Boss Repositions Employee's Computer Screen So She Can Spy On Her, And The Internet Responds
Invasion of privacy. Call HR. Take no prisoners. You can't just decide everything is your business....
u/lowkeymeshhhh laid it out for us:
Boss is constantly moving my computer screen. Can she force me to sit in a particular way?!
A little bit of background information: My friend (M) and I are both fairly young (early/mid 20s F) but yet we work in a field that requires a good amount of experience (which we have! They did hire us in the first place). M was already working here for a year before I joined back in May.
Our boss, and owner of the company (O), was nice at first but then she started micromanaging every aspect of our jobs. M stated that O was not like this before I joined the company. First it started with O installing cameras in the office – we work upstairs while O's office is downstairs. O already had a camera upstairs but she installed several more in a particular place so she could directly watch M and I's desk. Once, O called me to scold at me for listening to youtube (everyone in the office does this, especially her own daughters, and everyone does it in front of her). But whatever, I understand at any office doing this is not generally accepted. I stopped using youtube (while everyone else is still using it).
A month or so ago, she came to give M and I some papers and then asked me in a casual way if the computer has to be like this. My desk has two computer screens, both angled slightly in, making a small V. I told her that I positioned my screen like this because the other way was hurting my neck. She said well it was never positioned like that before, and asked me to move my screen. Baffled, I moved it so the screen was straight so she could obviously see it from the cameras. I moved the screen back a few days later since it felt really uncomfortable for my neck.
Now I've been noticing that sometimes the screen is straight again. I know for sure it is her doing it and sooner or later she is going to confront me for moving it back. There is a history of the boss doing petty little things like this, this is just the latest and ongoing one. I have a ton of other instances I can think of where it feels like she is just in particular picking on me.
I legitimately feel discriminated against but I don't have time in my life to make the case plus I know it is really hard to prove this in court. I am in the process of finding a new job but I need advice till then. I just need to know what can I say when she confronts me for wanting to work comfortably. Are there any laws in Florida that I can reference?
TLDR: Boss has been treating me unfairly and constantly moving my screen is the latest thing. Told her the screen hurts my neck, but she keeps moving it back. Any laws I can reference when she confronts me?
Here was some of the citation of laws/advice she got.
One
The surveillance atmosphere of the place is the bigger problem. This place is toxic and will become moreso. The repositioning of your monitor is unimportant in the long run, except in that it is a harbinger of much more controlling stuff that is coming.
Look for another job and get out before they find a pretext to let you go.
Two
Everything about this screams toxic work environment. Going down the checklist.
-Boss micromanages her employees
-Boss installs cameras so she can watch her employees closer
-Boss has hired family members who get special privileges.
-Boss complains about your monitors facing a certain way, avoids specifying her reason as it's purely to monitor you closer
-Numerous other incidents that are just as petty
I'm glad your already looking for work, because this place sounds brutal. In terms of advice, I doubt there is anything she can do to force you to have your monitors facing a certain direction but I would be trying to lay low until I found another position.
Three
Everyone is coming at you with helpful mature advice, but it might be fun to put up some polarized screen protectors. You might be able to trap her into admitting that she wants to see your screen at all times.
Or ask the Admin/secretary/supply orderer to get them for everyone and put on a show about the importance or data security, "protect the product and the customer blah blah..."
You might need the leverage of a new job lined up for this tp be a comfortable play though..
Four
Any laws I can reference when she confronts me?
No. Basically employers can require whatever they want of you provided it doesn't fall within some very narrow boxes. The best you can probably do is try to find a way to set up your monitors that would satisfy everyone (or at least make you marginally less stressed).
But keep in mind that this place sounds pretty toxic and messed up, so I'd do your best to keep your head down and put your energy into finding a new place.
Five
This is ridiculous. I work in IT for a small company. We bend over backwards to make sure users are comfortable without making accommodation requests. Ergonomic keyboards and mice, stand up desks, dimmed lighting above their desks, etc. The owner spares no expense to be sure that their employees are comfortable. This is how you keep employees, not by micromanaging them.
