Yippee! It’s Whining Wednesday!
Why haven’t you complained that we haven’t had a complaint day in months?
Give yourself permission to complain. Don’t be chicken. Let it fly! An occasional gripe session cleanses the soul.
Rules:
- Absolutely NO solutions on Whining Wednesday! Complaint day isn’t fix day.
- Feel free to remain anonymous. Give yourself a fake ID, if you want.
- Tell the truth, don’t temper it.
- Just for today, feel free to blame, but don’t name others.
I posted this whining complaint on May 5, 2010, it still drives me nuts:
It really ticks me off when those going nowhere criticize those working to go somewhere. Who do they think they are? How can they give themselves permission to be arm chair quarterbacks? Honestly, when I listen to the visionless criticize vision; I want to ask:
- “Where are you going in life?”
- “What happens to those who listen to you?”
- “Who are you lifting higher?”
Here’s a couple more complaints:
It really ticks me off when malicious people ask questions with a hidden agenda. Have you had someone ask what seemed to be an honest question only to learn they used your answer against you? Jerks!
I hate it when an honest answer is twisted and given to the boss to make someone look bad. Backstabbing asses!
It really ticks me off that most of what I don’t like in life is in me not others. Damn that stings!
I silently chuckle when someone points out one of my short comings. It wouldn’t be polite to laugh out loud. When they’re done, I think is that the best you got? My list of complaints about me is way longer than yours.
Bonus:
You’ll be nodding your head when you read the awesome complaints folks listed on my Facebook page.
Go ahead. It feels good to let it out. What ticks you off?
My complaint: last week a coworker came to be for help. He honestly didn’t have a clue. I helped him form a solution from ground up. He turned around (literally, ’cause I sit right outside of my boss’ office) and went into my boss’ office and said, Here’s the problem, but here’s what I am going to do about it.” – as if he came up with the whole idea himself!! Thing is, this particular coworker is usually a nice guy – just goes to show ya, everybody has that side….
Ooooo, that ticks me off and it happened to you! Good one! Thanks,
Guess what?You got it and he dont.You can do it again,and he cant.I dont care if anyone steals my ideas because i can come up with them all day,and you can to.
SKP—quit fixin! Read rule #1 😉
Im the type that never reads instructions,,it has to be realy good for me to read it.. 🙂
Thanks! I needed that!
I dont have any complaints,and neither should you unless you live in a third world country.If you dont like your job,find a better one,if it doesnt pay enough get two jobs. If you live in the U.S. you have it made and life is what you make it,i work for a lousy employer,and run my own small business on the side.My money is tight ,and life is tuff,but my eye is on the prize,i will work as much as i can and save as much as i can until i strike oil.Life isnt fare so buckle up,be strong and dont whine/complain.What ever the case may be over come it like a man.
Are you complaining about those who complain? 🙂
Not realy,but you know what?I do hate when people start whining.Its like dude man up!Im the type that will give you a polite straight anwser.If you complain i will politely give you a solution to your complaint,after that your own your own.
I hear you! Some people complain like it’s an Olympic Sport. Is it ok to complain about complainers?
It really ticks me off when amazing people with so much to offer, don’t believe in themselves and get stuck.
It happens more than people might think. Thanks
Let them know how you feel and you fulfilled your responsibility.
Don’t make me come over there SKP…see earlier post-rule #1
Sorry docdisc,i didnt bother reading #1 until you mentioned it,i read it out of curiosity …
I can’t stand hypocrisy and lies. Sadly, it comes from everywhere. We live in an era of information yet politiciens, banks, and power-hungry industries feed us lies (and poison) all the time to get the best of what they want…our money. But worst of the worst is that we whinne and complain but do nothing to stop them from continuing to lead us deeper into self distruction.
(Ex: medical compagnies know of natural cures for cancer but can’t patent it so they prefer to give us poison that kills us many healthy cells and it does sick ones because they can make money off of it – Power industries know of free energy techniques but they woundn’t make money off of it so they wrather destroy large portions of land to dig for oil – GMOs are poisionnous but they make lots of money from the patent of modified produce so thats what we are served… and then we wonder why we are sick and more cancers develop. And the list goes on.)
Hypocrisy ticks me off, too!
I hate it when clients do not pay me on time or when students skip out on their class fees. And they have to know they planned it all along. And I especially hate when someone comes to me and signs an IOU (their idea) and they still do not pay for their class! Hey! That’s my groceries, my kids and everything else in my life you affect. And when a bunch of you do it! UGH!
People tick me off when all of a sudden I make a big win and everyone is my best friend and wants a piece of my pie. Go get your own!
And it drives me crazy when colleagues promise something and then fail to follow through. Don’t tell me you’re going to support me in my business and then support my competitor and expect me to understand. I was told – well they really need it. Uh, yeah and so do I. Just because I don’t tell you my whole life story does not mean I’m better off! It’s can be really hard as an entrepreneur. And you depend on help from others to survive.
And when I’m told one thing and then later it’s not correct! When it involves business or major life decisions, it makes me crazy.
