What Would You Do?
By huilichan8
@huilichan8 (1378)
Singapore
September 11, 2011 5:42am CST
Recently, I was misunderstood by someone and this wasn't the first time it happened. In fact, people seem to misunderstand me easily, especially people who are new to me. It bothers me because I don't understand how it could happen so often, especially since I prefer to be honest and frank about things.
The person who recently misunderstood me apparently thought that I was irresponsible and that I did not keep my word. I am NOT an irresponsible person; neither am I someone who would deliberately not keep my word. What happened was that I was supposed to submit my work on a certain day, and somehow things kept happening - my computer suddenly gave me a lot of problems while I was doing my work (and I had a hard time trying to fix those problems), etc - that prevented me from being able to deliver my work on time.
No matter how I tried to explain myself, somehow it seemed that my explanations had fallen on deaf ears. What would you do if you find yourself in a similar situation? Thanks!
1 person likes this
2 responses
@RobtheRock (2433)
• United States
12 Sep 11
I understand what you mean. I am sort of like you. When I do something from the heart, I don't like people twisting it to mean something else. I have a history of being late with work. But over the past ten years, I've tried to make a reputation for myself. I've always been known as one who tries to keep his word. But knowing technology, when I have a deadline, I try to finish it early. I usually send the project as soon as I finish it. I tell them that I'm sending it early just in case my computer crashes or something goes wrong and that I might send another version, if I find mistakes on the first version. Then I continue to look for bugs and mistakes and, if nothing goes wrong, I'll send the revised version by deadline. If I find I did good the first time, then I don't send any more submissions. But one thing I don't let anyone do. I don't let people define who I am. If you are responsble, then you are responsible. You are human and bad luck hits you and you learn from that and keep on moving upwards.

1 person likes this
@huilichan8 (1378)
• Singapore
12 Sep 11
Thanks for being encouraging! Really appreciate that.:) Yup, maybe I should learn from you, ie. submitting my work early, and hopefully I won't be seen as irresponsible again. Thanks and have a great wk ahead!:)
@knicnax (2232)
• Philippines
12 Sep 11
If you say that it happens quite often then you must be doing something wrong in their eyes. Maybe you should try evaluating yourself. Though you think that you have an excuse and they should understand, the fact is they don't; and no matter what people tell you that you should just be who you are and not care what others think of you, that is only true if you plan to live alone for the rest of your life. Sometimes you have to make yourself more likeable.
@huilichan8 (1378)
• Singapore
12 Sep 11
I did mention in my discussion that people who are new to me, in particular, tend to misunderstand me. For example, in my last workplace, some ex-colleagues initially saw me as being unapproachable because I was always immersed in my work while they were chatting away during office hours. To me, I don't like to chat during office hours because that is being irresponsible. If they were just chatting for a short while, then they shouldn't be seen as being irresponsible. But the fact was that they sometimes chatted for half an hour or more during office hours. Anyway, that is beside the point. My point is that they saw me as being unapproachable simply becos I was immersed in my work (being responsible)! Sometimes, people misunderstand me becos of what someone else has said behind my back. And such misunderstandings normally happen at work or relating to work. Anyway, thanks for your response and have a gd wk!
