Temptations resisted

[missroserose]

• When leaving a message for the "you don't have the balls to pick up your phone" dude, I did not tell him that I had found my balls and was returning his call.  Nor did I ask him if he wanted to see my balls, nor did I make any references whatsoever to balls.  Despite the fact that it sounded like a household with small children and the results would likely have been hilarious.
• Even though I've had four different calls from people regarding the fact that the street in front of City Hall is flooded and in danger of overflowing into the building, I haven't once suggested that anyone block off the street and start a gondola service, complete with straw hat, striped shirt and pole.  Not once.
• When speaking, for the third time, to the woman who was Very Concerned about the state of her street and the fact that we Never Plowed It (despite the fact that, were that the case, she wouldn't be able to *see* the street) and how this was a problem Every Year and we Needed To Get Our Act Together or she would Lodge a Complaint with the City Manager, I managed to keep all sarcasm and flippancy out of my tone, and remain polite, and resist the urge to gently suggest that perhaps she should move to a different street, if the maintenance of this one bothered her so much...
• When one person insisted on telling me all of the different ways he had noticed that we were creating busywork and wasting City resources and all of the things we should be doing instead, I did not suggest to him that he should apply for the job of streets superintendent, since the current one was obviously doing such a poor job that his dismissal was imminent.  *rolls eyes*

More very likely to come...

Comments

[flewellyn.livejournal.com]

I'm very disappointed.

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

In?

[flewellyn.livejournal.com]

The fact that you haven't done either of these!

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

While I personally would love to do so, I'm currently acting as a representative of the city. And since the city wouldn't do such a thing to its citizens, I'm afraid my hands are tied. (Which isn't to say that if someone was particularly vitriolic I wouldn't take down their information for use on my own time...)

[flewellyn.livejournal.com]

See, I almost wish the city WOULD do such a thing. Since "such a thing" consists solely of gently snarking back at incredibly rude people.

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

I can give you the link to their "Tell it to City Hall" webpage, if you like. Although I'd respectfully request you leave my name out of it. :)

[flewellyn.livejournal.com]

Best I not get involved. After all, I'm Minnesotan, and we sort of expect that kind of dry humor here.

[jamesd.livejournal.com]

Here was I going to remark that it's probably not a good idea to practice self-restraint at work, then you go on to confess that your hands are tied... :)

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

http://www.instantrimshot.com

[errant-variable.livejournal.com]

You know, you *could* play their game and use the recorded messages in a suit against the people who leave them. :P

That said, it will be hilarious if that dude calls back. If he mentions balls, deadpan something about your gender.

[moonwick.livejournal.com]

Man... you pay those people to live there, and they still expect their streets to be plowed? Sounds like a bunch of people have an entitlement complex... :)

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

Wish we could claim credit for that, but it's the state government that passes out the PFD checks. City government collects property and sales tax, so we have to do *something* to justify all those wads of taxpayer money we're obviously just sitting on...