Work Matters

The CEO, The Last Cookie, and the “Bad Christian”

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supermoxie

in

,

As my last post suggests, I am working today to get my in-box in some semblance of order (I am under 200 emails to deal with in my in-box, down from 400 a few hours ago).  I just ran into an email I got about five weeks ago about a CEO who was a certified asshole.  As regular readers of this blog know, one of the studies I love is the  "Cookie Experiment" reported by Dacher Keltner and Deb Gruenfeld.  It showed that giving people a little power over others led them to eat more than their share of cookies, eat with their mouths open, and leave more crumbs. 

In this vein, here a reader's a story about the hissy fit her CEO had because one of his colleagues had eaten the last cookie.

The "Bad Christian" Attack.

2010-02-24-2009_04_02Samoa This person professed to be an avowed Christian, and was on the board of directors of a major Christian publication.  At times he even resorted to holding prayer meetings in the board room.  One day he went to the executive kitchen to fetch a cookie, only to find out his favorite box of cookies was no longer to be found.  After relentless quizzing of the administrative staff one person indicated they had seen a particular person go into the kitchen.  This person, also an avowed Christian, but one who walked the talk, was singled out for persecution.  He was called into the board room and accused of being a "bad Christian" for eating the last cookie.  Up until that point the executive staff in the "front office" all had rights to use the executive kitchen at their discretion.  Following the cookie incident the executive kitchen was for the exclusive use of the CEO, COO, and vice presidents.

I find this both sad and funny.  If you have any stories about how bosses or other people in power exhibited selfish, pigish, or otherwise weird behavior around food, please share them us.

P.S. Yes, that is a Girl Scout Samoa.  If you are in Northern California, remember that booth sales for Girl Scouts Cookies start today.  See Marina's post.

Comments

48 responses to “The CEO, The Last Cookie, and the “Bad Christian””

  1. Carol Murchie Avatar
    Carol Murchie

    It is sad. As Bill Maher observed in “Religulous”, he appreciated a group of born-again truckers for being Christ-like instead of Christian. I worked with and for ministers who always made sure they had “theirs” and then tell the staff there’s nothing left to give them.
    I may have said it here before, but I’ll say it again: Frances Moore Lappe often points out that the word “power” is derived from the Latin “posse” which means to “be able”. Therefore, power is greatest when it enables others to achieve.

    Reply
  2. Carol Murchie Avatar
    Carol Murchie

    It is sad. As Bill Maher observed in “Religulous”, he appreciated a group of born-again truckers for being Christ-like instead of Christian. I worked with and for ministers who always made sure they had “theirs” and then tell the staff there’s nothing left to give them.
    I may have said it here before, but I’ll say it again: Frances Moore Lappe often points out that the word “power” is derived from the Latin “posse” which means to “be able”. Therefore, power is greatest when it enables others to achieve.

    Reply
  3. Carol Murchie Avatar
    Carol Murchie

    It is sad. As Bill Maher observed in “Religulous”, he appreciated a group of born-again truckers for being Christ-like instead of Christian. I worked with and for ministers who always made sure they had “theirs” and then tell the staff there’s nothing left to give them.
    I may have said it here before, but I’ll say it again: Frances Moore Lappe often points out that the word “power” is derived from the Latin “posse” which means to “be able”. Therefore, power is greatest when it enables others to achieve.

    Reply
  4. Carol Murchie Avatar
    Carol Murchie

    It is sad. As Bill Maher observed in “Religulous”, he appreciated a group of born-again truckers for being Christ-like instead of Christian. I worked with and for ministers who always made sure they had “theirs” and then tell the staff there’s nothing left to give them.
    I may have said it here before, but I’ll say it again: Frances Moore Lappe often points out that the word “power” is derived from the Latin “posse” which means to “be able”. Therefore, power is greatest when it enables others to achieve.

    Reply
  5. Carol Murchie Avatar
    Carol Murchie

    It is sad. As Bill Maher observed in “Religulous”, he appreciated a group of born-again truckers for being Christ-like instead of Christian. I worked with and for ministers who always made sure they had “theirs” and then tell the staff there’s nothing left to give them.
    I may have said it here before, but I’ll say it again: Frances Moore Lappe often points out that the word “power” is derived from the Latin “posse” which means to “be able”. Therefore, power is greatest when it enables others to achieve.

