The Bitching Thread

[Board of Command]

Summer time? I never have summer time. It's still school/work for the next two and a half years with no break.

[Animeniax]

It will be a good trial run for the rest of your life where you don't get any extended breaks except a yearly 2 week vacation and an occasional 3 or 4 day weekend. It's all downhill after college until retirement, at which time you're too old and tired to really enjoy it.

[Buffalobiian]

Summer time? I never have summer time. It's still school/work for the next two and a half years with no break.

What do you do BoC? Sounds like you're doing some accelerated summer semester courses or something..

[Board of Command]

I'm in a co-op program. It means I have alternating 4-month school/work terms. Work terms are mandatory and are generally real jobs, hence why I'm at ATI.

[python862]

Dude, forget I said anything. I wouldn't want to be in your shoes...

[Board of Command]

Now for my real bitch:

I hate group projects. People have proved time and time again that they are always able to find some way to let me down. I just don't understand their mindsets behind this. It's okay if it's an individual mark and if you don't care enough to do a decent job then so be it. However, if you're in a group then you drag everyone down. Are they not aware of this? Do they not care about what the other group members think of them? Do they not feel guilty when someone else (ie. me) puts in a lot of effort and tries to pull the group together, while they exert a half-assed effort and let others down?

I never drag the group down because I never put myself in a position to do so. I'm always the unofficial, unelected group leader who organizes everything and assigns work to others. Of course, I also assign work to myself, and usually a large chunk at that. I do this because I no longer trust other people. I no longer believe that the other members can do as good a job as me no matter what kind of work they take on. So far throughout my life, there hasn't been a single exception to this trend. I've always been the "best" group member.

My most recent group project was no different. I pretty much organized everything and the others didn't seem to mind. It's always good for one person to stand up and rally the troops.

Problem with Member #1
This person said he'll write a majority of the report in return for not having to do any of the hands on part (building a bridge). Nobody opposed this idea, so he went ahead and did his thing. Originally, I told the group that I'll do the final editing of the report after everyone's done writing. Nobody opposed that idea either. Two nights before the due date, the guys were still quite behind on the report, so this person said he'll do the final editing instead. I okay'd it since I still had quite a bit to write, and I figured it can't be that hard. On the night before the project was due, the other two guys still haven't finished their parts (very small parts, actually), and it was already past midnight. This person told me he'll definitely have everything done and ready to go by the next morning, when the project is due. He also said he'll email out a copy of the finished report the following morning for everyone to check before he prints it.

The next morning, I get to class early and check my email. There it is - the final report. However, it was missing stuff on the title page, it was missing a list of references, it was badly formatted. I immediately sent out an email for him to fix some stuff. A few minutes later, I logged onto MSN in hopes that he would still be online, and he was indeed. I told him I skimmed through the report and mailed out a list of small changes that must be incorporated before he prints it. He then replied as if he read my email and is making those changes as we spoke. Great. 20 minutes later, he comes to class with the report printed out and none of the changes were made. I asked him what happened, and he said I never told him about any changes.

WTF...?

And we got a shitty mark on the report.

Problem with Members #2 and #3
These two never show up on time. One of these guys had our finished project (the bridge) and all he had to do was bring it from his dorm to class at 10 AM. He couldn't do that. It was 9:55 and he still didn't show up, so I was pretty worried. I called him and he doesn't pick up his phone. He eventually arrived at 10:20 and I didn't even bother asking him where he was. I no longer cared.

The other guy is horrible with communication. It felt like he never reads any emails, but he does.

Throughout this entire project, I did all I could to divide the work fairly among the four members. Why can't everyone just do their share? If I could write the entire report by myself, trust me I would. However, I couldn't because I also need to be there for the hands-on work because the other guys might not know how to build it for whatever reason. Even though I pretty much designed the whole thing myself, the other two guys appeared to be on the same page as me. It was a millboard bridge that held 460 lb., which put us near the top of the class. So yeah...I believe I did my part in terms of the design work.

The worst part about all of this is that I feel like all of this was beyond my control. I gave an honest effort and the rest was up to them, and they utterly and completely let me down. I just don't understand these other guys. They have less work than me, yet they do a poorer job and drag the entire group down with them.

[python862]

That's pretty much the same reason I never like to work in groups. In fact, only recently, I was placed in a group with two other guys to create a report and presentation about the slang of the twenties. I said I would do the whole essay, while they only had to worry about the presentation. My report pretty much saved the grades. I got an 88 while the other two got 70s.

