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Troublesh00ter's avatar

Submitted for your approval: Paul Ostapa, a boy in a man-suit, tasked with maintaining HVAC equipment for a major national supplier, yet apparently unable to act in a professional manner around a new hire who happened to be female. He cites a non-existent "rule" by a bigoted Christian evangelist and was initially granted a workaround ... until he was confronted with the horror of actually HAVING TO WORK WITH A WOMAN. Ultimately, he was fired.

I have to wonder just how many Mike Pences in hard hats are out there these days. Sheesh!

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Beat me to the Pence observation as I was typing it.

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Septuagenarian Contrarian's avatar

You were in good company!

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

I knew someone like that (Muslim). He wouldn't shake women's hands. One of our main teacher* was Muslim too, and he had no qualms with touching or being alone with women. Non bigots Muslims men will interact with non Muslims women as if they were men since the religious rules don't apply to us.

* During the breaks, we would talk about history, accommodating religious rules in a secular world (and not the opposite) and food).

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

Some people know how to act like mature adults. Some don't.

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Kukaan Ei Missään's avatar

"I knew someone like that (Muslim). He wouldn't shake women's hands. "

The same thing occurs with some ultra-Orthodox Jews too.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

The plane thing. Funny how it's always the women who have to move.

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Joe King's avatar

I'm fine with that as long as every time the woman has to move it's from coach to first class. Religious asshole wants accommodation? Stay in the sardine can.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Do you really expect a company that would accommodate misogynistic religious rules to upgrade a woman' seat ? If yes, I have an apartment with sea view in Alsace to sell.

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Kukaan Ei Missään's avatar

It isn't just planes, women have been told to sit at the back of buses in Jerusalem - https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-754598

I seem to recollect the same thing happening on buses in the States...

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Brianna Amore's avatar

I'm genuinely surprised that bus companies don't have buses just for Orthodox men. In Mexico City the first three subway cars are reserved for women because so many men can't keep their hands to themselves.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

There was, at a time*, private haredi buses companies that openly discriminated against women, so it's nothing you. netanyahou's protests sounds like PR gaslighting to me.

*My sources go back to between 2008 and 2013.

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Kay-El's avatar

When I was in Israel many years ago, I sat next to an ultra orthodox man on a bus. I thought he was going to become one with the window. (I think I was in Tel Aviv)

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Tel Aviv is still liberal, so I guess he didn't dare to make a fuss. Had you been in Beit Shemesh, he would have felt emboldened to harass you.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

I remember one of them. She was a Shoah survivor, being discriminated in a country where she thought she would be safe was especially traumatic.

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Maltnothops's avatar

There were some Muslim women at one of my employers who would not shake men’s hands.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Now, I don't know for the US but in France, it's often HR who take care of recruiting interviews, and it's mostly women. Politeness is a must. Refusing to shake a woman's hand would play against him.

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XJC's avatar

Alluh Snackbar!

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Thank you, but not just before dinner.

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Brian's avatar

Prepare to enter The Scary Door.

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

I probably should have thrown something in to the effect of:

That's the signpost up ahead! You're entering ... The DUMB-ASS Zone!

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Snowflake xtians claim to have an awesome god yet resort to secular courts to resolve issues. Is their god not available to fight for them?

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Bensnewlogin's avatar

It doesn’t work on Fridays, or Saturdays, or Sundays, depending on whether it’s the one and only Jewish God, the one and only Christian God, or the one and only Muslim God.

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Brianna Amore's avatar

Insert Morgan Freeman voice: "They are, in fact, the same God."

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Bensnewlogin's avatar

That is a pretense that they all maintain because otherwise they would have to kill each other. They are not the same God and they were only the same God briefly. But like all gods everywhere, they are created in the image of the men that create them. Christianity was a Jewish heresy where in God had a son. But Judaism had a heresy as well, that there was Mrs. God. Christianity itself contains multiple heresies. Allah is alone in his universe, so he has no Mrs. Allah or no Allah Junior

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Brianna Amore's avatar

Nah God's too busy running the entire Universe to bother with such trivialities. It's also why he doesn't intervene in sports games, despite what Christians think.

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Jane in NC's avatar

Wait! If their god isn't awesome enough to keep them from being sex pests, does that mean he's not really awe...... Oops!

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David Graf's avatar

I guess Trump was too busy planning how to get rid of food and medical care for poor kids to help this guy out. /s

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Says the one who see no problem depriving people of food and bare necessities because "someone could take advantage of a church". Look at selfishness, you should see your picture.

PS : don't you say, in a regular basis, that you don't read other people comments ?

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David Graf's avatar

Don't be silly. We continue to help the poor but we try to avoid being taken advantage of.

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Bensnewlogin's avatar

David, I have a stack of one dollar bills in my wallet. They are there for the asking for anybody who wants one from me. If I have the slightest feeling that this person really should not get even one dollar from me, I usually don’t give one to him. And I’m sure that several of the people that get those dollar bills from me don’t deserve it, or have real real need of it, and would just prefer not to have to work for a living.