    Reply
  6. Carol Murchie Avatar
    Carol Murchie

    It is sad. As Bill Maher observed in “Religulous”, he appreciated a group of born-again truckers for being Christ-like instead of Christian. I worked with and for ministers who always made sure they had “theirs” and then tell the staff there’s nothing left to give them.
    I may have said it here before, but I’ll say it again: Frances Moore Lappe often points out that the word “power” is derived from the Latin “posse” which means to “be able”. Therefore, power is greatest when it enables others to achieve.

    Reply
  7. Carol Murchie Avatar
    Carol Murchie

    It is sad. As Bill Maher observed in “Religulous”, he appreciated a group of born-again truckers for being Christ-like instead of Christian. I worked with and for ministers who always made sure they had “theirs” and then tell the staff there’s nothing left to give them.
    I may have said it here before, but I’ll say it again: Frances Moore Lappe often points out that the word “power” is derived from the Latin “posse” which means to “be able”. Therefore, power is greatest when it enables others to achieve.

    Reply
  8. Carol Murchie Avatar
    Carol Murchie

    It is sad. As Bill Maher observed in “Religulous”, he appreciated a group of born-again truckers for being Christ-like instead of Christian. I worked with and for ministers who always made sure they had “theirs” and then tell the staff there’s nothing left to give them.
    I may have said it here before, but I’ll say it again: Frances Moore Lappe often points out that the word “power” is derived from the Latin “posse” which means to “be able”. Therefore, power is greatest when it enables others to achieve.

    Reply
  9. Thomas Avatar
    Thomas

    I’m always a bit surprised at your use of these anecdotes. They always seem more ambiguous to me than you make out.
    In this case, for example, what does “his favourite box of cookies” mean? Were they actually the CEO’s cookies. I.e., are we talking about a cookie thief? Even if the cookies were communal property, there may have been some spoken or unspoken norm that if you empty the box you have to go get another one (from the store in the lobby or simply the storeroom).
    Around here, a continual minor irritation is an empty pot of coffee. (The person who took the last cup didn’t start brewing another.) People who make a big deal out of that could easily be characterized as “assholes” by the slackers in the office. But they are also, in a strict formal (or “Christian”) sense right. Not putting on a new pot of coffee is not “doing unto others…” etc.
    Sometimes the enforcers of this rule happen to also be assholes, of course. But I would need more than anecdote about a single instance to see whether that is true.
    If a CEO let everyone use the exectutive bathroom, but then noticed that it was always being left a complete mess, he might reassert the sanctity of that space. He wouldn’t be an asshole to do so.

    Reply
  10. Thomas Avatar
    Thomas

    I’m always a bit surprised at your use of these anecdotes. They always seem more ambiguous to me than you make out.
    In this case, for example, what does “his favourite box of cookies” mean? Were they actually the CEO’s cookies. I.e., are we talking about a cookie thief? Even if the cookies were communal property, there may have been some spoken or unspoken norm that if you empty the box you have to go get another one (from the store in the lobby or simply the storeroom).
    Around here, a continual minor irritation is an empty pot of coffee. (The person who took the last cup didn’t start brewing another.) People who make a big deal out of that could easily be characterized as “assholes” by the slackers in the office. But they are also, in a strict formal (or “Christian”) sense right. Not putting on a new pot of coffee is not “doing unto others…” etc.
    Sometimes the enforcers of this rule happen to also be assholes, of course. But I would need more than anecdote about a single instance to see whether that is true.
    If a CEO let everyone use the exectutive bathroom, but then noticed that it was always being left a complete mess, he might reassert the sanctity of that space. He wouldn’t be an asshole to do so.

