Okay, your favorite esteemed social debaters are back to help guide another important conversation that will make society better. Today, we’re going to ask the important question: if someone farts AT you at work, is that technically bullying? Furthermore, what can be done about this chronic farting behavior?
Courtesy of the St. Louis Post Dispatch:
According to 56-year-old David Hingst, a former employee at Construction Engineering, it certainly is.
Hingst sued the firm for bullying in 2017, accusing supervisor Greg Short (whom Hingst referred to as “Mr. Stinky”) of being a serial offender who regularly “thrusted his bum” at him, news.com.au reported quoting The Australian Associated Press. Hingst is seeking damages of AUS$1.8 million ($1.28 million).
“I would be sitting with my face to the wall and he would come into the room, which was small and had no windows,” Hingst told the news service, according to news.com.au. “He would fart behind me and walk away. He would do this five or six times a day,” which led the engineer to spray deodorant at his boss, the news site reported.
The recurrent gas-passing, Hingst claimed, was part of a conspiracy to end his employment and caused him “severe stress.” (Hingst also alleged he was marginalized by employees and received bullying phone calls.)
Not even a tough call to make – it’s the aggressive nature of the farting that makes it bullying. Now, I will say it would’ve helped the dude’s case if the entire office referred to this guy as ‘Mr. Stinky,’ and not just him. You can’t just make up nicknames for people that you’re suing like that’s supposed to mean something to anybody.
Still, if someone is practically farting in your nose five to six times a day, that’s bullying. I’d be stressed out too if my office smelled like rotten ass all day. Again, it’s the aggression and intent that makes it bullying.
By the same token, I feel like there’s a way you can resolve this without it getting to the Supreme Court of Victoria. Like, couldn’t you talk to someone? Couldn’t you just say, “motherfucker, quit farting in my damn face” or something like that?
Reading the rest of the story, it sure sounded like there was a whole lot of tomfoolery going on at this office.
Supreme Court of Victoria Justice Rita Zammit dismissed the lawsuit in April.
Zammit ruled that even if the flatulence had happened in a small windowless office, it “would not necessarily amount to bullying,” news.com.aureported. Instead, the judge said, there was “some inappropriate behavior in the office, including passing wind, but that it was ‘typical banter or mucking around.'”
I think you gotta have some basic respect for your co-workers, y’know. Don’t be ‘Mr. Stinky.’ But, don’t expect to win millions of dollars by suing Mr. Stinky either.
We’ve grown here today as informed citizens, haven’t we? Did you feel that while reading this thought piece?
If you fart on accident, which I’ve been around several co-workers who have farted on accident in the office – it happens, that’s one thing. But, don’t use it as leverage on your subordinates. That’s just……shitty.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
Check out the SoBros Shop. Subscribe to our Patreon. Give us money for no reason. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @SoBrosNetwork. Listen on SoundCloud. Watch on YouTube.