I'm the type to ask flat out, "What exactly is the problem here?" and make my case against it... in front of everyone. If you're not willing to do that, like everyone else has said, keep your head low and find another job. Good luck!
Six
In addition to finding a new job if she turns it then turn it back. Every time. If she confronts you then tell her as mentioned it causes you severe neck pain. I would also ask her very politely if there's a reason why she wants your monitor to be straight even though you've told her it causes you pain? Make her say it aloud. I'm curious.. are you a different race than your boss and coworkers?
Seven
I mean, yeah the surveillance atmosphere is a problem.
To fix the specific issue of your neck, tell them that your neck is a problem, and if the cameras can't be moved, then perhaps they can install monitoring software so basically your computer sends them your screen, directly from the software, and regardless of which way it's positioned.
Monitoring the employees is not an issue that's specific to your company, and there are better solutions than the cameras. They should talk to an IT guy, even Geek Squad can probably help, about setting up the network to prevent non-work-related stuff like youtube, and logs of what apps the employees use, so that the cameras aren't necessary.
Otherwise, you can also say that you take pride in being a professional and working hard, and if there's anything your boss can suggest that would improve your productivity, you're open to her suggestions.
But yes, look for another job and just lay low until then. Neck pain, don't let it accumulate, though, talk about moving the cameras and/or software that can send them your screens, if they really feel the need.
Eight
I agree with everyone else who suggested looking for a new job because this is a sign that your boss a toxic attitude that isn't conducive to a comfortable work environment.
But for the monitor positioning issue: ask for an ergonomics assessment. depending on the specific laws in your state, and sometimes laws differ depending on whether your company counts as a "small business" or not (small businesses sometimes don't have the same legal obligations as large businesses), this might be something she is legally obligated to provide for you. I know this is the case in several states I've lived in the US, but then again I've tended to be at large companies/organizations so I would read up on the relevant laws in FL. An ergonomic assessment is basically where someone comes in and makes sure your desk/chair/computer stuff is positioned optimally for your body size/mechanics so you don't get any kind of injury (e.g. neck issues, carpal tunnel syndrome, that kind of thing) from doing your job. If the ergonomics people recommend putting your screens in a "v" shape, there is little your boss can do to make you put them straight again — that would put her at risk for a lawsuit, because you would have concrete evidence that an expert in ergonomics came in and made recommendations to prevent injury, and then your boss deliberately went against those recommendations.
Nine
I hear you on this. I've been the person with the target on my back by a toxic manager.
First, I want you to realize that there is nothing you can do to get her to stop being shitty. All you can control is your own behavior. This is so important for you to understand--there are things you can do to minimize the likelihood of pissing her off, but you cannot preempt your boss's whims. You cannot anticipate what is going to piss her off, but you will drive yourself crazy if you try. From personal experience, I can tell you it is emotionally draining trying to head off whatever nonsense somebody like this is going to come up with next, and it feels even worse when you do everything right and they still pull something new out of their ass. Start learning to accept that no matter what you do, she may take issue with it, so look out for yourself.
Keep your nose clean. Cleaner than your colleagues. Head down, be polite and agreeable, no unauthorized internet use. It's not fair that you're being targeted but in most cases they don't have to apply the rules equally. You generally (not always, but in most cases) have to be able to prove that the unequal application of rules is a direct result of discrimination against a protected class. Basically, don't give your boss a reason if she's looking for one.
From there, continue moving your monitor in whatever way makes you most comfortable. I'd personally get a doctor's note. Bring it to her politely. This may piss her off, but oh well (see: my first piece of advice), and it grants you a little protection. That's not to say that people like this don't retaliate illegally, but again, you can't control that. There are plenty of other ways to surveil you if she wants--she can move you desks or install software or whatever. She knows this and this is some micromanaging, power play nonsense.
Continue looking for another job. Don't get stuck there, don't get complacent, and do what you can to adhere to the other rules while you're there.
Ten
I don't understand this type of behavior by employers.
If your boss thinks you're goofing off at work why doesn't she just fire you and hire somebody else?
It's some sort of powertrip bullshit. You need to get out of this place. This lady is never, ever going to give you a raise or promote you.