    Reply
  11. Thomas Avatar
    Thomas

    I’m always a bit surprised at your use of these anecdotes. They always seem more ambiguous to me than you make out.
    In this case, for example, what does “his favourite box of cookies” mean? Were they actually the CEO’s cookies. I.e., are we talking about a cookie thief? Even if the cookies were communal property, there may have been some spoken or unspoken norm that if you empty the box you have to go get another one (from the store in the lobby or simply the storeroom).
    Around here, a continual minor irritation is an empty pot of coffee. (The person who took the last cup didn’t start brewing another.) People who make a big deal out of that could easily be characterized as “assholes” by the slackers in the office. But they are also, in a strict formal (or “Christian”) sense right. Not putting on a new pot of coffee is not “doing unto others…” etc.
    Sometimes the enforcers of this rule happen to also be assholes, of course. But I would need more than anecdote about a single instance to see whether that is true.
    If a CEO let everyone use the exectutive bathroom, but then noticed that it was always being left a complete mess, he might reassert the sanctity of that space. He wouldn’t be an asshole to do so.

    Reply
  12. Thomas Avatar
    Thomas

    I’m always a bit surprised at your use of these anecdotes. They always seem more ambiguous to me than you make out.
    In this case, for example, what does “his favourite box of cookies” mean? Were they actually the CEO’s cookies. I.e., are we talking about a cookie thief? Even if the cookies were communal property, there may have been some spoken or unspoken norm that if you empty the box you have to go get another one (from the store in the lobby or simply the storeroom).
    Around here, a continual minor irritation is an empty pot of coffee. (The person who took the last cup didn’t start brewing another.) People who make a big deal out of that could easily be characterized as “assholes” by the slackers in the office. But they are also, in a strict formal (or “Christian”) sense right. Not putting on a new pot of coffee is not “doing unto others…” etc.
    Sometimes the enforcers of this rule happen to also be assholes, of course. But I would need more than anecdote about a single instance to see whether that is true.
    If a CEO let everyone use the exectutive bathroom, but then noticed that it was always being left a complete mess, he might reassert the sanctity of that space. He wouldn’t be an asshole to do so.

    Reply
  13. Thomas Avatar
    Thomas

    I’m always a bit surprised at your use of these anecdotes. They always seem more ambiguous to me than you make out.
    In this case, for example, what does “his favourite box of cookies” mean? Were they actually the CEO’s cookies. I.e., are we talking about a cookie thief? Even if the cookies were communal property, there may have been some spoken or unspoken norm that if you empty the box you have to go get another one (from the store in the lobby or simply the storeroom).
    Around here, a continual minor irritation is an empty pot of coffee. (The person who took the last cup didn’t start brewing another.) People who make a big deal out of that could easily be characterized as “assholes” by the slackers in the office. But they are also, in a strict formal (or “Christian”) sense right. Not putting on a new pot of coffee is not “doing unto others…” etc.
    Sometimes the enforcers of this rule happen to also be assholes, of course. But I would need more than anecdote about a single instance to see whether that is true.
    If a CEO let everyone use the exectutive bathroom, but then noticed that it was always being left a complete mess, he might reassert the sanctity of that space. He wouldn’t be an asshole to do so.

    Reply
  14. Thomas Avatar
    Thomas

    I’m always a bit surprised at your use of these anecdotes. They always seem more ambiguous to me than you make out.
    In this case, for example, what does “his favourite box of cookies” mean? Were they actually the CEO’s cookies. I.e., are we talking about a cookie thief? Even if the cookies were communal property, there may have been some spoken or unspoken norm that if you empty the box you have to go get another one (from the store in the lobby or simply the storeroom).
    Around here, a continual minor irritation is an empty pot of coffee. (The person who took the last cup didn’t start brewing another.) People who make a big deal out of that could easily be characterized as “assholes” by the slackers in the office. But they are also, in a strict formal (or “Christian”) sense right. Not putting on a new pot of coffee is not “doing unto others…” etc.
    Sometimes the enforcers of this rule happen to also be assholes, of course. But I would need more than anecdote about a single instance to see whether that is true.
    If a CEO let everyone use the exectutive bathroom, but then noticed that it was always being left a complete mess, he might reassert the sanctity of that space. He wouldn’t be an asshole to do so.

