Work-related politics

[mythteller]

One of the most difficult aspects to working is dealing with difficult people. I find it galling that I have to keep the peace, be calm/cool/collected, be polite, be respectful, while I have other people here who are constantly rude and aggressive.

When I get pushed, I tend to push back. But as a techwriter, I can only push back so far because I tend to need people to get my job done.

I sent an email to a progammer guy that went something like this:

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To: ProgGuy
From: Hobbes
Subj: The Blue Doodad

How does the Blue Doodad work? Does it interact with the Red Doodad?

His reply:
================
From: ProgGuy
To: Hobbes
Subj: Re: The Blue Doodad

The Blue Doodad doesn't work right now and I don't have time to fix it. Don't ask me about this again. I will let you know when it is working and how it works.

My reply:
================
To: ProgGuy
From: Hobbes
Subj: Re: The Blue Doodad

Can you tell us when you will get back to us with the information? My deadline to get stuff in is next Thursday.

His reply:
================
From: ProgGuy
To: Hobbes
Subj: Re: The Blue Doodad

The Blue Doodad doesn't work right now and I don't have time to fix it. Don't ask me about this again. I will let you know when it is working and how it works.

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Argh. I'm tempted to just quote my original reply to him and see how long it bounces back and forth until one of us cracks.

Actually, I'm beyond tempted. I've just gone and done it. I'm a bad man.