Stupid jerks!

[Logan Sapphire]

My sister works for a federal law enforcement agency (am trying to be discreet here), and has to attend their academy, which trains all new analysts, for 7 weeks in Quantico. The trainees are adults of all ages, ranging at least into their fifties. Apparently there's one guy there whom she admits is strange, but she thinks is harmless. He has no friends, but would like some, because he always shows up to their social functions, even though not many people talk to him.

There are several people (and their numbers are growing) who think it's funny to openly make fun of this guy. According to my sister, they're just sort of nasty people anyway- they have nicknames for everyone in the class. One example is that they call this school psychologist "Meatloaf" because they say it's like the agency plucked her out of a cafeteria. Last night, they were mocking this poor man, when he was only sitting 3 feet away from them. They've also said that he's going to be a serial killer, and persist on saying so, even though other people have told them comments like that could really hurt his career. My sister was so angry last night that she stormed out (after telling them that they were being mean).

This afternoon apparently one of the jerks came and sat next to her at lunch, and she got up and moved. Then people started making rude comments about her too- I'm not sure if they were racial comments (since we're minorities) or what.

Does anyone have any idea how to handle this, other than to ignore it? They have class counselors, and some people have complained to them how weird this guy is. You would think that adults could behave, and not act so juvenile!

 

[Madam Bijoux]

If the coulselors can''t do anything about it, would telling whoever runs the training program that a hostile work environment has been created be an option? I imagine that the agency is spending a lot of time and money to train the class, and the people in charge wouldn''t want that money wasted by some trainees driving other trainees out of the program. Does the agency have any written standards of conduct? If so, they could be printed out and given to everyone in the class with a friendly reminder that the standards apply to everyone.

 

[oldminer]

People can be extraordinarily mean to eachother. When in groups, it is just commonplace that the gang mentality forms and someone a little different becomes their target. There is always enough animosity to go around, so a second person can be targeted, too. I always think about the sort of people who want to become police officers. They are regular folks, not super men or super women. They need a decent job, with benefits and they have sufficient courage for the task. Attitude seems to develop as a part of the police mentality. It can be really troublesome. Power corrupts and this often happens to the average sort of person who learns they now have "power" over others. It is human nature showing. It isn''t very pretty.

I have often been the target of the gang mentality. I was not one of those who fit right in with the most popular crowd. I learned to take it pretty well and every once in a great while, I gave some back. Nothing like a direct punch in the tip of the nose to make teasing and pushing stop for a while when the bully won''t back off. In an adult environment violence should be a last resort. Conduct of this sort needs to be reported, but if it fails to be rectified, then I suggest a correctly applied shot in the nose.......................................Just don''t tell them who suggested it, please

 

[Logan Sapphire]

Madam Bijoux- I emailed her to ask if they have a code of conduct. It totally seems like harassment to me, and definitely creates a hostile working environment.

Oldminer- I know what you mean about a good right hook to the jaw!

It just makes me shake my head that the defense of the US is resting on the shoulders of these puerile supposed adults.

 

[strmrdr]

sssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
laxatives in their coffee or itching powder on their car seat (put it in the crack at the top of the closed door it will fall in when the door is opened) is just as much fun as a punch and easier to get away with :}

 

[Kaleigh]

Oh that''s just awful. Let us know what happens. What idiots they are!!!

 

[Blue824]

It always upsets me when adults can''t manage to be nice to other adults. Grow up already! MY college wasn''t too cliquey, actually, neither was my hs, and my k-8 my class was 21 kids, so we were all friends...I never had to deal with a lot of the typical teenage issues.....and then when I went into my first job i was SHOCKED. I felt walking into the lounge was what it should''ve felt like to walk into a cafeteria in hs. Its so cliquey and not that people are mean, but there are definitely attitudes. They''re mean to some people and its just like, get over yourself. Ugh, makes me so mad.

I guess I''d make some sort of comment to a higher up supervisor, as long as they too were not involved with the name calling and gossiping. I really hope your sister gets it taken care of, I feel bad for that guy, and now your sister is having to deal with this too...just horrible

 

[Lorelei]

What a bunch of pathetic losers and good for her for trying to stop it. Insecure idiots like that pick on people who may be a little different or not quite as confident to try and make themselves feel better

Sad to say, as a child you tend to think that this sort of behaviour ends in the school yard, often it doesn''t. I feel so sorry for this poor guy who obviously is desperate to fit in and is being treated this way, it''s so cruel and unnecessary. I often find people who are a bit "different" are far more interesting than the so called norm. I hope that something can be done about these jerks, maybe if your sister has a few friends there, as a group they could include him at times. If he has some people watching out for him, perhaps these bullies will back off . They are cowards at heart and maybe that might help. Also what goes around comes around - it''s very true. I agree someone in authority needs to be made aware of the situation and can hopefully deal with it.

 

[Logan Sapphire]

Since people have apparently already complained to the class counselor about how weird they find him, I think it''s perfectly acceptable for my sister to also go to them and air her feelings. She doesn''t have to name names- I think the counselors would be aware of what''s going on and who''s involved.

She does have friends there who feel the same way, and they do make it a point to try to include him when possible. Jerks!

 

[njc]

I know where you are talking about and i feel that they should have rules of conduct. It is not an easy program to get into (i have had many friends try) and you would think there would be a mutual level of respect for one another. I think it is perfectly okay for your sister, without naming names, to explain what is going on. If it were a HS someone would certainly step in and try to help the situation.

I am reminded daily how ridiculous adults can be and often feel at 25 i am more mature than most 40 year olds.

 

[Matata]

My suspicious mind suggests the whole thing may be a psychological tool used by the agency to judge how people handle such situations.

 

[pearcrazy]

Ugh, unbelieveable!! I never dreamed that kind of stuff went on after middle school!! What jerks!

 

[ame]

Date: 7/28/2005 1:23:52 PM
Author:Logan Sapphire
My sister works for a federal law enforcement agency

Does anyone have any idea how to handle this, other than to ignore it? !

If it is anyway racially motivated she absolutely has no excuse to not go to her superior and report it. The government takes a VERY hard line on this. My dad is a fed and people get fired for threatening to throw a dirty kleenex at someone else, and ANYTHING even SLIGHTLY racially negative is grounds for dismissal. She will risk more than her sanity if she doesn''t do anything.

 

[Sparkster]

How old are they? 15???

 

[perry]

Attempt to make freinds with the poor guy, and then invite in some of the other non-groupies...

It will be an amazing education whatever happens.

Perry

 

[zdrastvootya]

When my brother was in community college, there were a couple of girls that liked to make fun of his skin condition. They wrote something about "itchy" on the blackboard. Granted, my brother is a bit of an outsider, but still it''s mean. They also liked to make fun of another student with an obvious physical disability - he had a funny walk. These people, who need to make fun of other people because they''re different, (to use a favourite phrase) are "beneath contempt". My brother''s description of comm. college made it sound more like high school than university (not knocking anyone that went there - just an observation).

Z.

ps. This topic reminds me of a scenario in the movie "About a Boy" where the nerdy kid is befriended by a girl that is obviously, pretty "cool", but is independent enough to choose her own friends.

 

[Big_G]

It is just amazing to me the number of knit-wits that the government hires and puts up with (your sister obviously not included).