    Reply
  15. Thomas Avatar
    Thomas

    I’m always a bit surprised at your use of these anecdotes. They always seem more ambiguous to me than you make out.
    In this case, for example, what does “his favourite box of cookies” mean? Were they actually the CEO’s cookies. I.e., are we talking about a cookie thief? Even if the cookies were communal property, there may have been some spoken or unspoken norm that if you empty the box you have to go get another one (from the store in the lobby or simply the storeroom).
    Around here, a continual minor irritation is an empty pot of coffee. (The person who took the last cup didn’t start brewing another.) People who make a big deal out of that could easily be characterized as “assholes” by the slackers in the office. But they are also, in a strict formal (or “Christian”) sense right. Not putting on a new pot of coffee is not “doing unto others…” etc.
    Sometimes the enforcers of this rule happen to also be assholes, of course. But I would need more than anecdote about a single instance to see whether that is true.
    If a CEO let everyone use the exectutive bathroom, but then noticed that it was always being left a complete mess, he might reassert the sanctity of that space. He wouldn’t be an asshole to do so.

    Reply
  16. Thomas Avatar
    Thomas

    I’m always a bit surprised at your use of these anecdotes. They always seem more ambiguous to me than you make out.
    In this case, for example, what does “his favourite box of cookies” mean? Were they actually the CEO’s cookies. I.e., are we talking about a cookie thief? Even if the cookies were communal property, there may have been some spoken or unspoken norm that if you empty the box you have to go get another one (from the store in the lobby or simply the storeroom).
    Around here, a continual minor irritation is an empty pot of coffee. (The person who took the last cup didn’t start brewing another.) People who make a big deal out of that could easily be characterized as “assholes” by the slackers in the office. But they are also, in a strict formal (or “Christian”) sense right. Not putting on a new pot of coffee is not “doing unto others…” etc.
    Sometimes the enforcers of this rule happen to also be assholes, of course. But I would need more than anecdote about a single instance to see whether that is true.
    If a CEO let everyone use the exectutive bathroom, but then noticed that it was always being left a complete mess, he might reassert the sanctity of that space. He wouldn’t be an asshole to do so.

    Reply
  17. Bruce Lynn Avatar
    Bruce Lynn

    A couple of quotes a friend and colleague (Gordon Smilie) used to cite seem apropos here…
    “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” – Abraham Lincoln
    “The secret to using power is not to use it.” – Jessica Alba

    Reply
  18. Bruce Lynn Avatar
    Bruce Lynn

    A couple of quotes a friend and colleague (Gordon Smilie) used to cite seem apropos here…
    “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” – Abraham Lincoln
    “The secret to using power is not to use it.” – Jessica Alba

    Reply
  19. Bruce Lynn Avatar
    Bruce Lynn

    A couple of quotes a friend and colleague (Gordon Smilie) used to cite seem apropos here…
    “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” – Abraham Lincoln
    “The secret to using power is not to use it.” – Jessica Alba

    Reply
  20. Bruce Lynn Avatar
    Bruce Lynn

    A couple of quotes a friend and colleague (Gordon Smilie) used to cite seem apropos here…
    “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” – Abraham Lincoln
    “The secret to using power is not to use it.” – Jessica Alba

    Reply
  21. Bruce Lynn Avatar
    Bruce Lynn

    A couple of quotes a friend and colleague (Gordon Smilie) used to cite seem apropos here…
    “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” – Abraham Lincoln
    “The secret to using power is not to use it.” – Jessica Alba

    Reply
  22. Bruce Lynn Avatar
    Bruce Lynn

    A couple of quotes a friend and colleague (Gordon Smilie) used to cite seem apropos here…
    “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” – Abraham Lincoln
    “The secret to using power is not to use it.” – Jessica Alba

    Reply
  23. Bruce Lynn Avatar
    Bruce Lynn

    A couple of quotes a friend and colleague (Gordon Smilie) used to cite seem apropos here…
    “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” – Abraham Lincoln
    “The secret to using power is not to use it.” – Jessica Alba

    Reply
  24. Bruce Lynn Avatar
    Bruce Lynn

    A couple of quotes a friend and colleague (Gordon Smilie) used to cite seem apropos here…
    “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” – Abraham Lincoln
    “The secret to using power is not to use it.” – Jessica Alba

