Violence in the workplace.

[Plaidman]

I'm sure this would be a hot topic, so I put it here. BTW, it may sound like it, but I am NOT showing off.

Sometimes people lose tempers, and other times people just want to kill you for no other reason then the fact you carded them. I've been in way too many fights, some just because, at least two because the /customer/ flat out wanted to kill me.

My first fight I wouldn't sell the guy beer because it was after hours, so he started throwing cherries at me. I tried to call the police, but got a busy single. The guy got angier, and threaten to shoot me if I didn't get off the phone. It was my first week or two, and I got scared. I threw the first punch, and we went all over the store as he tried to 1: Break my neck/strangle me, 2: Smash my head in with a case of two-liters, 3: stab me with a knife. There was alot of blood in the store, and somehow none of it was mine. Was I justified? The guy got away just before cops finally came.

2: One that I feel that I'm not justified til the end. Guy came in, tried to convience me he bought a milk earlier that day but forgot it (Nope). Tried to make him pay for it, he left, came back with a recipt from another store a month ago as /proof/. No dice. He grabbed it and tried to walk out, I tried to grab it WITHOUT touching him, and he started to punch the side of my face. Repetedly. I let it go, and he left. He came back waaaaay later saying police arrested him over the milk. (I never called the cops). He started to come around the counter, and I threw the garbage can at him, then tackled him down. He kicked me of and ran off. Police were called that time. They never ofund him.

3: A thief tried to steal a bottle of wine. Horribly. He was so drunk I doubt he knew what he was doing, So I politely ask for him to get it back. It was sticking out of his pants. He said he didn't have it, when I pointed at it. He then TRIED to throw a punch, but it was so slow and clusly, that I just caught it, and push him down. Hard. He gave the wine back and left. A few days later he came back JUST to sing a song about what an ass I was. He even brought his guitar for it. It was rather amusing. He left and never came back.

4: One I'm NOT justified for. Man came in, tried to grab cigs out of my hand, claiming it was an April Fools joke, then tried to come around the counter with me blocking it, he decided it would be easier for him to steal a jar of jerky. I just couldn't belive that guy would repeatly tried to steal from me, so I jumped on top of him. I still don't understand WHY I did that.

5: Guy came in, grabbed two 18-packs of beer and left. Came back an hour later, grabbed two 18-packs of beer and left. Came back a 3rd time. I said no-more and stood in front of a very drunk, and very large (I THINK the police said he was 6'4 O_O ). I should have let it go, as that was one of closest times I've ever been killed, and the police said I was very, very lucky. I wasn't fired I have no idea why. I still think if the guy wasn't drunk, I would be a stain right now.

6: a guy I wouldn't take bottles back. (I had a reason at the time, but I can't remember why). So he tried to strangle me. But... it was so ... surreal. I was thinking that I need to remove his glasses or I'll smash the glass into his eyes. I opted to just push him away into the garbage can, where the man broke down and started to cry.

7: Not sure HOW this happen. I was outside my store, just got off, when a man came running out of the store with two bottles of wine, and tried to smash my head open with one. I have no idea why I wasn't cut from the glass.

8: Yet another one I'm NOT justified for. A teen, maybe 16-17 kept stealing beer from us. Usually a week or two apart. I was off duty just hanging with the swing guy since it was his bday, when the thief came in. He went to his beer cooler, grabbed his beer, and turned to see me. I grabbed him and pushed him against the cooler, and told him two words. "Drop.... it". His eyes widen, dropped the beer, said he was sorry, and he never came back. I hear he went back to school and got off drugs. Good for him.

There been a few other minor ones, but nothing major. What about you, have you ever had to fight, because of morals, temper loses, or to save yours or a co-worker, (or customer's) life? When does fighting matter. Over the years, I've seen several workplaces which say bend over backwards if the customer might hurt you. I'm a moral person. I didn't use to, but I stand for some. Violence is NOT an answer, but sometimes you have to fight. We've all heard stories of the people in our line of work who have been KILLED. They've died. Simply because the so called customer was a piece of shit who thought we don't matter. I don't like fighting. But I will. I won't back off. I've been so very lucky so far, but if I don't stand up for myself, or for others, one of these days something will happen because I didn't fight, and that's not a guilt I want for days on end. Will you fight for your life? The life of another customer? For Morals? Or will you back off, and let it go, and hope that maybe the police can get there in time?