[Sandldan]

i really really need to stop going to US sites checking prices whenever im going to buy some electronics... Currently in the market for a camera and stumbled over the fact that cameras such as this HV10 is 320€ in usa and around 1100€ here. I know it's more expensive here due to higher salaries, currencies, taxes etc, but still irritates me as much every time.
Someone send it to me >_>

[Animeniax]

Sure, send $500US cash to me, and your new camera should show up in the next couple weeks.

It's been a bitch-free kind of day today. Besides having to put up with some truckers hanging out in my office, it was slow and a buddy showed me a cool manga scan website so I got to read some manga. I'm also one step closer to setting up an Xbox360 in my office to help pass the time. Not a bad day at all. Oh, and there's shrimp creole for dinner at the cafeteria. Here's hoping I don't jinx it and it tastes as excellent as usual.

edit: the shrimp creole was as awesome as usual.

[python862]

Today's Bitch: Writer's Block

Ugh. Over the past six months, I've been working on a fanfiction series (laugh all you want). Only recently, I've gotten the case of writer's block where you can write something coherently, but you friggin' hate what you write. Nothing seems to be working. I've chalked it up to not writing my work down in longhand, but I'm kind of doubting that's the whole thing. I don't want to take any breaks, 'cause then I'm worried about not remembering half of my plot and screwing something up. Also, I can't stop because I've already started the latest installment in the series. So, I'm stuck, screwed.

Another possibility I've come up with is that I'm spending too much time on GotWoot, but that can't be the case, can it? XD

Anyway, that's all I got. Ani, glad to hear your shrimp was satisfying.

[Ryllharu]

python862, too much time on Gotwoot? Then don't go to the AnimeNewsNetwork forums. But I'm not here to only bitch about those. Rather, the force inside compels me to keep posting there.

Full of elitists more often than not, idiots, and the occasional staff member with a very clear opinion who are more often than not completely closed to other viewpoints not on, or contrary to, their agenda. The pervasive holier-than-thou attitude through the forums against the Nazi-esque evil that are "fansubs."

Yet for some ungodly reason...I post there from time to time. Each time my posts (in response to someone else's) are utterly ignored. If you want a response, you have no choice but to Troll. Or I see willful ignorance rather than even the slimmest shred of research or unbiased opinion...and then I swear I will never post there again.

Definitely a better idea to just stay on Gotwoot.

[Chiodos]

Troll ? What's that : )?

[Abdula]

I've been looking at this for the last three days and it never changes and this James person doesn't even have a single post. I only noticed it a few days ago so I don't know how long its been happening but its just plain weird.

[Buffalobiian]

I noticed that too. I was thinking "he knows someone here, and he's PMing, but no posts.....Okay......

Have spambots learnt how to PM yet? (btw, Abdula, why's your post in the bitching thread?)

[complich8]

Clearly, spambots have learned to PM. That guy dropped off about 2000 private message in two days or so.

I've since banned him, banned his ip, and banned his email provider. Let me know if it happens again.

[rockmanj]

Geez, I go visit Chicago for a few days, and now im expected to be my mother's private chauffeur just because she used her debit card to get my rental car (I actually paid for it in full). I have no free time to myself on my vacation. I'm kinda looking forward to going back to Korea (almost).

[Uchiha Barles]

Now for my real bitch:

I hate group projects. People have proved time and time again that they are always able to find some way to let me down. I just don't understand their mindsets behind this. It's okay if it's an individual mark and if you don't care enough to do a decent job then so be it. However, if you're in a group then you drag everyone down. Are they not aware of this? Do they not care about what the other group members think of them? Do they not feel guilty when someone else (ie. me) puts in a lot of effort and tries to pull the group together, while they exert a half-assed effort and let others down?

I never drag the group down because I never put myself in a position to do so. I'm always the unofficial, unelected group leader who organizes everything and assigns work to others. Of course, I also assign work to myself, and usually a large chunk at that. I do this because I no longer trust other people. I no longer believe that the other members can do as good a job as me no matter what kind of work they take on. So far throughout my life, there hasn't been a single exception to this trend. I've always been the "best" group member.

My most recent group project was no different. I pretty much organized everything and the others didn't seem to mind. It's always good for one person to stand up and rally the troops.