    Reply
  25. Ergoboy Avatar
    Ergoboy

    So my story is about a different kind of boss – a parent. I think the anecdotes will be fitting with the article.
    My dad had this sort of problem. If anyone other than he “took the last cookie” or “drank the rest of the Coke”, or “ate the rest of the pizza” or “used up all the hot water” (e.g. took a shower before him, even if it was hours before him), there would be screaming and a lot of hell to pay.
    My family developed some odd strategies for dealing with his tyrannical behavior. We would eat all the cookies, except 2. If there were 2 left it would counter the cookie argument. We would drink all the coke except for the last 2 ounces. Again, circumventing the argument.
    The pizza issue was different, though. Pizza was a real treat. We were very poor, and we didn’t get it very often. There was an unspoken rule that once the pizza box went from the counter to the refrigerator, that pizza was no longer community pizza, but “his” pizza.
    We became pizza gluttons. We didn’t just eat until we were full and then save it for later. We gorged ourselves, but left one piece so we wouldn’t hear the “…ate all of the…” argument.
    As an adult, I have to remind myself that I can control when I buy things like pizza, so its okay to save some for later.
    That type of behavior from a boss created some interesting work arounds and some long term problems that I can recognize through counseling and emotional intelligence. Working in that situation would be bad enough, but you can get another job. Having a parent that did that is another story.

    Reply
  26. Ergoboy Avatar
    Ergoboy

    So my story is about a different kind of boss – a parent. I think the anecdotes will be fitting with the article.
    My dad had this sort of problem. If anyone other than he “took the last cookie” or “drank the rest of the Coke”, or “ate the rest of the pizza” or “used up all the hot water” (e.g. took a shower before him, even if it was hours before him), there would be screaming and a lot of hell to pay.
    My family developed some odd strategies for dealing with his tyrannical behavior. We would eat all the cookies, except 2. If there were 2 left it would counter the cookie argument. We would drink all the coke except for the last 2 ounces. Again, circumventing the argument.
    The pizza issue was different, though. Pizza was a real treat. We were very poor, and we didn’t get it very often. There was an unspoken rule that once the pizza box went from the counter to the refrigerator, that pizza was no longer community pizza, but “his” pizza.
    We became pizza gluttons. We didn’t just eat until we were full and then save it for later. We gorged ourselves, but left one piece so we wouldn’t hear the “…ate all of the…” argument.
    As an adult, I have to remind myself that I can control when I buy things like pizza, so its okay to save some for later.
    That type of behavior from a boss created some interesting work arounds and some long term problems that I can recognize through counseling and emotional intelligence. Working in that situation would be bad enough, but you can get another job. Having a parent that did that is another story.

    Reply
  27. Ergoboy Avatar
    Ergoboy

    So my story is about a different kind of boss – a parent. I think the anecdotes will be fitting with the article.
    My dad had this sort of problem. If anyone other than he “took the last cookie” or “drank the rest of the Coke”, or “ate the rest of the pizza” or “used up all the hot water” (e.g. took a shower before him, even if it was hours before him), there would be screaming and a lot of hell to pay.
    My family developed some odd strategies for dealing with his tyrannical behavior. We would eat all the cookies, except 2. If there were 2 left it would counter the cookie argument. We would drink all the coke except for the last 2 ounces. Again, circumventing the argument.
    The pizza issue was different, though. Pizza was a real treat. We were very poor, and we didn’t get it very often. There was an unspoken rule that once the pizza box went from the counter to the refrigerator, that pizza was no longer community pizza, but “his” pizza.
    We became pizza gluttons. We didn’t just eat until we were full and then save it for later. We gorged ourselves, but left one piece so we wouldn’t hear the “…ate all of the…” argument.
    As an adult, I have to remind myself that I can control when I buy things like pizza, so its okay to save some for later.
    That type of behavior from a boss created some interesting work arounds and some long term problems that I can recognize through counseling and emotional intelligence. Working in that situation would be bad enough, but you can get another job. Having a parent that did that is another story.

