Generally speaking, I am not someone to be misjudged. If you'er looking for trouble, with me, your going to find it. I do a good job of not going out of my way to be a pain in the ass, but 'dont poke' is my veiw.
Yesterday I got "poked" by a civilian and they got what was coming to them; a verbal punch in the mouth. A lot of these contractors are ex-military and forget they aren't in the uniform any more. So when this one tried to put me in my place I promptly reminded them what they were not. Was I right to do so? No, ofc not. It was unprofessional, but I enjoyed the hell out of it. As a result I was relieved from that detail and given the rest of the day off. Something I had no problem with.
Over the course of the day I spoke to my Cpt, Section sgt and the SFC of CRT. All, except the latter, thought the whole the was amusing. The SFC left me with a "Dont let it happen again" and that was that. But at the end of the day my Team leader came back ( he was there when it happened) and said some things to me that.....didnt set well.
"Im not going to punish you for being you. Your a prick to everyone and thats just how you are. Your bitter and I guess thats how you'll always be. Im not going to punish you because it wouldnt do any good. That will just make you even more bitter and more angry and you wouldn't learn anything from that. Just......think about what you say before you say it."
hmm...I did think, and I meant everything I said. Nor, would I take any of it back. She, retired or not, was out of line to speak to a soldier like that....and she got what she deserved. Could I had just let it go? Sure, but in this situation, because she was a civilian who happened to offended me, I wasnt required too. She's not an NCO, an Officer, part of my chain of command or even in the military...so I didnt. He is right about one thing, punishing me wouldnt have changed my mind... or how I think.
But bitter and angry? Now, these words wouldnt bother me if I hadnt heard them soooo many times before. What is it about people thinking im bitter and angry? Maybe im splitting hairs but I consider myself realistic, not bitter. Passionate, not angry. I say what I mean and I mean what I say....always. I never lie, I never beat around the bush, I rarely suggest anything.....I just say it. Apparently everyone hates this about me. Apparently everyone has really thin skin. They can dish it, but can't take it...etc.
For the sake of not being one sided I will admit that I dont often use tact as I should. Typically, if I dont have to be tactful then im not. Yet, if its required or will help me accomplish a task then im very tactful. If you piss me off and have no legit authority then why should I be tactful? If I like you I will be as tactful as I can without sacrificing the point im trying to make......thats called being honest. Honesty is more important than tact.
Yesterday I got "poked" by a civilian and they got what was coming to them; a verbal punch in the mouth. A lot of these contractors are ex-military and forget they aren't in the uniform any more. So when this one tried to put me in my place I promptly reminded them what they were not. Was I right to do so? No, ofc not. It was unprofessional, but I enjoyed the hell out of it. As a result I was relieved from that detail and given the rest of the day off. Something I had no problem with.
Over the course of the day I spoke to my Cpt, Section sgt and the SFC of CRT. All, except the latter, thought the whole the was amusing. The SFC left me with a "Dont let it happen again" and that was that. But at the end of the day my Team leader came back ( he was there when it happened) and said some things to me that.....didnt set well.
"Im not going to punish you for being you. Your a prick to everyone and thats just how you are. Your bitter and I guess thats how you'll always be. Im not going to punish you because it wouldnt do any good. That will just make you even more bitter and more angry and you wouldn't learn anything from that. Just......think about what you say before you say it."
hmm...I did think, and I meant everything I said. Nor, would I take any of it back. She, retired or not, was out of line to speak to a soldier like that....and she got what she deserved. Could I had just let it go? Sure, but in this situation, because she was a civilian who happened to offended me, I wasnt required too. She's not an NCO, an Officer, part of my chain of command or even in the military...so I didnt. He is right about one thing, punishing me wouldnt have changed my mind... or how I think.
But bitter and angry? Now, these words wouldnt bother me if I hadnt heard them soooo many times before. What is it about people thinking im bitter and angry? Maybe im splitting hairs but I consider myself realistic, not bitter. Passionate, not angry. I say what I mean and I mean what I say....always. I never lie, I never beat around the bush, I rarely suggest anything.....I just say it. Apparently everyone hates this about me. Apparently everyone has really thin skin. They can dish it, but can't take it...etc.
For the sake of not being one sided I will admit that I dont often use tact as I should. Typically, if I dont have to be tactful then im not. Yet, if its required or will help me accomplish a task then im very tactful. If you piss me off and have no legit authority then why should I be tactful? If I like you I will be as tactful as I can without sacrificing the point im trying to make......thats called being honest. Honesty is more important than tact.