Problem with Member #1
This person said he'll write a majority of the report in return for not having to do any of the hands on part (building a bridge). Nobody opposed this idea, so he went ahead and did his thing. Originally, I told the group that I'll do the final editing of the report after everyone's done writing. Nobody opposed that idea either. Two nights before the due date, the guys were still quite behind on the report, so this person said he'll do the final editing instead. I okay'd it since I still had quite a bit to write, and I figured it can't be that hard. On the night before the project was due, the other two guys still haven't finished their parts (very small parts, actually), and it was already past midnight. This person told me he'll definitely have everything done and ready to go by the next morning, when the project is due. He also said he'll email out a copy of the finished report the following morning for everyone to check before he prints it.

The next morning, I get to class early and check my email. There it is - the final report. However, it was missing stuff on the title page, it was missing a list of references, it was badly formatted. I immediately sent out an email for him to fix some stuff. A few minutes later, I logged onto MSN in hopes that he would still be online, and he was indeed. I told him I skimmed through the report and mailed out a list of small changes that must be incorporated before he prints it. He then replied as if he read my email and is making those changes as we spoke. Great. 20 minutes later, he comes to class with the report printed out and none of the changes were made. I asked him what happened, and he said I never told him about any changes.

WTF...?

And we got a shitty mark on the report.

Problem with Members #2 and #3
These two never show up on time. One of these guys had our finished project (the bridge) and all he had to do was bring it from his dorm to class at 10 AM. He couldn't do that. It was 9:55 and he still didn't show up, so I was pretty worried. I called him and he doesn't pick up his phone. He eventually arrived at 10:20 and I didn't even bother asking him where he was. I no longer cared.

The other guy is horrible with communication. It felt like he never reads any emails, but he does.

Throughout this entire project, I did all I could to divide the work fairly among the four members. Why can't everyone just do their share? If I could write the entire report by myself, trust me I would. However, I couldn't because I also need to be there for the hands-on work because the other guys might not know how to build it for whatever reason. Even though I pretty much designed the whole thing myself, the other two guys appeared to be on the same page as me. It was a millboard bridge that held 460 lb., which put us near the top of the class. So yeah...I believe I did my part in terms of the design work.

The worst part about all of this is that I feel like all of this was beyond my control. I gave an honest effort and the rest was up to them, and they utterly and completely let me down. I just don't understand these other guys. They have less work than me, yet they do a poorer job and drag the entire group down with them.

This, really, truly does suck. That's why whenever I'm in a group, I step my game up, even taking on the responsibilities of others if necessary. Sounds to me like you were the lead in this project. In future projects, you might want to consider the following: These projects are usually long-term. If you're playing "team lead", you might want to consider overviewing the entire project, and dividing the work as fairly as you can (which doesn't necessarily mean equally). Both of these you've done. But the problem in how you handled it was you took their word that they would do what they said they would.

There's a way around having to deal with this. Take a look at each person's responsibilities, and come up with what you feel are mini-milestones, for each person. Then, come up with set deadlines for each of them to reach those mini milestones. You may want to involve the group in coming up with this (or at least make it look like you involved them). Once the group agrees, whether or not they do what they should have, or perform as they should have, you have several points at which to evaluate where this project is heading, and try to take measures to improve the situation. Some other points are, if you do this, you might be able to go to whomever is going to evaluate your work, let that person or those persons know you did this, and then let them know that one or more of the the group members are jacking off when they should be working. You'll have very specific points that make that professor or boss sympathize with you and possibly aid you. Otherwise, you get what you got, assed out, and at the last minute, without a damned thing you can do. Again, I'm sorry man, that sucks.

[Abdula]

I noticed that too. I was thinking "he knows someone here, and he's PMing, but no posts.....Okay......

Have spambots learnt how to PM yet? (btw, Abdula, why's your post in the bitching thread?)

Because it was beginning to seriously annoy me and I couldn't think of anywhere else to post it.

Clearly, spambots have learned to PM. That guy dropped off about 2000 private message in two days or so.

I've since banned him, banned his ip, and banned his email provider. Let me know if it happens again.

Thanks and I will.

[saman]

i've been fairly sick these last few days and i'm getting better, but at the moment, i have no sense of taste left. i tried to have some fruit salad today, and it tasted like someone had poured chlorine over it. blech. it made me sad, because i love fruit salad

[Eurasian]

i've been fairly sick these last few days and i'm getting better, but at the moment, i have no sense of taste left. i tried to have some fruit salad today, and it tasted like someone had poured chlorine over it. blech. it made me sad, because i love fruit salad

I'm sorry to hear that. I hate it when that happens! Every morning, I would anticipate getting my senses back. =D
I hope you get better soon!!! Then you can enjoy all the fruit salads you want!!!