Eleven
Are there seriously people in here suggesting that having your monitors parallel to one another instead of angled to face you directly could cause worker's comp level injury? I mean, come on, with modern computer monitors, you shouldn't even have to move your head at all.
I may be inviting the downvotes, but when I was in my 20s, I said a lot of stuff that seemed convincing at the time but looking back was incredibly transparent. I'm not buying the neck pain excuse. Are you sure you're not doing things you're not supposed to be doing, OP?
Twelve
Is there anyone in your office with a grudge?
I had similar things happen to me once and after I left that business I found out another employee had been trashing me to my boss out of fear of competition.
Thirteen
Florida is a "2 party consent" state when it comes to recording. In other words if your boss wants to stay out of hot water she would need to be able to provide clear evidence that you were informed of the recording (like signs saying "this area is under video surveillance".) Additionally recording in areas where privacy is assumed (like a bathroom) is a great way for someone to get into trouble.
But best case, you start legal action and then what? She gets fined? It sounds like she is just a jerk, do you want to be working (hard) for a jerk? I would just nod, say whatever and find somewhere else to work ASAP.
Fourteen
Now I've been noticing that sometimes the screen is straight again.
She's being passive-aggressive and isn't immediately confronting you. It's been a month and still no confrontation. This is to your advantage. You could have another job lined up before she even confronts you. Just keep looking for a new job. Keep putting the screen back the way you like it until she explicitly tells you "Keep the screen in this position exactly at all times or else." Play dumb and tell her that you didn't understand that's what she wanted but of course now that you understand you are happy to do it the way she likes. Then never tilt the screen again after her command not to.
After this, If your neck is really hurting too much, then maybe you can offer her other alternatives. "Hey boss, I know you like to see my screen as I'm working. What if we use screen-share, or a smaller camera positioned directly at my screens? Then you can see my work, and my neck doesn't hurt." The surveillance is creepy, but if you can find a way to placate her while saving you from neck pain, then you can still look for a new job and at least your neck doesn't hurt.
Fifteen
Your boss is an *ss, but she's within her rights to be an *ss, which sucks. As long as having the screens like that isn't actually dangerous, she can require you to have them however she pleases. You can try to go to HR, if your company has one, or her manager, but both options leave you open to retaliation, and in either case, you might get no help at all. I'd suggest keeping your head down and don't make a big deal about it - try sitting a bit farther back and see if that helps your neck, or even going down to only one screen if it's really bad. It's not fair, or right, but it's the hand you've been dealt, it looks like.
Get a new job asap, and don't ever use her as a reference. Check out the Ask a Manager advice column for advice on toxic workplaces and how to write a good resume and cover letter.
Sixteen
Go into work and slant the monitors to your needs then before you leave the office, reposition then straight again. If your boss confronts you, she will have to explain how she notices that they're not slanted after work hours but are slanted during work hours.
There are few things more satisfying than a crisp $20 bill. Well, maybe a crisp $100 bill.
But twenty big ones can get you pretty far nonetheless.
Whether it's tucked firmly in a birthday card, passing from hand to hand after a knee-jerk sports bet, or going toward a useful tool, the old twenty dollar bill has been used for countless purposes.