But I don’t care because of a little bit of basic philosophy. those dollar bills in my wallet are there to help people. It’s not much, but it’s something. I see it as adding my little cup full of light to the general light, and even a cup full of light is better than nothing.

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David Graf's avatar

That's fine for you. But for me, giving scarce funds to those who don't need your help not just means that they are incented to continue their evil ways but it also means that others who need it have to do without help.

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Bensnewlogin's avatar

It’s the chance you take when you are generous, David. Not everybody deserves generosity.

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Val Uptuous NotAgain's avatar

So you prefer 99 people starve because one might not deserve help. We all would rather see 100 people fed even if one person doesn’t need the help. Pretending that you are helping but trying to avoid getting taken advantage of only serves to keep people from accessing help.

Incentivizing the grift is just a lame excuse to not do the right thing. Shame on you.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

It's not what you said. Again, I have the screenshots.

Edit : and being taken advantage of if the pretexte drumpster use to cut social benefits, and lay-off thousands of much needed federal workers.

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David Graf's avatar

Again, get a life.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Let see. I am breathing, meaning I am not dead, meaning I already have a life. Thank you for for your non concern and your conceit.

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XJC's avatar

Especially since their god created the problem intentionally and already knows the outcome since said god controls everything.

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Yamuna Ramachandran's avatar

…so she can counter sue for sex discrimination then, correct? Also I’m betting there were plenty of times Mr. Christian serviced a house where only a woman was at home, alone…with him.

Doubt he says "Ma'am, I need to confirm if there is a Man on the premises before I step through this door." Does he not go to homes of single women? Single moms? He's full of shit. That alone should deflate his case.

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Joe King's avatar

Exactly. He's not mad at having to be alone with a woman, he's mad that he is being required to view a woman as a person and not a thing.

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

... ℎ𝑒'𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤 𝑎 𝑤𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑎 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔.

Ohhhh, BINGO! On-point! 💯 🎯 👍

Also, a person deserving respect and recognition of her right to self-integrity.

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Jane in NC's avatar

Day-um, gurl! Right over the target! 🎯

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cdbunch's avatar

Well, it kind of sounded like they always sent two technicians, so he was never alone with a female client.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

What is it with misogynistic Christians who think everything revolves around S-E-X in some way, even when it clearly doesn't. They routinely condemn sex that doesn't involve the marriage bed yet they are obsessed with it.

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Jelly's avatar

It’s no accident that their all moral crusades involve sex in one form or another rather than hunger and poverty.

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

They haven't grown up yet. Fact is, they may never grow up.

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Jane in NC's avatar

Maybe there's something wrong with the air when you get so high up on your horse you get a nosebleed.

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Joe King's avatar

[𝑇]ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑤 ℎ𝑖𝑟𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑏𝑖𝑎𝑛. 𝐻𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑖𝑑 𝑖𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑛’𝑡 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟.

Because in his mind, being a lesbian is a sinful life choice instead of an intrinsic part of an individual's identity. And obviously, as he is a manly man she would instantly turn straight and come on to him while they're running duct work.

Jesus H Motherfucking Christ, these people are delusional.

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NOGODZ20's avatar
3hEdited

He also must have figured “Well, I’m not gonna get anywhere with HER.”

Edited to include missing word

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Len's avatar

Feels like there should be a negative somewhere in that sentence.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

You are correct, sir. Added.

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Kukaan Ei Missään's avatar

"And obviously, as he is a manly man she would instantly turn straight and come on to him while they're running duct work."

Giving him the ideal opportunity to convert her, and relieve her of her sin.

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Jane in NC's avatar

OMG! First spit take of the day! 👏👏🙌

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

Either delusional or psychologically repressed. Their belief system doesn't allow men to see women as equals or competent coworkers, but as chattel or beings better suited to be barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen. That wasn't a good look back in the days of Ozzie and Harriet or Father Knows Best.

And it sure as hell isn't a good look now.

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Maltnothops's avatar

Dang, I should have had a sincerely held religious belief that I couldn’t be paid less than $200,000 annually

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wreck's avatar

And every day ending in a "y" is a sabbath day so you don't have to work on that day.

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wreck's avatar

Give him his job back. Partner him with a drag queen. Problem solved.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Or a christian gay man. 100 % chance of aneurysm.

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

Oh, BER-ROTHER! He's probably have a stroke!

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Len's avatar

“Ooh - right a bit …”

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Sean's avatar

We - society - already don't believe women when they get sexually harassed, assaulted, or raped, unless at least 12 women come forth with stories, at which point it begins to dawn on society, "There may be something here. However, another 12 or so accusations will be necessary for serious consideration." His reputation is intact, unless he makes such a fuss about it to his wife. It does fall into the "I need everyone else to bend to my will so I can control myself, otherwise I can't" category.