    Reply
  28. Ergoboy Avatar
    Ergoboy

    So my story is about a different kind of boss – a parent. I think the anecdotes will be fitting with the article.
    My dad had this sort of problem. If anyone other than he “took the last cookie” or “drank the rest of the Coke”, or “ate the rest of the pizza” or “used up all the hot water” (e.g. took a shower before him, even if it was hours before him), there would be screaming and a lot of hell to pay.
    My family developed some odd strategies for dealing with his tyrannical behavior. We would eat all the cookies, except 2. If there were 2 left it would counter the cookie argument. We would drink all the coke except for the last 2 ounces. Again, circumventing the argument.
    The pizza issue was different, though. Pizza was a real treat. We were very poor, and we didn’t get it very often. There was an unspoken rule that once the pizza box went from the counter to the refrigerator, that pizza was no longer community pizza, but “his” pizza.
    We became pizza gluttons. We didn’t just eat until we were full and then save it for later. We gorged ourselves, but left one piece so we wouldn’t hear the “…ate all of the…” argument.
    As an adult, I have to remind myself that I can control when I buy things like pizza, so its okay to save some for later.
    That type of behavior from a boss created some interesting work arounds and some long term problems that I can recognize through counseling and emotional intelligence. Working in that situation would be bad enough, but you can get another job. Having a parent that did that is another story.

    Reply
  29. Ergoboy Avatar
    Ergoboy

    So my story is about a different kind of boss – a parent. I think the anecdotes will be fitting with the article.
    My dad had this sort of problem. If anyone other than he “took the last cookie” or “drank the rest of the Coke”, or “ate the rest of the pizza” or “used up all the hot water” (e.g. took a shower before him, even if it was hours before him), there would be screaming and a lot of hell to pay.
    My family developed some odd strategies for dealing with his tyrannical behavior. We would eat all the cookies, except 2. If there were 2 left it would counter the cookie argument. We would drink all the coke except for the last 2 ounces. Again, circumventing the argument.
    The pizza issue was different, though. Pizza was a real treat. We were very poor, and we didn’t get it very often. There was an unspoken rule that once the pizza box went from the counter to the refrigerator, that pizza was no longer community pizza, but “his” pizza.
    We became pizza gluttons. We didn’t just eat until we were full and then save it for later. We gorged ourselves, but left one piece so we wouldn’t hear the “…ate all of the…” argument.
    As an adult, I have to remind myself that I can control when I buy things like pizza, so its okay to save some for later.
    That type of behavior from a boss created some interesting work arounds and some long term problems that I can recognize through counseling and emotional intelligence. Working in that situation would be bad enough, but you can get another job. Having a parent that did that is another story.

    Reply
  30. Ergoboy Avatar
    Ergoboy

    So my story is about a different kind of boss – a parent. I think the anecdotes will be fitting with the article.
    My dad had this sort of problem. If anyone other than he “took the last cookie” or “drank the rest of the Coke”, or “ate the rest of the pizza” or “used up all the hot water” (e.g. took a shower before him, even if it was hours before him), there would be screaming and a lot of hell to pay.
    My family developed some odd strategies for dealing with his tyrannical behavior. We would eat all the cookies, except 2. If there were 2 left it would counter the cookie argument. We would drink all the coke except for the last 2 ounces. Again, circumventing the argument.
    The pizza issue was different, though. Pizza was a real treat. We were very poor, and we didn’t get it very often. There was an unspoken rule that once the pizza box went from the counter to the refrigerator, that pizza was no longer community pizza, but “his” pizza.
    We became pizza gluttons. We didn’t just eat until we were full and then save it for later. We gorged ourselves, but left one piece so we wouldn’t hear the “…ate all of the…” argument.
    As an adult, I have to remind myself that I can control when I buy things like pizza, so its okay to save some for later.
    That type of behavior from a boss created some interesting work arounds and some long term problems that I can recognize through counseling and emotional intelligence. Working in that situation would be bad enough, but you can get another job. Having a parent that did that is another story.