Breaking Even
<p>"I got a jacket and a pair of jeans at goodwill for about $20. My first time wearing the jacket I found a tiny zipper inside a pocket."</p><p>"There was a secret inner pocket with a twenty in it."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lvu5aq/whats_the_best_20_you_ever_spent/gpdv70q?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">TheBrontosaurus</a></p>Keeps On Giving
<p>"23 Years ago I was in the US for some work and was not prepared for the cold of Chicago. Went to wal-mart and bought myself a cheap, warm jacket."</p><p>"I'm wearing that jacket right now - still looks fine, still keeps me warm."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lvu5aq/whats_the_best_20_you_ever_spent/gpe41xv?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">TastyEnd</a></p>As Good As They Come
<p>"Wool pinstripe double breasted suit from Goodwill, fit perfectly and was brand new. Ended up wearing it to get married the next year." -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lvu5aq/whats_the_best_20_you_ever_spent/gpdw6mx?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">verminiusrex</a></p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"God I love Goodwill!!" -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lvu5aq/whats_the_best_20_you_ever_spent/gpe5aee?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Neverthelilacqueen</a></p>The Socks She Needed
<p>"I work at a thrift shop. A homeless lady came in and asked us where the socks were. We only sell new socks, so I directed her towards the new socks and she was... shocked and disappointed by the price tag, surely."<br></p><p>"I gave her a moment as she looked, and she moved to some kids' socks and picked them up, and I... just couldn't let that happen. I told her that I would help her, and told her to get herself some socks and a jacket."</p><p>"She kind of just... held out the children's socks, so I took them, put them back, and grabbed the extra fluffy socks that were hanging."</p><p>"She grabs a jacket and some pants, and I pay for it. My coworker looks the other way since we're not supposed to purchase anything while on the clock. The lady is in tears as she walks out."</p><p>"I notice that she's still outside a minute later putting them on, and ask her if they fit her or if she needed something else; and she told me they were perfect and proceeded to cry. I cried in return."</p><p>"It was a good day."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lvu5aq/whats_the_best_20_you_ever_spent/gpen3w1?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Snowodin</a></p>Not Forgotten
<p>"A guy came into my work when I managed a mom and pop Pizza Place. He said he was stranded with no phone, and no money, but that the people at the Verizon store next door to us said they could get him a cheap phone with some minutes on it for 20 bucks."</p><p>"He offered to do dishes for a few hours to make some money so he could get this phone. I told him not to worry about it and gave him a 20 from my wallet. He thanked me, asked me for my name, and then he left and I never saw him again."</p><p>"Skip forward about 5 months, and when I get into work the owner was there and said she had gotten a letter addressed to me. 'Weird,' I thought."</p><p>"But when I opened it there was a 50 dollar bill and a short note from the guy I gave 20 dollars to thanking me for my kindness and for not turning him away."</p><p>"Turns out he was in a bad way (addicted to hard drugs and homeless) and really was stranded there. He was trying to get a phone so he could contact his parents (who lived in another state) for help."</p><p>"From what it sounded like, he seemed to really turn his life around. He was clean and working a stable job while still living with his parents."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lvu5aq/whats_the_best_20_you_ever_spent/gpem2xc?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Mixmaster-McGuire</a></p>The Best Finale
<p>"It was the day before payday. My wife came to see me at work. My break was in an hour, so I asked for her to wait a bit, so we could enjoy it together. She did."</p><p>"I bought her some lunch, because it was what I could afford. I bought her a ham and cheese sub sandwich and two iced teas. These were her favorite. I bought gas with the rest of the twenty so she could get home. She dropped me back off at work."</p><p>"That night, she passed away. It brings me comfort to know that I bought her favorite sandwich and drink for her that afternoon. It was likely the last thing she ate, since it was near dinner. I'll never forget it. Best $20 I ever spent, because it was for her."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lvu5aq/whats_the_best_20_you_ever_spent/gpe9c6d?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">LollipopDreamscape</a></p>Leaning Into the Nerdery
<p>"It was my ninth or tenth birthday. My grandparents gave me $20. The first $20 bill I ever held in my hand! I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it."</p><p>"A week later, we went into the city and Toys R Us. I went straight to the Transformers aisle. And there he was. My favourite Transformer. The one I always wanted...Soundwave."</p><p>"He's the one who turned into a Walkman and he could eject cassettes that turned into robot animals. The price tag said $19.99. It was meant to be."</p><p>"I took Soundwave to the clerk and gave her my $20 bill. "And here's your change!" she said, as she gave me a single penny."</p><p>"Ah, Soundwave. The best friend a lonely little nerd could have."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lvu5aq/whats_the_best_20_you_ever_spent/gpdzzxe?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">originalchaosinabox</a></p>Different Time
