When was the last time you saw a minor error snowball into a big problem?
I’d prefer that you answer by describing situations you have personally experienced, not with something like “the tiles on the Space Shuttle were defective and led to its destruction.” Your own stories, please.
Today our office manager sent an email announcing that, due to Friday being a holiday, our pay would be direct deposited at 12:00 p.m. on the 23rd. Everyone was happy because they thought we were getting paid at noon on Thursday. Unfortunately, I suspected she didn’t know the difference between 12:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. and we were actually getting paid at the same time we always do – midnight on Thursday. I was correct and now the moaning and recriminations have begun. Many people’s banks are not open on the 24th, so this small mistake has caused a big stink.
Can you share a similar story, whilst I wail and gnash my teeth in sorrow at the realization I will have to grocery shop on Christmas Eve? What small problem in your life created a larger one and how was it resolved (if it was)?
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O crap. Well….what time does your bank stop transactions for the day? With my bank, anytime after 4:00 the day before payday, I can debit my heart out and not have to worry about going overdrawn because it’s won’t hit until the next day. Would you pick up some coal while you’re out. I can’t find mine.
As for my own story…dang it! I’ve been thinking for 5 minutes and I can’t really come up with anything! Except, well, I have a story to tell from a three year old’s POV. When my grandson (now 15) was about 3 he came across a softball in the house. He picked it up. He wanted to throw it. He really wanted to throw it. He really really wanted to throw it! Gramma was across the room and saw that urge building up in him and she started toward him slowly, approaching him like a wild little animal, talking softly…“Ryan….do NOT throw that ball! Ryan…don’t do it!”....little Ryan was starting to spin around with obedience and desire warring in his little mind…and desire won. He spun around one last time and FLUNG that ball as hard as he could…and it hit the back of the couch and bounced back and nailed him right in the forehead!!! SMACK! Knocked him down! Gramma never laughed so hard in her life! Poor kid! He’s cryin and Gramma is laughing and trying to choke out, “Are you OK? Man! I TOLD you not to throw that ball! God’s on my side, you know! I told you not to throw it!...Ah, com’ere!”
So, for him, a small issue turned into a pretty big and painful one! LOL! Poor kid! Bummer to have a Gramma with God on her side!
@Dutchess_III THAT is one EXCELLENT story!!! OMG!
On the happy side, my bank should be fine. My money will get in there on the 24th, but a couple of co-workers may not be so lucky. I still have to shop on the 24th though, but at least I CAN shop.
Yah…there is that! Just having a payday is a blessing!
I’ll keep thinking of my own stories~
A coworker of mine left a message for the boss asking for direction on a job.
He hung up, then talked with several crewmates about how they would all like to kick the bosses ass, blow up his car, and really do some physical damage.
Of course, my coworker hadn’t hung up the phone correctly. All the conversation went to my bosses voicemail. He was not a happy man.
@filmfann O crap!!
Well, that helps me come up with one….when I first hired in at one of my previous jobs there was this guy who was…a little….strange. He’d send me the strangest emails that were somewhat sexual in nature. It wasn’t gross…just kind of a joking thing. Just strange. I just ignored him. Well, one day I guess he composed a LONG email meant for me that I heard wasn’t joking and was pretty graphic. I don’t know because I never got to read it. Heh! He typed in my name, “Val” for the recipient, didn’t realize that it defaulted to Valencia Something or Another that was a BULK email address for ALL of the Corporate Big Wigs from the District Managers on up!
Whew! S——hit the fan over that one! But nobody would ever tell me what was in it! He kinda lost his job. Thankfully people understood that he and I had NOTHING going on, and it had nothing, really, to do with me.
I know a computer virus isn’t exactly a minor thing, but it is in this situation. My friend got a virus on her computer and, somehow, her email started pulling emails out of my sent email box. Emails that were NOT sent to her. (It pulled from other people’s accounts, too. She received hundreds of emails.) She read an email that I had sent to a group of friends I have been in close communication with for over ten years – we talk very openly about pretty much everything. They all live far away and will never meet the friend who had the virus. Two totally different worlds.
This particular email was a discussion of parents letting or encouraging their children to grow up too fast these days. I responded (it could be argued that this is the minor error) that I know of someone who dresses her 5 y/o like a 12 y/o and has already pigeonholed her as “the beautiful one” to the point where the child has already figured out she can get by on her looks and that she is snotty.
Big blow up. End of friendship.
@Supacase Ooops! Well, did you name the coworker, or did she recognize herself by the kid’s description?
I think all errors have the potential to be major. We just don’t usually get caught!
@Dutchess_III It wasn’t a coworker, it was a friend I spent a lot of time with and talked to nearly every day. I can’t remember if I mentioned her name or not, but she would have known I was talking about her regardless. Her daughter isn’t very nice to mine and our friendship was actually kind of toxic, so I suppose the end result was a good one – but it certainly was awful at the time.
I love this question! I wish there were more answers~
One day at work an email from a lovely girl and co worker popped into my inbox asking if I had a sanitary towel she could use. I didn’t but I was a bit surprised by the request until I noticed it had been sent in error to everyone in the office and not just the intended friend. There were no repercussions but the incident has of course never been forgotten.
LOL! Poor girl!!! Damn those emails!
Last week I accidentally sent an email to my boss that was intended for my coworker. My boss was mentioned in the email. In fact, she was the subject of the email! I just thank God that it was simply an explanation of my boss’s policy on a particular subject, and there was no hint of bitching or complaining!! Whew!!
@flutherother She must have been so embarrassed.
Anyone notice how many of these involve email?!
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