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I was asked to write a review of the local HRCA show. (Hornby Railway Collectors Association) It was a nice enough day. I helped set up and clean up the hall and I worked a model layout all day. (using my own locomotives. Most of the time they are in a display case in my room) The organiser of the show said he felt it wasn't right that he should review his own show because it would look biased. I offered to help. He accepted but because I did not know everyones name he said he would write a quick draft and then sent it to me for improvement.
Months after the show The Organiser phones and asks why I have not answered his email. I did not get an email I explained. (He spelt my name wrong, easy mistake.) He sends the review again, I edit it and send it back to him on the same day. He rings back a few days later saying thank you and he would sent it to the editor. He also mentioned that I made a spelling mistake and that I need to be more careful. When I looked over the review it was his spelling mistake, not mine!
Yesterday he phones today and explains the deadline is tomorrow and asks why I have not sent it to the editor yet. I told him he said he would do it. He denies all knowledge of saying this and says that it was my job to do. I did not have any contact details of who to send it to or warned when the deadline would be because he said he would deal with it. In the end we both emailed the same version to the editor.
Weve always accepted that The Organiser is a bit odd and stuck in his ways. (The show itself never changes. If anyone makes a suggestion they are simply ignored.) Other members of the HRCA have had problems with him as well. This is my first published piece of work to be in paper form (two short stories published online) and it really annoys me that Im being blamed for his mistake. Grrrr
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Comments
I feel a breakaway HRCA movement in the air...
Kado's right, there'll always be people like this around. They're sent to try us, and try us they do.
I couldn't have put it any better!
If Mr Organiser tries to stich me up again I will say just that to him.
Good for you, st force!
Sounds like you're coping very well, keep going. One day you'll be the editor!
No! Never a good idea to even pretend to do violence to someone. I know a person whose parents got him a punchbag to punch when he was cross with his sister. Now grown up, his way of dealing with irritations takes several forms that all equate with 'taking it out' on another person.
The way to get even in this case is to become a brilliant writer. Which StF will.
Remained cool (okay ... cool-ish), despite everything going wrong that could go wrong. Being blamed. Not being blamed. Turning out to be the hero.
You've got one on old man Sam ;-)
Stay in touch with the editor. Ask if there are any other ways in which you can help (read as: get yourself in print again!)
As a kid, I was always encouraged to think up creative (and completely imaginary) forms of revenge. I still do it. I've 'killed' some people dozens of times - but never use actual violence to attempt to solve any of my problems. I think if I didn't carry out imaginary revenge I'd be far more likely to lose my temper and lash out verbally or do something mean to the person who'd annoyed me. While that might be satisfying at the time, long term it probably wouldn't be a good thing.
Yes, I used to daydream about pulling someone's top lip up over their face and hooking it over the top of their head. That'd teach 'em.
Yes, but it would be very effective in shutting someone up!
That lip thing mad me shudder - I have always had a horror of being dragged along the carpet on my lower lip inside out. I know this is a peculiar nightmare, but what can I do? As soon as I revealed it to my children they took great delight in saying things like, careful mum, don't trip, you don't want to rub the inside of your lip on the carpet... yeeek!
That would be difficult! :D
You're so comforting. Sigh.
[quote=Carol]Certainly strange...[/quote]
There must be someone who can help?