<p>"I went to a Rush concert in 1982. The ticket was $9.50 and the t-shirt was $10." -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lvu5aq/whats_the_best_20_you_ever_spent/gpdyr0k?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">PaulsRedditUsername</a></p>Motivational Spending
<p>"My then six year old niece had a loose tooth she loved to show off and had resisted pulling out for two weeks. We were all at my parents and I was getting ready to leave, I pulled out a $20 and said 'I'll give you this right now if you pull out your tooth.' "</p><p>"She was already crying because her little sister had did something so when she ran into the bathroom none of us had no idea in what she was about to do."</p><p>"So she comes out crying still, but a little bit of blood I'm her mouth because of course, she pulled out her tooth. But the now removed tooth fell down the drain to the sink and she was crying because she lost her proof!"</p><p>"After she calmed down she was happy as a clam with a brand new $20 and everyone was quite proud of her. My sister told me she spent it on candy and shared with her little sister."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lvu5aq/whats_the_best_20_you_ever_spent/gpdxi4k?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">themasimumdorkus</a></p>For the Story
<p>"It was actually to a scammer in Rome. There was this guy right outside of Colosseum who started tying strings around my wrist and told me to make a wish. I knew it was going to cost but I thought what the hell, last day in Rome so might as well go with it. </p><p>"My wish was to find love."</p><p>"I spent rest of the day getting lost in the city and stumbled across two weddings and one baptism ceremony. So I did find love, just not for myself."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lvu5aq/whats_the_best_20_you_ever_spent/gpe7b2w?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">FatalFinn</a></p>I realize that school safety has been severely compromised and has been under dire scrutiny over the past decade and of course, it should be. And when I was a student, my safety was one of my greatest priorities but, some implemented rules under the guise of "safety" were and are... just plain ludicrous. Like who thinks up some of these ideas?
Redditor u/Animeking1108 wanted to discuss how the education system has ideas that sometimes are just more a pain in the butt than a daily enhancement... What was the dumbest rule your school enforced?Don't Peek
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTcxNDc4OS9vcmlnaW4uZ2lmIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNDE0Mzc2OH0.Y1Lzy1MTqxyVqOCe9xjeHTRZsKnbyVjYzdb4-Heldyo/img.gif?width=980" id="78b19" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e14a90be026b734830e7661f776ba4a8" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="475" data-height="475" />schitts creek wtf GIF by CBCGiphy<p>Took all the doors off the men's room bathroom stalls because of vandalism for 2 months.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lwjlif/what_was_the_dumbest_rule_your_school_enforced/gphrfce?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank"> Endless_Vanity</a><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Endless_Vanity/" target="_blank"></a></p>Scanned
<p>School added thumb print scanners at gates of school which counted as registration - needless to say I would just walk to school scan my thumb and walk back home with them none the wiser. Was a great few months until they noticed. </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lwjlif/what_was_the_dumbest_rule_your_school_enforced/gpidnou?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">richpianofan5</a></p>Age of Empires...
<p>Conservative Christian College. A group of us played Age of Empires one weekend. They didn't like it and called a meeting. Everyone involved got misdemeanors on their records. There was nothing in the handbook about it being against the rules. The only person that didn't get any punishment was the son of the president even though he was just as involved as the rest of us. <span></span></p>"Genius"
<p>In my freshman year of high school we had a terrible vandalism problem, the bathrooms would be broken in various ways almost constantly. In a stroke of pure genius, the staff decided that any bathroom that was vandalized would be closed for the week on first offense, the quarter for second, and permanently on the third offense.</p><p>They took back the rule after closing every bathroom on day one. </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lwjlif/what_was_the_dumbest_rule_your_school_enforced/gpi77co?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank"> Samus388</a><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Samus388/" target="_blank"></a></p>Is this Footloose?
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTcxNDc5Ny9vcmlnaW4uZ2lmIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMzg0MjU2M30.PeBUt-YWZeeRStaD_RZlGPQzo29E9t733yqZbIiJlYs/img.gif?width=980" id="3a5bd" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="102730e3b1b90ba9cb393561c702c9af" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="500" data-height="500" />kevin bacon dancing GIF by STARZGiphy<p>Prom was a mandatory lockdown for the night in order to avoid students going to parties after prom.</p><p>Prom was held at various house parties across town instead. </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lwjlif/what_was_the_dumbest_rule_your_school_enforced/gpi37x7?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Coffee-spree</a></p>HOLDEN FOREVER!!!
