*** Jack *** Day 6

Bill,

I'm truly sorry that you lost your job and have to endure difficult times like these. If there is anything I can do, even if just to talk, let me know. I am certainly not old enough (i.e., worldly) to offer advice, but I am straight shooter who can provide an honest opinion when asked. Anyway, good luck your soul searching, and I hope you find what you are looking for.

Jack

*** Bill *** Day 5 (to John and large audience, including Jack)

HR told me today that the reason I didn't get the $6.80 per hour job is the interviewer felt that I have a "chip on my shoulder". I suspect that this is the actual reason that the front desk manager at the Resort decided to let me go (though she did not have the courage to come right out and say so - she would have been showing her paranoia). I'm not sure what to do about this. The reasons for my bitterness are obvious and natural, given all that has happened to me and the huge lack of family support and lack of caring from everyone around me. The solution is also obvious to me...lots of people being really nice and compassionate toward me for a sustained period of time (my attitude would improve enormously at the mere prospect that others were finally treating me with kindness and fairness and Christian love).

But equally obvious is the fact that I can't make others do anything, much less the right thing. I am totally convinced that my father is totally clueless on how to be like this to me, so I have to ask myself "if my own father won't treat me with love and caring and support, how can I expect anyone else to do so"?

I have often felt that others were acting unnecessarily timid and even fearful of me (note that I have no record of violent acts or even threatening acts). My motto is "if you are nice to me, I will be nice to you". Actually, I live by the Golden Rule at all times. But as I said, I also have an extremely heavy burden to carry around, so it is no surprise that it shows. It is only a surprise that no one tries to understand.

In any case, I think I need to seek self-employment that will allow me to prosper while not showing the "chip on my shoulder". That is, unless and until others make a practice of treating me with love and kindness (consistently).

I look forward to your suggestions, except that to suggest that I simply "get over it" is unrealistic and unwelcome and simply not going to happen. I assure you that none of you would be able to do so in my shoes... none of you.

*** Bill *** Day 4

(to John and large audience, including Jack)

TOO LITTLE AND TOO LATE, JOHN. TODAY I LOST MY JOB AS CONCIERGE AT A REALLY NICE RESORT. IT WASN'T BECAUSE OF POOR JOB PERFORMANCE OR MISCONDUCT BUT BECAUSE I HAD A "BAD ATTITUDE" TOWARD THE POOR COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND LACK OF SUPPORT AT THE FRONT DESK FROM LOWER LEVEL MANAGEMENT. AND BOSS 1BOSS 2 (TWO LOWER LEVEL MANAGERS) SAID THAT I WAS INFLEXIBLE WHEN IT CAME TO POORLY DESIGNED SYSTEMS. THE TRUTH IS THAT THEY ARE THE INFLEXIBLE ONES (AND NOT QUALIFIED FOR THEIR POSITIONS). BUT AFTER ALL JOHN, I AM FAR MORE EDUCATED (IN MANAGEMENT SCIENCE) THAN BOTH OF THEM PUT TOGETHER, SO IT WAS A DUMB IDEA FOR ME TO WORK UNDER THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE. AM I PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE TO ISSUES OF POOR SUPPORT? PERHAPS SO, BUT MY OBSERVATIONS WERE ACCURATE AND CORRECT JUST THE SAME. THESES INDIVIDUALS WERE JUST INFLEXIBLE AND INTOLLERANT (AND PERHAPS INTIMIDATED) ABOUT MY OBSERVATIONS. MY INTEREST WAS TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEMS (MY ,TRAINING AND EXPERTICE) AND AT THE SAME TIME PROVE MY VALUE TO THE COMPANY. THIS WAS IN CONFLICT WITH THEIR SELF INTEREST IN KEEPING THINGS THE WAY THEY ARE AND PROTECTING THEIR POSITIONS.

THE SAD RESULT IS THAT NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO TO SURVIVE.

Editor's note: original letter was written in ALL CAPS.

*** John *** Day 1 (to Bill)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

Editor's note: This well-wishing may have unintended results.

*** Bill *** Day 16

*** Three months pass between e-mails ***

Thanks Jack, I've have done just as you suggest. While I await a reply, here is a personal conversation not relevant for others to read.

Thanks

Bill

*** Jack *** Day 15

Bill,

Sorry it took me so long to respond. I am in the process of buying a house, and I have been quite distracted to say the least. I do not have access to the new system design, but your leaders do. I would consider asking up the chain of command, telling them about your experience and your desire to help. The system is very much still a design in concept, meaning it exists on paper only.

Jack