    Reply
  31. Ergoboy Avatar
    Ergoboy

    So my story is about a different kind of boss – a parent. I think the anecdotes will be fitting with the article.
    My dad had this sort of problem. If anyone other than he “took the last cookie” or “drank the rest of the Coke”, or “ate the rest of the pizza” or “used up all the hot water” (e.g. took a shower before him, even if it was hours before him), there would be screaming and a lot of hell to pay.
    My family developed some odd strategies for dealing with his tyrannical behavior. We would eat all the cookies, except 2. If there were 2 left it would counter the cookie argument. We would drink all the coke except for the last 2 ounces. Again, circumventing the argument.
    The pizza issue was different, though. Pizza was a real treat. We were very poor, and we didn’t get it very often. There was an unspoken rule that once the pizza box went from the counter to the refrigerator, that pizza was no longer community pizza, but “his” pizza.
    We became pizza gluttons. We didn’t just eat until we were full and then save it for later. We gorged ourselves, but left one piece so we wouldn’t hear the “…ate all of the…” argument.
    As an adult, I have to remind myself that I can control when I buy things like pizza, so its okay to save some for later.
    That type of behavior from a boss created some interesting work arounds and some long term problems that I can recognize through counseling and emotional intelligence. Working in that situation would be bad enough, but you can get another job. Having a parent that did that is another story.

    Reply
  32. Ergoboy Avatar
    Ergoboy

    So my story is about a different kind of boss – a parent. I think the anecdotes will be fitting with the article.
    My dad had this sort of problem. If anyone other than he “took the last cookie” or “drank the rest of the Coke”, or “ate the rest of the pizza” or “used up all the hot water” (e.g. took a shower before him, even if it was hours before him), there would be screaming and a lot of hell to pay.
    My family developed some odd strategies for dealing with his tyrannical behavior. We would eat all the cookies, except 2. If there were 2 left it would counter the cookie argument. We would drink all the coke except for the last 2 ounces. Again, circumventing the argument.
    The pizza issue was different, though. Pizza was a real treat. We were very poor, and we didn’t get it very often. There was an unspoken rule that once the pizza box went from the counter to the refrigerator, that pizza was no longer community pizza, but “his” pizza.
    We became pizza gluttons. We didn’t just eat until we were full and then save it for later. We gorged ourselves, but left one piece so we wouldn’t hear the “…ate all of the…” argument.
    As an adult, I have to remind myself that I can control when I buy things like pizza, so its okay to save some for later.
    That type of behavior from a boss created some interesting work arounds and some long term problems that I can recognize through counseling and emotional intelligence. Working in that situation would be bad enough, but you can get another job. Having a parent that did that is another story.

    Reply
  33. Lindsay Spencer Avatar
    Lindsay Spencer

    Without discussing the Christian part, this is still bad managing. Is a cookie (or a box of cookies) really worth berating an employee? Or taking away privileges? Is eating the last cookie such a crime? Someone has to do it. If the CEO was the one to eat it would he be a bad person? I agree with Thomas’ statements about community norms, but in the long run, having to go get another box of cookies or making the coffee yourself isn’t really that hard.

    Reply
  34. Lindsay Spencer Avatar
    Lindsay Spencer

    Without discussing the Christian part, this is still bad managing. Is a cookie (or a box of cookies) really worth berating an employee? Or taking away privileges? Is eating the last cookie such a crime? Someone has to do it. If the CEO was the one to eat it would he be a bad person? I agree with Thomas’ statements about community norms, but in the long run, having to go get another box of cookies or making the coffee yourself isn’t really that hard.

    Reply
  35. Lindsay Spencer Avatar
    Lindsay Spencer

    Without discussing the Christian part, this is still bad managing. Is a cookie (or a box of cookies) really worth berating an employee? Or taking away privileges? Is eating the last cookie such a crime? Someone has to do it. If the CEO was the one to eat it would he be a bad person? I agree with Thomas’ statements about community norms, but in the long run, having to go get another box of cookies or making the coffee yourself isn’t really that hard.

    Reply
  36. Lindsay Spencer Avatar
    Lindsay Spencer

    Without discussing the Christian part, this is still bad managing. Is a cookie (or a box of cookies) really worth berating an employee? Or taking away privileges? Is eating the last cookie such a crime? Someone has to do it. If the CEO was the one to eat it would he be a bad person? I agree with Thomas’ statements about community norms, but in the long run, having to go get another box of cookies or making the coffee yourself isn’t really that hard.

