Rant III: Quiz Team Chemistry Meltdown.....
Last night I was at the pub quiz with my friends. I like to do this on wednesday nights as it's a good change from just sitting around a pub talking about crap. Now most of you who know me understand that I'm quite a competitive character, there's no denying that. However, I did have an altercation with my friend Simone over one of the answers. It's not the fact that we had differing answers to the question, it was the fact that she proclaimed that if we had got it right, we had to "kiss her arse" I quote. Well I'm sorry but I lost my temper. The way I see it in a quiz team is it doesn't matter who gets it right, the team as a whole achieve something. Everytime we get a football question, the paper is passed to me and I certainly don't seek some form of immense gratitude if I get it right, this is the reason I got angry.
Anyways, I did retorted after being told to kiss her arse that it's a team effort and I certainly don't expect people to kow-tow to me if I get something right. Seems like a fair retort to being commanded doesn't it? Well Simone used the waterworks technique and stormed out and sat in her car. I let her cool off for about five minutes before going outside to see if she was ok.
Well she was still in floods of tears and even after I apologised for making her cry (of which I feel she overreacted) I was lambasted because she said that because she's a woman, I can't shout at her and I'm not allowed to get angry with her. Apparently I also launched a personal attack on her which was designed to embarrass her. Um no. This really wound me up further for several reasons:
My question is, was I being harsh?
Anyways, I did retorted after being told to kiss her arse that it's a team effort and I certainly don't expect people to kow-tow to me if I get something right. Seems like a fair retort to being commanded doesn't it? Well Simone used the waterworks technique and stormed out and sat in her car. I let her cool off for about five minutes before going outside to see if she was ok.
Well she was still in floods of tears and even after I apologised for making her cry (of which I feel she overreacted) I was lambasted because she said that because she's a woman, I can't shout at her and I'm not allowed to get angry with her. Apparently I also launched a personal attack on her which was designed to embarrass her. Um no. This really wound me up further for several reasons:
- Just because she's a woman, it irrespective whether I raise my voice or not. It doesn't matter on gender, creed, colour or favourite pokemon, you can't say "I can't stand up to her because she's female". The whole "I'm a weak defenceless woman" act doesn't work with me because everyone is equal. I don't classify my friends as male, female, tall, short, etc...
- Turning on the waterworks in order to get attention is pathetic. I know from hanging out with us that she isn't the sort to cry at the drop of a hat. However I know she is an attention grabber. For this reason I fail to have any sympathy towards someone who uses such methods to attain people's attention.
- If I wanted to launch a personal attack, I certainly would have been a lot more evil and nasty. But I didn't. I just stated the facts and some people seem to use to "meek and mild" card as a get out clause.
My question is, was I being harsh?
6 Comments:
Well, I don't know because I've only heard one side of the story. But I would tend to agree with you that the waterworks technique is cowardly and unfair. However, what I want to know is - what was the question you were arguing about, what were your answers, and who was right?
By MotherGoose, Jul 05 07 7:42 AM
Liam,It seems to me that she wanted to be the one that took the glory if the question was correct. I would have said much worse and have before.When anyone has ever told me to "kiss their arse" i always reply "I wouldn't kiss what my dog wouldn't lick!".
Coming from Northern Ireland we have a breed of women who are, no offense intended, but are a hard breed. I have seen women lay a man out with a single punch. In my opinion if they want to play with the "Big Boys" then they have to play by big boys rules. None of this "I'm a woman you can't do that" crap.If a woman squares up to me aggressively then she better expect force to met with equal or greater force. If she throws a punch, then expect two back. Saying this i will always weigh up my opponent, if she's a 6 stone weakling who punches like a fly in a tornado then she will get a push or a slap instead of a punch, but if she's built like Conan's big sister then she'll get a good kick in the lady gap and a punch in the teeth on the way down.
I just hope the wife never reads this or i'll be the one sucking my dinner through a straw lol
By weejit, Jul 05 07 11:26 AM
Harsh? Hardly. I hope she doesn't join here- if she answered a question in Ask and didn't get a bunch of flowers each time she may end up in a padded cell...
By satguru, Jul 05 07 1:03 PM
I would of let her continue crying in the car. You did exactly what she wanted. A team is a effort on part of everyone, noone stands alone in the glory or the failure of it. Next time pass her the sports questions, when you lose see how fast she is to remain quiet on credit.
By desertcat, Jul 05 07 4:13 PM
Whoops, hit the post button before I made a comment...LOL.
I think you were right to make your point Liam and to stand your ground against your friend too. A team is a team, the merits are to be shared equally.
However, I certainly wouldn't advocate physical abuse at all, by anyone.
Take care, Jo.
By drivemecrazy, Jul 06 07 5:51 AM
I'd have insisted on kissing her arse if the answer had turned out to be right. Literally. There in the pub.
By Richie15, Jul 12 07 3:49 AM