[AFPheonix]

Shit dude, you need a new job that doesn't involve that many fist fights.
I don't think I'd EVER defend product walking out the door. One, it's not mine; two, it's replaceable and I'm not; three, I'm not particularly amused with corporate since we got new leadership at the very top and at district so I don't particularly feel that I owe them that. In any case I have a very wide counter with metal shutters I can lower and a locked door between me and customers.
Is it wrong for people to steal stuff? Of course it is. But I know my limits, and taking down an idiot shoplifter is way outside the bounds of that. I just trust that despite the small amount of enjoyment they may derive from the product will not be worth the total karma hit they just took.
People or coworkers on the other hand....I have defended them verbally. I have never had to defend one physically, and I'd grant that I'd try (unless the coworker is having to defend themselves over their own poor actions), although I imagine I'd be next to useless.

[Boozy]

You need to find yourself a different job, honey.

I don't care where you live, how rough the neighbourhood is, or how badly you think you need this job. Its not worth your life. And neither is saving the store a carton of milk.

This much violence is not normal.

[rahmota]

Unless you work in law enforcement or security you have a bit of a problem there.

While I applaud you diligence and devotion to the law and protecting the companie's assets I would like to point out that (1), some of these people may wind up being seriously messed up and armed. Would you want your tombstone to read he gave his life for a carton of milk? and (2) They are the companie's assets not your personal property. unless the company takes it out of your pocket directly (which if they do then its time to find a better job anyhow) when there is a theft in you place then standing by and letting the cops deal with it is probably a better idea. I know that may be difficult to think of and accept , at least until you get more cynical and bitter then its quite easy.

But seriously I know what it means to want to fight for the betterment of the world. To strike down the evil doers and dastardly foes of goodness and light. Thing is one has to pick and choose their battles a lot more carefully than just wildly running around smiting foes left and right (not to say thats what you do but in general) knowing only that pointy end goes in other guy. Knowledge can be power and the knowledge of how to get thigns done without a fight. Sometimes thats not possible I know and in several of your examples yeah it wasnt going to go down any different no matter what. Thats part of pickign you fight sometimes it picks you. Just do your best and try to stay good and dont get dragged down and thigns will work out.

What about you, have you ever had to fight, because of morals, temper loses, or to save yours or a co-worker, (or customer's) life?

All I will say about this is yes. I have fought quite a few times in my life. Usually as a result of an attack or at the least a severe provocation a couple times because it was my job when i worked security. A few times just because I was PO and someone got in the wrong place at the wrong time. As I got older and more mature the fighting got fewer and the talkign got better as my values and reasons for fighting became more narrow. I will now say that physical violence while still a valid and moral option under certain circumstances should only be the last option you take. Stay ready for it and accept responsibility if you have to but try something else first. Unfortunately not everyone agrees with that POV.

[Seshat]

I will now say that physical violence while still a valid and moral option under certain circumstances should only be the last option you take. Stay ready for it and accept responsibility if you have to but try something else first. Unfortunately not everyone agrees with that POV.

I have only physically fought once. A bunch of bullies decided to 'teach me a lesson'. More fool them, they chose to do it in the school pool. I saw them coming, dived into the deep end and stayed there - and taught them that effective combat requires leverage and that they couldn't harm a strong swimmer when they couldn't get their feet on something stable.

Even then, I never struck back. I just kept them from causing me harm. I'm sure some of the folks here will think me far too pacifist, now.


However, I do agree with rahmota. In many, many circumstances, there are non-violent ways to achieve your goals. Keep violence for the last option in as long a line of options as possible.

Including (IMO, most people will disagree) physical purely-defensive activity - so long as your assessment of your attacker indicates that they won't be able to actually harm you or anyone depending on you.