<p>My high school mascot was Daniel Boone holding a musket. A kid wore a Guns 'n Roses shirt to school and was told he had to change shirts because of the pistols on the shirt. He pointed out the hypocrisy of the school mascot and they changed EVERYTHING. The mascot was switched to holding a flag pole instead. <span></span></p>No Dots
<p>You couldn't wear ANY kind of head items that were "gang colours" (red or blue) - this No included hair bands, scrunchies, beads in your hair, ribbons - ANYTHING. I got in trouble for wearing a blue hair band with white polka dots. </p><p><span></span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lwjlif/what_was_the_dumbest_rule_your_school_enforced/gphzpyf?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Pleasant-Flamingo344</a></p>Clothes Check
<p>We had to wear belts. Someone snitched that people weren't wearing belts under their sweaters, and they actually checked and a bunch of people got detentions. Stupid. </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lwjlif/what_was_the_dumbest_rule_your_school_enforced/gphz3y6?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">ooo-ooo-oooyea</a></p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lwjlif/what_was_the_dumbest_rule_your_school_enforced/gphz3y6?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"></a>We had belt raids at my school where the dean would burst into classes, completely interrupting any education, to check that everyone was wearing a belt. </p><p><span></span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lwjlif/what_was_the_dumbest_rule_your_school_enforced/gpia8pp?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">GuinnessMicrodose</a></p>Chase the Flat
<p>We weren't allowed to play tag football at lunch, only frisbee. When I asked the principal what the difference was, he responded with a sarcastic tone, "A football is round and a frisbee is a flat disk."</p><p>He left the school later that year, went to another school, and a few years later was brought up on charges for failing to report the abuse of a student by a teacher. </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lwjlif/what_was_the_dumbest_rule_your_school_enforced/gpi6lh3?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">uninc4life2010</a></p>Poke-Thief
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTcxNDgwMy9vcmlnaW4uZ2lmIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0ODg5MzY2Nn0.5LMPk1suou6U2SvAURKP-sHEuK7Izpkbxm0PWqvx95E/img.gif?width=980" id="b6e9f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="92383d30e34aa92fd74cf6c1374ec294" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="480" data-height="480" />hotline bling pokemon GIFGiphy<p>Pokemon cards got banned in middle school because someone stole the vice principal's kid's cards. Yep. </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lwjlif/what_was_the_dumbest_rule_your_school_enforced/gpiapym?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank"> Skadoosh_it</a><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Skadoosh_it/" target="_blank"></a></p>In the Face...
<p>If you were involved in a fight, you got suspended. While it sounds reasonable, context didn't matter.</p><p>I got suspended once not for throwing a single punch, kick, whatever. I got suspended because someone knocked the books out of my hand and when I reached down to grab them they punched me in the face.</p><p>I got suspended for walking down the hallway and unprovoked getting punched in the face.</p><p>Forget Brandon Valley Middle School. </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lwjlif/what_was_the_dumbest_rule_your_school_enforced/gpicbyx?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">CLG_MianBao</a></p>One of the golden rules of life? Doctors are merely human. They don't know everything and they make mistakes. That is why you always want to get another opinion. Things are constantly missed. That doesn't mean docs don't know what they're doing, they just aren't infallible. So make sure to ask questions, lots of them.
