Was I dissed?

Actually, I'd be flattered. The guys went out of their way to think up, coordinate, and pull off such a prank. They would not have bothered if they didn't like and respect you. If they wanted to dis you, they wouldn't have showed up at all.

 

I'll vote with the rest here, sounds like a joke. Maybe you could come up with a good parting shot h34r:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tleonhar @ Dec 7 2006, 08:19 PM) [snapback]359142[/snapback]</div>

The way you describe it, it appears to be previously coordinated (unless they have been doing the same thing every time you spoke over the years It sounds like a joke, and one which was planned.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Schmika @ Dec 7 2006, 11:44 PM) [snapback]359127[/snapback]</div>

They probably went for donuts.

Tom

 

This is a tough one to figure out without knowing the culture of your workplace. I remember working in one prank heavy office where if they pulled a prank on you, that meant that you were one of the guys. Everyone else was pretty much ignored.

The fact that they all came back and the agenda item makes it sounds to me like you had a reputation for voicing your opinion, so they felt like poking fun at you because of it. Where this joke failed is that they probably always joked among themselves and never said a thing to you. Being outspoken is not a bad thing, or a reason to dislike someone, but it is something that I've seem people poke fun about. Chances are that one person said "wouldn't it be funny if..." and then everyone else just followed along

The fact that it was a closed group also makes me think that it was just a joke.If they wanted to really embarrass you they would have made sure that they did it in front of as many people as possible. And if that's the best thing they could find to poke fun at you for, then no one must have had any serious issues with you.

Enjoy your retirement!

 

I'd also have to weigh in on the joke side here, especially given the humorous "final rantings" title of your agenda item. It sounds like one of those "hey wouldn't it be funny if..." kind of ideas that may not have come off as they wished, but it doesn't sound spiteful to me.

Gonna take your Prius on any road trips in your free time?

 

Sounds like a Frat prank to me.

In this case, Fraternal Order of Police.

Yep, sometimes boys really don't grow-up. :lol:

Did you really expect something different? What part of the first four letters of F.r.a.t.e.r.n.a.l O.r.d.e.r o.f P.o.l.i.c.e don't you understand?

Now if this were a formal retirement dinner party with spouses, etc. . . then I could understand your confusion. No, this was just the boys having fun.

If they said nothing or did nothing between now and retirement, THAT would be a diss.

Enjoy retirement, it can be fun if done right.

P.S. Does this now mean you will have the time to challenge eclectcmoi's PriusChat record 10.9 posts per day for all PriusChatters with at least 1,000 posts? You are currently sitting at a paltry 2.5.

 

Without seeing their body language, their facial expressions, how they treated you afterwards, etc., I cannot give any opinion. Assuming you even wanted my opinion. Did they look happy or angry? Was there appearance of attempt to conceal smiles? Or did they have expression of "I wish he'd just shut up."? Are they normally palsy with you, or stand-offish? Do they speak to you openly about personal issues and/or work problems, or are they just "correct" towards you? All these things would clue you in, but we can't know any of that here.

 

Schmika, from what little I know of you, I think we are on 2 very different sides of some kind of spectrum, but still I can't help but think you are a very cool person who I'd probably very much like if I met you. It seems like this is something these guys did in fun, and like they say, they wouldn't poke fun at you if they didn't like you. Happy retirement!

 

You should have a pretty good handle on whether that was a joke or not. What kind of relationship did you have with the department during your time there?

Personally, if I were there and I disliked you I still would have given you the courtesy of your presentation. If I liked you, I certainly would have played along with the prank.

To me, it sounds like you were part of the gang and they felt comfortable making light of a serious occasion.

 

I tend to think it was a prank.

Last year someone retired and a number of people skipped out on his luncheons to reflect their opinion of his contribution.

Absences would be more of a concern.

 

Schmeek, I'll be blunt:

Seems like you're the prudish, ultra-law abiding old guy who doesn't quite see the humor of 'dem youngins.... You're seem like you're one of those old school dudes that has the "bar of acceptable" respect a bit higher than it is in today's age...

Good luck Karl!

 

i don't think that was a diss either. even if the joke didn't play out all that great and wasn't all that funny to you, it says something that they got together beforehand and coordinated something like that.

sometimes you have to take the indirect compliment or none at all :lol:

best of luck in your retirement, and thanks for your years of service as a police officer- it is a noble profession.

 

Enjoy growing into retirement. Now you will have more time with your PRIUS !!! :lol:

 

The fact that they have in the past invited you to participate in pranks lends credence to the idea that this was a prank. I agree with you that it was in bad taste. But then I think most pranks are in bad taste, as they are generally based on the theory that it is funny to cause discomfort to someone. Personally, I don't like people who play pranks, and I avoid such people when I can. But it is some (small) consolation to know that it was probably not done out of dislike.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Dec 8 2006, 12:32 PM) [snapback]359276[/snapback]</div>

are you actually human? or just a brain in a jar attached to a computer?