Tags
sick of work, the world is full of idiots, there's just no helping stupid, what part of NO don't you understand?, work
My official title here is Instructional Design Specialist. Some of my job duties include teaching the faculty how to use our learning management system, troubleshooting problems with that system, providing guidance and direction for best practices for developing online learning activities, and how to best structure online classes. I work with people from all over campus through email, over the phone, in scheduled classes, and during individual consultations. I’ve been here nearly 14 years and I’m pretty fucking good at what I do, if I do say so myself. I like the people, I like the higher ed vibe, and I really enjoy what I do. Most of the time.
Every now and then we have to deal with what we refer to as a “frequent flyer.” Those are the people that take up most of your time with the same damn questions over and over. Either they don’t absorb the instructions you give them, they’re not really interested in learning but someone has told them they have to do X, or they’re just fucking lazy. If you’re real lucky it’s a combo of all three.
One of our frequent fliers just called to ask when I’ll next be in the satellite office. I told her, figuring she’d then tell me what it was she wants help with, but no, she just said that she’d see me then and hung up. I’m pretty sure I know what she wants and I’ve already told her that I can’t help her. There’s certain things I can do and certain things that are entirely beyond my control. What she wants is beyond my control because it deals with software her students have to install on their own computers.
So I’ve told my boss about it to cover my ass. She agrees that I’ve done my due diligence and there’s nothing further for me to do. But this woman will push because that’s just the way she is. Fortunately we’ve already been in touch with her department chair because she’s been taking up more and more of our time lately, often for the exact same issues and sadly she brings 90% of these issues on herself. If it’s true that you wear 20% of your wardrobe 80% of time, we end up spending 80% of our time helping 20% of the faculty.
Fortunately, since I do work for a state institution, Monday is a holiday for us. That means I have the next 3 days to stew about this. Yay.
Mental in the Midwest 
there is always those few people aren’t there? Don’t stew, relax and enjoy your long weekend. You and your boss knows there is nothing you can do. You’ve covered your ass, you are free to relax now. There you go, I gave you unsolicited advice. lol
LikeLike
And it was AWESOME. š
My night would be going much better if Evie Cat hadn’t decided to projectile vomit all over the bedspread and then take a shit in the middle of the sheets. Rotten little fuzzbutt.
LikeLike
Naughty kitty! Mine have never done anything like that, well except vomit, cats are good at that! Sorry.
LikeLike
I’m not sure if she wasn’t feeling good or if she thought the litter box needed to be emptied and was staging a protest. Everything seems to be back to normal this morning, mostly. She woke me up by licking my chin which is something she’s never done before.
LikeLike
Aw, maybe she wasn’t feeling well, that’s when my cats act out. Their only way of letting you know I guess.
LikeLike
I dislike secrets and to act that way like this flyer is a no go…. what has she planned? a surprise party for you? a present… or is she an assassin ? Enjoy 3 days of peace, with good music a nap and some treats :o)
LikeLike
No clue at this point, but I can guarantee it’ll turn out interesting. I hadn’t thought about it but you’re absolutely right, she may just want to say “thank you” in person for something. We do have folks who are quite generous. š
LikeLike
I’d be careful what you say about work on your blog. My employer found out about mine and now I can’t hardly say anything interesting š¦
LikeLike
Thanks for looking out for me. š Everyone on my team knows that I have a personal blog because we decided to use WordPress for a project at work and my experience with this has been quite useful. It wouldn’t surprise me if my boss knows what the name is, but it would actually surprise me even more if she’d ever gone looking for it. And I do try to not use real names or talk about things that would make someone easily identified. But you’re right, there are definitely employers out there who are very concerned about what their employees are saying. I’m sorry to hear that you’re in that situation. š¦
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is always one isn’t there. I hope in my work that people don’t think that I am the one lol Mind you I am usually the go to person for computer and mobile phone questions
LikeLike
It ended up being the damndest thing – she was under the impression that she was only allowed to call and ask questions when I’m in the satellite office. I reassured her that she can reach out to me any time she needs and then did my best to un-confuse her about the problem, which wasn’t really a problem, just her not entirely understanding how this particular thing works. She’s a lovely woman, I’m just not sure she understands technology as well as she’d like to.
LikeLike