28. No Job Is Worth Your Life
We'll see how insane some people are when it comes to their jobs in the next chapter. Please, for the love of God, do not prioritize your work over your life.
"My father worked in IBM's technical support department. A customer called to request assistance with running a report and sending it to a networked printer. Some corporate bigwig insisted that this report be printed and on his desk by 3 p.m., and the guy on the phone was stressing out. My father begins to hear a peculiar high-pitched noise in the background about 10 minutes into the call.
Dad, 'Uhh, if you don't mind my asking, what's that background noise?'
'Oh, that's the fire alarm,' says the caller.
'Is there a fire alarm?'
'Yes, the structure is on fire.'
'Don't you think you should get out of there?'
'You are deafeningly deafeningly deafeningly de This report has to be printed.'
My father hears shouting in the background a few minutes later.
'Is everything all right?'
Caller, 'It's all right.' It’s just the firefighters evacuating the building.’
‘Shouldn’t you get out of there too?’
‘I HAVE to get this report printed.’
‘I don’t think it’s worth risking your life.’
When the shouting in the background becomes considerably louder, the caller becomes enraged. A firefighter begins shouting orders for the man to exit the building. The caller informs the firefighter of the incident. "I don't care about your report," the firefighter screams at my father. The structure is on fire! MOVE NOW!
"There's a scuffling sound, and the phone is ringing." As the firefighter physically takes the caller away, the other end of the line drops to the ground. The sound of the fire alarm and crackling noises were all Dad could hear after that.”