Redditor u/Gorgon_the_Dragon wanted to hear from doctors about why it is imperative we always get second and maybe third opinions by asking... Doctors of Reddit, what was the worse thing you've seen for a patient that another Doctor overlooked?Grandma Wins
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTcxNDcxOC9vcmlnaW4uZ2lmIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0OTQxNTgzOX0.n9IaFGgHwnULMlI2kg7RUftxDg6lyWvdM9CnhvptCRY/img.gif?width=980" id="a0857" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9762f97a23c27ccf6b75974caa854361" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="480" data-height="270" />Old Lady Wine GIF by MattielGiphy<p>Not a doctor, but my grandmother saved my father's eyesight because she didn't listen to their doctor. </p>The Mummy Appendage
<p>When I was a resident, an 80yo female was admitted from the nursing home for confusion. Workup showed some mild UTI and we were giving her antibiotics. The nurse mentioned that her toe looked dark and asked me to look at it. The toe wasn't just dark, it was mummified. It looked like dry beef jerky. I touched it and pieces flaked off. So the patient from a nursing home, had a mummified toe, probably for months, that no one knew about. </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lw2g2z/doctors_of_reddit_what_was_the_worse_thing_youve/gpg00qn?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Dr2ray</a></p>The CT Save
<p>Here's my story:</p><p>A guy came in to our ICU and was very septic but still talking. He had visited his primary care MD with complaints of a sore throat for a couple of days. Dismissed without any intervention since he didn't appear to have strep throat or the flu. At this point he was having pretty severe abdominal discomfort, so we sent him for a CT scan. As the scan was finishing, he coded and had to be intubated, multi-organ failure, etc. </p>Patches
<p>When I was an ER nurse we got an elderly lady in for altered mental status from a nursing home, when we undressed her to put her in a gown and hook her up to the monitor, I noticed no less than 5 fentanyl patches on her, guess I discovered the cause of the AMS. </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lw2g2z/doctors_of_reddit_what_was_the_worse_thing_youve/gpg1lml?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">ChewbaccaSlim426</a></p>Use your Words
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTcxNDcyMi9vcmlnaW4uZ2lmIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MDA1NjI0MH0.WtyCdxL1vRZwD2-jpKZXMOEakwhiBaJIkp1YPnOzlvo/img.gif?width=980" id="e45ca" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f5b98e6a4605a587dbd97579468a51d8" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="498" data-height="367" />Communication GIF by memecandyGiphy<p>Neurologist sent patient to our ED without informing her that imaging showed a glioblastoma assuring her impending death. He didn't overlook the disease, he overlooked the communication. </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lw2g2z/doctors_of_reddit_what_was_the_worse_thing_youve/gpfl5t5?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">AzureSkye27</a></p>Mad Cow Realty
<p>During my residency we had this lady in her 60s who was getting progressively more forgetful, just overall declining and getting less and less able to take care of herself. She had been seeing her pcp who diagnosed her with dementia. And she saw a neurologist who agreed. She was not really able to provide an accurate history. <span></span></p>After Birth...
<p>I used to work in maternal-fetal medicine, and every single week, we would have women referred to us "because the doctor couldn't see something clearly with the baby and wanted to double check." Nope, they just didn't want to have to be the ones to tell you that your baby had a complex cardiac defect or multiple anomalies indicative of a genetic syndrome or any other of a large number of horrible things that can happen during fetal development. Still pisses me off when I think about how many women waited weeks for more information because their doctors were cowards who couldn't tell them, "There's something seriously wrong here." <span></span></p>bad doctors
<p>I'm not a doctor, but a RN. This happened to me, but isn't nearly as bad as most of the stories on here.</p><p>When I was in college, I got to where I couldn't swallow. It started with difficulty swallowing, progressed to me having to swallow bites of food multiple times/regurgitating it, and then got to where all I could swallow was broths and mashed potatoes with no chunks. I went to the doctor multiple times, and was told every time it was acid reflux and part of my anxiety disorder. <span></span></p>The Valve...
<p>He put the pacemaker lead in the subclavian artery (and across the aortic valve into the left ventricle). The proper approach is: subclavian vein to right ventricle). And then he didn't notice it for over a year. I saw the patient (a 25 yo woman who didn't need the pacemaker in the first place) when she was in congestive heart failure. <span></span><br></p>Bitten
<p>Rattlesnake bite. On a 2 year old. Patient and dad out in the fields near a small town that is several hours away from the nearest big city, where I work.</p>When we think about learning history, our first thought is usually sitting in our high school history class (or AP World History class if you're a nerd like me) being bored out of our minds. Unless again, you're a huge freaking nerd like me. But I think we all have the memory of the moment where we realized learning about history was kinda cool. And they usually start from one weird fact.
Here are a few examples of turning points in learning about history, straight from the keyboards of the people at AskReddit.
U/Tynoa2 asked: What's your favourite historical fact?