Submitted by Tsaot on Thu, 02/19/2009 - 00:04
Posted in
Jared stormed into his office building. Casual greetings were either ignored or withheld if his face was seen in time. In his hand he held a printout of an e-mail he had received earlier that morning. In short, it said statements made in his Twitter account about co-workers were offensive and disciplinary actions were to take place this afternoon at two. He slammed the door open as he strode into Andrew's office.
Andrew was expecting this. He saw the anger on Jared's face and pardoned himself on the phone. Can I call you back in an hour? An important matter just landed on my desk. Thanks. At least Jared had the decency to wait for him to hang up.
"What the flush is this?" Jared demanded, slapping the printout on the desk.
Andrew glanced at the clock, and, ignoring Jared's initial outburst, spoke. "Jared, you're about five hours early for our meeting. Can this wait until then?"
"No it can't wait! What bung heap is reading my personal writings on the web?"
Andrew admired Jared's ability to avoid Carlin's seven words and still sound just as foul. "I really think you should wait until two o'clock for this." A vein on Jared's forehead began to pulse. Andrew decided it may be prudent to calm the angered employee. "But, we can attempt to resolve this now if you so desire."
"I do so poopin' desire. This shouldn't even be a steaming issue."
Andrew leaned back in his seat, steepled his fingers in front of his chest, and spoke. "Several of your statements made on Twitter over the weekend about one of your co-workers were found to be somewhat offensive and threatening. The line in particular where you said you were going to," he picked up the abused paper Jared had brought, "'beat her to a slimy pulp,' is what brought this to our attention."
Jared slammed his fist on the desk. "That tweet was private," he growled. "You people have no right reading my Twitter feed."
Andrew found the violent display disturbing, but was not going to be intimidated. "That 'tweet' was in no way private, Jared. It was made was made in a public space." He gestured at the screen beside him. "I was able to pull it up on this computer here. If you wanted us to not see it, you should have protected your profile. I am told this is possible."
Jared leaned forward, his fists resting on the desk. "It's still free speech. There is nothing you can do to me about it."
Security arrived at the open door and began to enter before Andrew signaled for them to wait. "But there is, Jared." He leaned forward so they were eye to eye. "You're fired. Gather your things from your desk. I will have the necessary paperwork ready for you when you are done."
Jared stood. His face was locked in a deadly sneer. His fists clenched and released repeatedly at his sides. Andrew wondered if the security officers would have to intervene. After a moment, Jared turned and left, closing the door harder than he had opened it.
Andrew leaned forward and rubbed a dent in the desk left by his visitor and shook his head. If he hadn't confirmed his violent nature, he though, he could've just apologized at two. He reached into his desk and pulled out a pink slip.
Andrew was expecting this. He saw the anger on Jared's face and pardoned himself on the phone. Can I call you back in an hour? An important matter just landed on my desk. Thanks. At least Jared had the decency to wait for him to hang up.
"What the flush is this?" Jared demanded, slapping the printout on the desk.
Andrew glanced at the clock, and, ignoring Jared's initial outburst, spoke. "Jared, you're about five hours early for our meeting. Can this wait until then?"
"No it can't wait! What bung heap is reading my personal writings on the web?"
Andrew admired Jared's ability to avoid Carlin's seven words and still sound just as foul. "I really think you should wait until two o'clock for this." A vein on Jared's forehead began to pulse. Andrew decided it may be prudent to calm the angered employee. "But, we can attempt to resolve this now if you so desire."
"I do so poopin' desire. This shouldn't even be a steaming issue."
Andrew leaned back in his seat, steepled his fingers in front of his chest, and spoke. "Several of your statements made on Twitter over the weekend about one of your co-workers were found to be somewhat offensive and threatening. The line in particular where you said you were going to," he picked up the abused paper Jared had brought, "'beat her to a slimy pulp,' is what brought this to our attention."
Jared slammed his fist on the desk. "That tweet was private," he growled. "You people have no right reading my Twitter feed."
Andrew found the violent display disturbing, but was not going to be intimidated. "That 'tweet' was in no way private, Jared. It was made was made in a public space." He gestured at the screen beside him. "I was able to pull it up on this computer here. If you wanted us to not see it, you should have protected your profile. I am told this is possible."
Jared leaned forward, his fists resting on the desk. "It's still free speech. There is nothing you can do to me about it."
Security arrived at the open door and began to enter before Andrew signaled for them to wait. "But there is, Jared." He leaned forward so they were eye to eye. "You're fired. Gather your things from your desk. I will have the necessary paperwork ready for you when you are done."
Jared stood. His face was locked in a deadly sneer. His fists clenched and released repeatedly at his sides. Andrew wondered if the security officers would have to intervene. After a moment, Jared turned and left, closing the door harder than he had opened it.
Andrew leaned forward and rubbed a dent in the desk left by his visitor and shook his head. If he hadn't confirmed his violent nature, he though, he could've just apologized at two. He reached into his desk and pulled out a pink slip.