Working At Blockbuster Must Suck

If you're a normal human being, you've called in sick to work before. And some bosses are understanding, and some jobs blow. I remember one time in college I called in sick to work when I was supposed to be there at 5:30am and there was no way it was going to happen - my boss demanded a doctor's note to prove that I had actually been sick. Is that even legal? (as an epilogue to that story I had a friend who worked in a Dr.'s office steal a piece of his prescription paper and then forged a note)

Anyway, the point is that no one can force you to go to work, and there's ways to play hooky without getting caught, and ways to do it without causing yourself serious bodily harm. There are certain lengths it is not necessary to go to get out of work - such as stabbing yourself and saying you were attacked.

A 29-year-old man who claimed he was attacked and stabbed by three people - skinheads or Hispanic males - confessed Monday night that he stabbed himself because he didn't want to go to work, Edgewater Police said today.

The man, Aaron Siebers, walked into his employer, the Blockbuster Video store at 1921 Sheridan about 6:30 p.m. Monday, and reported the attack. He said the trio was dressed in black.

Now, it may seem like that's awful elaborate just to get out of work. And that's mainly because it is. And seriously, is working at a blockbuster that bad? What do you do - arrange movies and hang out and watch movies all day. And occasionally deal with a dumb customer - but probably not that often since who goes to movie stores any more. Also - skinheads or Hispanic males?! Because if you're trying to sell a story about a trio and not being sure of their race or ethnicity, be sure to pick 2 that are in no way close to one another. "He was tall... or possibly very short. He had long long hair... but also might have been bald." "He was a very ugly man... but while they attacked me I thought of having sex with him"

Anyway, the article goes on to explain how he said it happened right by this Target, but surveillance videos basically showed no such thing happened. So the guy is arrested and charged with false blah blah whatever. And then he has the stones to say this,


"If you are going to concoct a story about being stabbed, don't do it near a Target store," said Davis.


THAT'S what you've come away from this having learned? How about like "If you don't want to go to work, don't stab yourself and concoct a story about being stabbed." Or, "If you hate your job, try and determine why and then think of ways to fix them and place those ideas in your work's suggestion box." Just kidding about that last one. That's stupid. I have a bunch of internet nerd friends much like myself (you are shocked, I know) and this one message board had a "suggestions" thread - I assume most message boards do - and the best thing I ever saw was a post entitled "I SUGGEST you stop being such assholes." But so now does this guy still work at Blockbuster? They have to have fired him, no? If the guy hated working there enough to stab himself not to have to go, and now they know this thanks to a huge news item there's no way they could keep him there. And here I always thought working at a video store was nothing but relaxing, Star Wars discussions, and witty banter with ignorant customers. Color me jaded. : (