Re: What Would You Do with a Writer WHO TRIES TO GET YOU FIRED? (WAS: What Would You Do with a Writer Who Can't Write?

["Mike O." <obie1121 -at- yahoo -dot- com>]

Stephen Gillespie asked:

> What do you people think I should do with a colleague (Bozo) who 
> had done his best to discredit my competency and work ethic, would 
> like nothing better than to see me gone?

Tell it to the Marines :-)

I totally sympathize with your story, in fact I have lived through it
once -- but just once. That experience taught me never to go on the
offensive. It's kind of fun to go on the warpath, especially when you
are right, but it never works. And defensiveness is even worse. 

He who gets angriest is the loser. Unless you are a well-connected
manager, or you enjoy some other protected status. 

The best offense is a big yawn. 

> his attitude was increasingly uncooperative, even hostile, 

Attitudes alone can't hurt you. His attitude is his problem not your
problem. Just keep working and tune out your perception of his
attitude. 

If his work is bad, then it will eventually bite him. But if his work
is good, then what's the problem? Just ignore his bad vibes and be glad
you have competent co-workers.

> as  evidenced by 'snippy' replies to emails (about work).

Just stop sending email to this guy, and you won't get any more snippy
replies.

> When I could tolerate it no longer

Reminds me of: 

"The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but
when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge." 

> I simply forwarded the last snippy reply to our manager, 
> with a request for him to "take care of this, please."

Managers HATE getting these kind of emails. They tend to take it out on
the sender. 

> Of course, I documented everything (and reported it to HR).

Makes it worse. Documenting all the insults you have endured is useful
therapy - I sometimes do it myself -  but don't send it. Nobody except
you is interested. 

Hey, your email address indicates you are a contractor for the Navy...
I don't know much about military culture, but I suspect that petty
disputes about attitudes are frowned upon. 

I know about contracting though, and it sounds like you are WAY too
invested in the office politics. Some of the advantages of contracting
are that you can 1) you can ignore the office politics (this takes
practice) and 2) you can move on if it sucks too much.

Mike O.

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