Below are the letters from Episode 41 2013. Click Here to Watch our Panel discuss these topics and share your thoughts on the letters below.
Dear Mitch and panellists,
There we were having a great time at the department’s Christmas party when the office drunk and loud mouth ruined it for everyone, as she usually does, by getting so thoroughly tipsy that she tripped over and hurt herself. Most of us found it hilarious for days until, last week when her insurance company and /or lawyer, contacted most of us, her work colleagues, to make witness statements because she intends to sue the poor, struggling migrant family that runs the restaurant.
What has become of the fair go mentality that we all used to think was so very Australian? We’ve turned into greedy, irresponsible, selfish people who want to blame everyone else for our own behaviour. And this loudmouth, drunk bitch is case in point. And what makes it so much worse is that it is going to ruin this poor struggling family’s Christmas and probably their business.
Why have we become like this? What can I do to stop this going action going ahead because I need to do something? Is it too late to get back the great Aussie fair go mentality?
Sally, Scarborough, WA
Dear Sweet and Sour,
Do you have to play games to make a relationship work? I’ve been with my boyfriend for two years and he suggested that he’d be happy to come over to my place for Christmas lunch with my folks, if I was equally as happy to go to his folk’s place for Christmas! I said that’s fine, we’ll go to his folk’s as long as we can spend the evening at my mum’s and dad’s. He said he’ll think about it if I we spend New Year’s Eve at his sister’s party, when we’re already invited to my best friend’s party.
Every boy I’ve ever been out with has been a game player like this. I’m sure all the panellists have heard the usual, “Well if you really love me….you’ll do this…or that”, The first time I had sex was because I was pushed into it by this sort of game playing.
Should I dump my boyfriend even though I don’t want to, or is my perspective accurate and everyone is a game player, and it won’t make any difference if I move on because that’s just how it is? Should we all just learn to become better game players? Is that the real lesson here?
Tina, Meltone, Vic
Dear Panel,
So much for the Christmas spirit. I’m a receptionist for a company and I’m rarely treated to anything from the clients. Last week, on his way out of the office, a very charming and generous client thanked me and asked me to accept a small $20.00tip as a Christmas gesture. It made my day. He’s such a lovely man.
Two hours later, the boss of the section, an unhappy, un-partnered 45 year old cranky woman, stormed over to me once the story had reached her, demanded the $20 and said that company policy prevented me from taking or accepting such gifts! I handed it over, and called her a mean person for doing such a thing at Christmas especially when no-one has ever told me of such a policy in the entire three years I’ve been working here. Later in the afternoon she called me into the office to check that I was ok with what happened. I said that if she needed the $20.00 that much, she was welcome to it. She burst into tears and I left her office. After half an hour she walked over to my desk and handed me the $20.00! What a nerve that woman has! I threw the money on the ground and it just lay there all afternoon and I presume the cleaners collected it.
How can it possibly be Company policy one minute, and then handed back to me the next? Am I right to presume this woman hasn’t a clue and is grossly unprofessional. And she does this sort of thing regularly, especially to me. I’m thinking to take it to the overall boss of the department. This treatment of me is utterly destabilising and I believe she’s unfit for her job. She obviously doesn’t like me because I’m a big breasted attractive blonde and she’s a fat, ugly jealous frump. Am I justified to go over her head with this?
Natasha, Maroubra, NSW