More to the Point

So much for staying under the radar.

Today's little non-event-that-was-made-into-an-event is an apt demonstration of the mediocrity that we spoke of and how it promulgates. Without delving too much into the details, I went to another building to complete a job requirement at a time that I knew I may not be able to complete the errand because of Federal regulations outlining times when certain tasks can and can't be done in certain institutions because of the scheduled activites that the residents are doing at those times. Though I arrived very shortly after the "cut off" time, I knew that it was likely that the activity itself had not commenced yet. As I hurried down the corridor, one of the staff shouted from approximately 25 yards away (maybe further - far enough that I couldn't see her face) asking where I was going. I turned only out of curiosity because I was sure the person couldn't possibly be addressing me because I was so far away. As it turns out, she was, so I turned around and walked back to meet her in the middle. She advised me that I would not be allowed to complete my task at this time. I replied that it was only a few minutes after the cut off time and the activity probably had not commenced. She replied that I wasn't allowed to go regardless of when the activity actually started. I replied that the regulation actually states that the task can not be completed specifically when the activity is being conducted, not before or after. She reiterated that I would not be allowed to complete the task. I left as requested, in a hurry, but waving to people on my way out.

No big deal, right? Wrong!!

When I returned to my office, I received a phone call from a Supervisor in the institution I had just visited. That Supervisor wondered aloud if I needed "clarification" about the rules surrounding the unavailability during certain times. The Supervisor stated that his staff were "worried" that I was "rude" and "uncooperative." I asked (in disbelief), "They said I was rude? To them??" The Supervisor clarified that this was, indeed, the case. I decided to get straight to the point and asked when the institution had decided to block off a certain time frame rather than follow the regulation (at this point I actually used the Regulation Title and Section) to the letter. The Supervisor advised that "it's actually (insert WRONG Regulation Title here)." I sputtered a moment, started to correct him, and then said "Never mind," as it was apparent to me by his tone that he was positive that he was correct in his assertion. He'll find out sometime in the future and then feel stupid without me having to point it out for him, so why fight the battle? He went on to advise me that the time frame set aside had nothing to do with the Regulation and everything to do with people from my building being in the way of people in his building during certain times of day. Which means that his staff member had just prevented me from completing a Federally-regulated task on a whim.

How much do you want to bet that that staff member has absolutely no knowledge of why she has been asked to keep people out during that certain time?? Let's have a side bet, while we're at it, about which Federal Regulation that poor uninformed staff member would cite if asked. I'm guessing that the reason that staff member felt she had to go find out who I am and report my "rudeness" to her Supervisor is because she felt unempowered to deal with statements like "The Regulation states blah-blah-blah, so tell me again why you are preventing me from completing this required task?" from people like me who are only trying to do their job. And why is she unempowered? Because even her friggin' SUPERVISOR doesn't know the regulation! Hell, he doesn't even know the Title and Section, even though it's been a catch phrase around my workplace for several years now!!

So, more to the point: I know that people gravitate to the lowest common denominator because my 1) being in a hurry, 2) being knowledgable about why I was in a hurry, and 3) asking why I was being prevented from doing something I am legally required to do was interpreted as rudeness rather than competance.

No, I'm not going to lose sleep over it. But when I am Queen, things will be much, much different.