It ticks me off when people have expectations they have no right to have! You gave so-and-so an opportunity in your organization, give it to me too. Even if I don’t even know you. 0_o And it really ticks me off when they’re rude about it to boot! Volunteers can be the worst in this department too!
I also hate that everything we seem to do as entrepreneurs requires an education in legalese language.
And selling/buying a house? (Which I’m in the middle of.) Why is the process so screwed up? Why do we just accept it as normal? What the heck????? Plus, I have been been asked to sign contracts all month that I do not – no can not – truly and completely understand. I read every word, I ask questions. They are not straight forward. Why must we do this?
Thanks Dan, I’ve needed this. I think I’ll spend a little time this morning getting it all out. I’m having trouble this week getting clear-headed to get some difficult paperwork done and maybe this will help! Plenty to get off my chest that I’ve been bottling for awhile.
It felt strangely invigorating to read your comment! Thank you
Nodding my head while reading this, particularly when you pointed out that sometimes I may be the one doing exactly what I hate in others. Sigh. Will continue to work on improving my own annoying habits. As for what drives me nuts, it’s when all I hear is “I can’t”, “It’s too hard”. Stop whining and tell me what you can do.
I hate the “I can’t” approach! Thanks for adding it.
I’m in the technology support field and it cuts to my core when people complain and roll their eyes that something isn’t working “again” as if we broke it on purpose just to ruin their day. Just last week a projector bulb blew and the young lady who was running the all-day orientation for new employees was out in the hall whining to our CFO about it. He said, “no problem, I’ll wing it” with pure professionalism. The young lady had no idea how bad she was making herself and her IT department look to her CFO and new employees on their first day. Did she never have a lightbulb burn out at her own house??
Trench, nobody told me I had to plug it in too!!! Geez, that’s why I have you!
Did she ever have a light bulb blow out… Pure genius!!
It’s really kind of hard to do this after two days of watching a natural disaster unfold because it seems like anything I say will seem silly in comparison to the problems of those in the path of a storm. But in the spirit of the day, here goes:
I hate when people won’t own up to their own mistakes and blame others. But mostly I hate the rationalization that goes along with it. My two most hated phrases are, “Any reasonable person,” and “It was obvious.” These are straw man arguments that allow you deflect responsibility without looking at your own actions and as far as I can tell are never true.
Good point on the recent disaster. You made me think it would be perfect to do a complaining day on Thanks Giving… Ugh..
Bonnie, your examples hit pretty close to the bone. Things can be so obvious to me… 🙂
Your complaint kicks me in the pants….
I can’t stand a co-worker that constantly lies and puts on a façade to make themselves look better. You’re a jerk, incompetent, and a liar – own up to it!
I can’t stand when peers pretend they understand a task, when in all honesty they have no clue where to begin or end.
I can’t stand when a co-worker’s personal hygiene affects the office environment.
I can’t stand salary freezes – especially when the company isn’t cutting expenses anywhere else. Value your employees enough to cut other expenses first!
I can’t stand jealous women in the workplace. Being smart AND attractive can be a gift and a curse in the workplace.
Holy cow, you’re good!
One of my favorite complaints… people who pretend they can do what they can’t. zing!
I have to add fake piety to my list. When you turn someone’s request down and get “But I prayed for you.” I don’t even quite know what to say to that. But it sure doesn’t make me feel more likely to say yes. I run into this sort of thing in charities and church/volunteer based organizations too frequently. There’s always someone. And it really drives me crazy when someone tries to manipulate that way.
Let’s thank God that Joe stopped beating his wife… backhanded prayer requests… thanks again
Anybody who uses the words: “Yes, but…..”.
I can’t tell you how much I want to say yes, but! 🙂
Whoa, Dan, it sounds like you need to go to your “quiet place.” 😉
I find reassurance in having successfully convinced myself that whining is part of human nature — even the most even-keeled people have their moments; although maybe not as public as the rest of us. Having been in the work world for nearly 40 years, when it comes to whining, I don’t feel that there is much new under the sun. The complaints and whining that I hear (and that I have) are variations on the same themes.
My department’s 3-person management team meets together twice a week. And at least one of those sessions finds us whining or complaining to one another about work situations, subordinates, senior management, etc. We have found that these private moments of venting among ourselves helps us maintain the proper perspective and balanced attitude when we must be our “public” selves. One caution though: This whining in private with management team members works because we fully trust one another that our Negative Nellie words spoken together in private will remain private.
This is me finding my quiet place … hmmmmmmmmmm 🙂
YOu have written the most positive comment on complaining I’ve ever seen!
My quiet place currently has a leaf blower going right outside my window…
What really chaps my arse is a complete lack of willingness to seek out or accept the root problem.
So many band-aids. So many patches. So many medications.
So few corrective surgeries. So few preventative measures. So few willing to recognize the deeper, real cause.
KaPow!!! Why does reading other people’s complaints float my boat? 🙂
All I can say is an emphatic “ditto”
Took you long enough Dan, geez.
How bout those glad handeds, back stabbing, two-faced weasely, underhanded power mongering drama kings and queens, who sacrifice the greater good for their own ill-perceived short-term advancement? Otherwise, everything is great,how are you?
