives assholes like this.

[lynnertic]

1. Hang in there

I have a friend in the same position in his job. It's hard to keep quiet sometimes but you're wise, wiser than the childish bullies you work with.

[SHRED]

2. thanks for that

:hug:

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. Just be glad you're the co-lead that's not the asshole

It's not easy, but let them rant until no one listens to them anymore.

Hang in there.........

[SHRED]

4. great outlook!

I do actually pity the guy.
To be that asleep is friggin' scary.

I know I am asleep to many things but to be that blinded is where I never want to be.

[deadmessengers]

5. Yeah, I deal with the same thing

I work with a rabid rightwinger (I posted about him here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=797022)

My advice to you: keep telling yourself that you are there to do a job, and not to argue with fuckwits about politics. If they want to give you shit about your politics or your appearance, fuck them. You'll get the last laugh in November.

[SHRED]

6. wow I read that...

Notify HR.
Hostile work environments are not tolerated.

[fasttense]

7. I agree that responding emotionally is not the answer.

But not responding at all sometimes implies consent. You may be giving him the green light by not responding.

I once was a smoker and hung out in the smoking area. There was a guy there who always made racial jokes and slurs. We were all white and mostly male, I am female. Most people were polite and said nothing to his obvious bigoted remarks. But one day I had had enough and I told him how I thought he was all wrong. He was shocked that I didn't agree with him and kept his mouth shut after that. He stopped making the remarks. And this was kind of curious, the others came up and apologized to me for his bigotry, as if they were somehow to blame for letting him run off at the mouth.

Anyway, the important things is that I remained calm and didn't get emotional. I spoke up clearly and logically and it stopped.

You may want to do something like that to this bully. I bet many of your coworkers feel the same as you do.