    Reply
  37. Lindsay Spencer Avatar
    Lindsay Spencer

    Without discussing the Christian part, this is still bad managing. Is a cookie (or a box of cookies) really worth berating an employee? Or taking away privileges? Is eating the last cookie such a crime? Someone has to do it. If the CEO was the one to eat it would he be a bad person? I agree with Thomas’ statements about community norms, but in the long run, having to go get another box of cookies or making the coffee yourself isn’t really that hard.

    Reply
  38. Lindsay Spencer Avatar
    Lindsay Spencer

    Without discussing the Christian part, this is still bad managing. Is a cookie (or a box of cookies) really worth berating an employee? Or taking away privileges? Is eating the last cookie such a crime? Someone has to do it. If the CEO was the one to eat it would he be a bad person? I agree with Thomas’ statements about community norms, but in the long run, having to go get another box of cookies or making the coffee yourself isn’t really that hard.

    Reply
  39. Lindsay Spencer Avatar
    Lindsay Spencer

    Without discussing the Christian part, this is still bad managing. Is a cookie (or a box of cookies) really worth berating an employee? Or taking away privileges? Is eating the last cookie such a crime? Someone has to do it. If the CEO was the one to eat it would he be a bad person? I agree with Thomas’ statements about community norms, but in the long run, having to go get another box of cookies or making the coffee yourself isn’t really that hard.

    Reply
  40. Lindsay Spencer Avatar
    Lindsay Spencer

    Without discussing the Christian part, this is still bad managing. Is a cookie (or a box of cookies) really worth berating an employee? Or taking away privileges? Is eating the last cookie such a crime? Someone has to do it. If the CEO was the one to eat it would he be a bad person? I agree with Thomas’ statements about community norms, but in the long run, having to go get another box of cookies or making the coffee yourself isn’t really that hard.

    Reply
  41. Pam Avatar
    Pam

    To think he could have just supported the Girl Scouts by ordering a case of the cookies, and then built morale by sharing with the un-titled, for a win-win. Truly a missed opportunity for leadership to exemplify what it spouts. Too sad.

    Reply
  42. Pam Avatar
    Pam

    To think he could have just supported the Girl Scouts by ordering a case of the cookies, and then built morale by sharing with the un-titled, for a win-win. Truly a missed opportunity for leadership to exemplify what it spouts. Too sad.

    Reply
  43. Pam Avatar
    Pam

    To think he could have just supported the Girl Scouts by ordering a case of the cookies, and then built morale by sharing with the un-titled, for a win-win. Truly a missed opportunity for leadership to exemplify what it spouts. Too sad.

    Reply
  44. Pam Avatar
    Pam

    To think he could have just supported the Girl Scouts by ordering a case of the cookies, and then built morale by sharing with the un-titled, for a win-win. Truly a missed opportunity for leadership to exemplify what it spouts. Too sad.

    Reply
  45. Pam Avatar
    Pam

    To think he could have just supported the Girl Scouts by ordering a case of the cookies, and then built morale by sharing with the un-titled, for a win-win. Truly a missed opportunity for leadership to exemplify what it spouts. Too sad.

    Reply
  46. Pam Avatar
    Pam

    To think he could have just supported the Girl Scouts by ordering a case of the cookies, and then built morale by sharing with the un-titled, for a win-win. Truly a missed opportunity for leadership to exemplify what it spouts. Too sad.

    Reply
  47. Pam Avatar
    Pam

    To think he could have just supported the Girl Scouts by ordering a case of the cookies, and then built morale by sharing with the un-titled, for a win-win. Truly a missed opportunity for leadership to exemplify what it spouts. Too sad.

    Reply
  48. Pam Avatar
    Pam

    To think he could have just supported the Girl Scouts by ordering a case of the cookies, and then built morale by sharing with the un-titled, for a win-win. Truly a missed opportunity for leadership to exemplify what it spouts. Too sad.

    Reply

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