Thanks for starting your comment off with a complaint… just freakin perfect, you whiner!
Why don’t you come out of your shell and tell me what you really think?
Everything is just great over here too.
I searched for some posts dealing with control freaks, found some related and interesting articles, but nothing that really deals with the persin who has to comment on everything, knows everything about everything, and has to have their hand in everything because nobody can possibly do something satisfactory without their input.
Ooooo another good one! I had no idea we could come up with so many great complaints…
It really ticks me off when a newly promoted boss, after the promotion of the old boss into a new position, makes a promise to all managers to hold regular manager meetings and fails to follow through-not once-more than a year later. In fact, it really ticks me off when bosses don’t recognize the crucial importance of communication and the difference it can make in morale and performance. Emails about major decisons do not equal good and productive communication and certainly do not create buy in! And, being the boss does not equal being a leader!
Thanks Nick… I hate it when people say they are going to do something and then don’t!! Another good one.
Any situation where multiple people send generic email responses and ideas for how to solve a problem, among various staff members, when one simple phone call could resolve the issue now and forever.
LOL…wow, just when I thought we had covered the bases, you have to bring up email.. That’s a whole new ball of wax to complain about! 🙂
It annoys the hell out of me when I go in our conference room which is plastered with big posters of ‘vision’ statements all about how important people are, when in actuality the practice is so much different from the promise. All I can think about is George Orwell’s Animal Farm…
Your comment cracked me up! It’s too true. I’m not laughing at you… I’m laughing with you.
I’m a teacher, writer, speaker.
I’m complaining about politicians, celebrities, and billionaires who have never taught one day becoming the authorities on teaching. Only their comments make the news.
I’m complaining about celebrities getting big fat book deals to write a book. Before I write my next book, I’m going to marry into the most famous Democratic family in the country, become the Replublican governor of name-a-state, take steriods, disgrace my family and hire a ghost writer. Then I’ll go on Piers Morgan and claim to have no political opinions. Wonderful formula for becoming I a best selling author.
I complaining about conferences who ask you to speak for free, insist the speakers pay the conference registration fee, the hotel bill and the airfare and forbid you to mention that you’ve written a book. while they pay a celebrity $50,000.00 to speak on a topic they know nothing about.
How is that for complaining? I’ll probably regret this in the morning. I better hit ‘submit’ fast.
Dauna, I had to read this one to my wife!
I asked her why she thought I was enjoying this so much… She said, “You’re dark.” 🙂
Thanks for jumping in…. Tomorrow we’ll just forget today happened and move on.
Dear Dan,
The idea of complaining is great. Some of the organizations have fixed date for suggestions. It generally happens in service industry like banking where customer satisfaction is utmost needed. But it actually focuses on customer satisfaction not on employees satisfaction. I appreciate your concept of being truthful, open and without hidden agenda. There are people who just try to distort information to show that that concept does not work. Here I would like to add something- complain with suggestions to improve. I think only complain is not enough if it does not focus on key areas of improvement. Besides the impact of complaint and remedial measures, if possible should be discussed. Here the most important thing to remember is not of offend someone on the name of complaint. It means person respect and dignity should be honored at any cost.
What kicks me off is the reliability of source- in other words the person should be authentic one to comment, criticize and suggest measure to improve. Anyone complaining and criticizing may not serve the basic purpose of agenda.
At the same time, there should be measure to reward for improvement or not being criticized time and again. The whole essence of complaint to improve effectively that can bond people together. IT this purpose is not served than the complaining is of no use.
I’m going to have to complain about your comment, Ajay. :-)…
No solutions… rule #1 LOL… sorry, I’m in a pretty strange mood today.
When someone asks a question and they already know the answer. Sigh. Whining gets you only so far…you have to repeat yourself anyway. Apparently it’s “good communication.” Ha. Great post.
Another complaint about something I’ve done… ouch… I’m learning not to ask questions I know the answer to but when you are sooo smart it’s pretty hard.. hahahaha…
I’m going to echo Dauna’s comment. I’m going to regret this tomorrow.
I totally understand that need. I’ve learned that what you (or anybody. Well, ok…my husband) are actually doing is just looking for confirmation of what you already know. I forgive you.
There. No regrets, ok? You’ll be fine. If you hadn’t invited whining, I would have never said anything…
All the whining got me drunk,im filled with negativity,boy im glad i never had a job with all these problems listed bellow. Just kid’n..i’ll read the 1st. Sentence and if its drowning i move on,i am now whining about whiners again,right Dan 🙂
Now your talking… hick up… I’m having so much fun, I’m waiting for the cops to come and take me away.
The hidden agenda issue is a pet peeve of mine, why do you need to trick someone so you can get information to use against them. It is lower dirt and pretty slimy also?
Boy did you hit home with this post – so sorry I didn’t catch it sooner. I’ve been sick and tire of hearing people complain about the work they have to do and if they only spent as much time doing the work they will realize its not that much or difficult. I’ve also found out that others don’t like me b/c I’m always so darn happy and content, can you believe that. I can’t stand how pitiful people choose to be, they are missing out on all the good life has to offer. I love what SKP said above – buckle up!