I do somewhat sympathize, but under specific circumstances involving levels of trauma, or having a history of confrontation or abuse.

This isn't that, however. So, he needs to get over himself, learn to control his urges (not likely), instead of fighting against sexualizing her, which is an inverted form of sexualization. It comes down to he can't perform the job he was hired for, so that's why he was let go.

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Eric's avatar

The self-centeredness is mind-boggling. This guy actually believes other people care whether he's seen with a woman other than his wife. Sorry pal, nobody gives a shit about you.

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Bensnewlogin's avatar

Good enough about me. Let’s talk about what you think of me.

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Joan the Dork's avatar

Jesus, what a goddamn baby.

"𝘣𝘜𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘖𝘯'𝘛 𝘸𝘈𝘯𝘕𝘢 𝘗𝘭𝘈𝘺 𝘞𝘪𝘛𝘩... 𝘎𝘐𝘙𝘓𝘚!!11!1!!11𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘺𝘖𝘕𝘌!"

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Kay-El's avatar

FFS, just give him his cootie shot, he’ll be fine. 😂

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Kristi Noem’s Goat's avatar

So the dude should wear a chastity belt at all times while on the job. Problem solved. (What a pathetic human.).

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Love your nym.

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Joe King's avatar

𝐴𝑠 𝑆𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑝𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑙𝑠 𝑃𝑎𝑢𝑙 [𝑂𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑝𝑎] 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒, ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎 𝑤𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑖𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑙 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛.

OK, how, exactly, does 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 with a woman on a two person job site give the appearance of evil? Most of those situations would still be in the presence of other trades at least. And when they aren't? So what? Adults should be able to work together when necessary. So it's nothing more than purity culture toxic masculinity bullshit. He believes that wen aren't people, but sex things. And he believes everyone else thinks the same way, so no matter how chaste and platonic the working relationship is, anyone outside will assume that the manly man that he is would automatically take sex from a woman he is alone with. Now, his employer does indeed appear to have a system in place to formally request an accommodation for his nonsense, which he failed to do. Documentation is the bare minimum he should have done

𝑃𝑎𝑢𝑙 𝑓𝑢𝑟𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑢𝑟𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑐𝑡 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑢𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑏𝑦 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑦𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑒 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠.

All this means is that his wife (poor thing) has bought into the purity culture horse manure as well. If he's alone in a room with an adult woman for any length of time, he's guaranteed to cheat on her. He's afraid she will leave his sorry ass if she gets a hint of him being alone with someone he sees as sexual property and not a human.

Example #29477753947 of why purity culture is harmful bullshit.

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Sean's avatar

Women are evil. (Sarcasm)

It was Eve, after all, who first ate the forbidden fruit.

Pandora opened the box and let evil into the world.

Lolita was a 12-year-old virgin vixen who tempted Humbert Humbert.

Is more "alternative facts" required for proof?

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Sinanju06's avatar

Don't you see. The woman was going to walk around in extremely skin tight booty shorts and purposely bend over while using her tools on every occassion like a constant porno. That's the only reason why females work in the skilled trades.

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Joe King's avatar

And here i thought it was to be able to pay for food and rent.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Nah, it's to get an owner. There is less competition.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Ostapa went with Liberty Counsel? Did he not see how their client Kim Davis fared against SCOTUS?

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Joan the Dork's avatar

I truly miss the days when Mat Staver and his mob of whackshits were just the punchline in Ed's "Dumbest Lawyer in America" jokes.

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Sko Hayes's avatar

Shhhhhhh....

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Maltnothops's avatar

It would be interesting to know how LC negotiates with potential clients.

LC: Free!. Client: 1) what’s your record and 2) what’s in it for you?

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

The cases are different.

Ugly cunt was a county clerk aka a public officer, asshole was working for a private company. As we saw with hobby lobby and other ruling favoring discrimination, laws protecting women's and/or minorities' rights are trampled upon.

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WayneInIndy's avatar

Part of me is grateful that guys like this and Pence have their Bible. Otherwise they would be molesting and raping every woman they could get their hands on. LOL

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Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz's avatar

Still doesn't stop many of them.

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Elise's avatar

Seems to me that being a responsible adult is one of the basic job requirements in any trade or profession. Also seems that this "boy in a man suit," as Troublesh00ter has aptly described, is no longer capable of maintaining even that most basic job requirement. If his capacity to perform as a mature professional is now in doubt, he should no longer be doing that job. Bust him down to being an assistant to a responsible adult until he decides to grow up and quit using his religion as an excuse for his immaturity.

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Len's avatar

“ … assistant to a responsible adult… “. Preferably a woman.

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

Thanks for the nod, Elise! 👍

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oraxx's avatar

Evidently, this guy simply doesn't trust himself to behave like a decent human being. I do not find this the least bit surprising coming from a Southern Baptist. It's been said many times, because it's true, that there isn't anything that cannot be justified in the name of religion.

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