What ya doing today?
By Canellita
@Canellita (12029)
United States
July 9, 2010 11:34am CST
Why do people send you text messages during a work day asking you what you are doing? I work from home and at the moment have no outside job so that means I have to work even more than someone who leaves home to work for a wage or a set salary. If I don't work, I don't make money. Not only that, unless I sell something in person to someone or provide a service and get compensated immediately I usually have to wait longer to get paid than a person with a 9-5 or other "real" job.
While it is my choice to live this way (I have been self-employed at least part-time for most of my adult life) the interesting thing here is that most people who see work as having a job and leaving the house are artists and musicians and other kinds of self employed people as well. How am I so different from them?
Today's text is from someone who wants something. I don't even have to ask why this person is texting asking me "what ya doing today?" because he only does it when he wants company or a ride someplace.
Everyone who knows me or is my facebook friend knows I will have a booth at tomorrow's Bastille day celebration and that I have been dyeing stuff all week and making jewelry. Is this person just inconsiderate? Crazy? Self-centered?
1 person likes this
10 responses
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
9 Jul 10
tell him to find his own way! we have a guy who is living with us (temporarily) who wants a drive EVERYWHERE! (meanwhile there is a perfectly good bus system here) but he is very lazy! to that end, we just tell him we are to busy and for him to find his own ride.
1 person likes this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
10 Jul 10
I just responded that I was working and he said ok and we left it at that. This is a person I would normally help if I could but it was not a good day for me and sometimes I feel like he should not be coming to me because it is not a good idea for us to spend too much time together.
I feel by now he should have any number of friends and he should call on one of them so he can spread it around and not depend so much on one or two people.
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
9 Jul 10
Since he probably knows you well, I would have to say he is inconsiderate and self centered. I don't know if they could be seperated in this case. You are not any different than someone that works outside the home, except your office is in your home. I don't like people like that either. Just like being a stay-at-home mom doesn't mean you sit at home all day waiting for someone to call you to make your day fulfilled!
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
16 Jul 10
Tell me about it! However, I already put up with one HE-MALE and I am not taking on the responsibility of another! After Spain I am on permanent vacation from other people's drama!
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
10 Jul 10
You know what's funny? I have known him for probably a decade and I don't think he really does know me that well. But you're right; we have had a few falling outs and I have had to give him a talking to about respect from time to time. He really is a good person, just doesn't always communicate well and can be a little immature at times. I think he is the youngest of like 5 or 6 and his siblings are all accomplished professionals.
However, his parents were self-employed and he has owned a couple businesses. The last one was put out of commission by the hurricane but he still takes in work on the side AND he's an artist! (There's more, but I'll tell you later.)
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
10 Jul 10
some people are rude, even when they are being "nice" so probably I would just continue to be "nice" and not count her as a "friend"
Just remember - what ever you do will come back to you, so, you are nice, nice things happen, you are rude, bad things happen.
it may not be that person being nice, but others will see you as nice and her as rude and she may find herself with no friends
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
10 Jul 10
My response was one word "working." He knew it meant working at home because about a week or so ago he asked me if I was currently working. Meaning, working outside of home. He is an artist so we should never have conversation where I qualify my work.
This person is actually nice, just a little too attached to me and it annoys me when he does this. He is also a little immature and the older I get the less patience I have for people and their issues.
There are two women who aren't talking to me right now for whatever reason and I am too busy to care. I've known one for several years and last week I saw her at a weekly event she knows I go to and she didn't even say hello to me when I greeted her!
Even if she were right in thinking that I did her something --which I did not, there is no reason to be rude!
1 person likes this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
12 Jul 10
We're on the same page, believe me. The person I mentioned above actually lives around the corner from me and really pushed to have the friendship happen years ago when we met. In recent years she's acted like a neurotic weirdo half the time and I am just over it. Her birthday is coming up though and I am debating if I should send her a card (she chose to ignore mine last month).
1 person likes this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
9 Jul 10
YES, he is a self-centered, inconsiderate person. You do NOT have to respond to his texts. As a matter of fact, I'd ignore his texts...that is, until the next time I saw him in person...then I'd read him the riot act about bothering me at work. I don't give my friends my work phone number...specifically so they won't call me there. I think you can block him from getting through on your phone. YOU have control of your life & you don't have to put up with his intrusions. Just tell him plain & simple that his texts are unwelcomed & to STOP IT!!! You are giving him waaay too much of your time & effort!!!!
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
10 Jul 10
Sorry, I take my work seriously & it sounds as though you do too!!! I set my own schedule and my time is flexible it doesn't mean other people get to decide when I will be available. Maybe if you said that to him, he would get the message. Then ignore ALL texts (not just his) that come in until you 'finished with your work day. Maybe pick a time to sit down & specifically respond to texts. Once people realize that you only respond at a particular time, they will accept it!!! I still think he is self-centered & inconsiderate & very possibly a user to boot!!!
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
12 Jul 10
You'll be happy to know I ignored a call earlier today :-) It was from someone I just spoke with on yesterday to whom I'd said we'd talk about getting together Thursday if they were available. It is nowhere near Thursday and I really didn't have time for the conversation. If it was urgent the person could have sent a text or email or used fb...
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
10 Jul 10
LOL, it wasn't quite that serious! It was just annoying and there is a personal issue with this particular person. We rarely talk or hang out and we are not close but we have always had a connection of sorts. (Which also part of the problem.)
I know he was looking to see who was around to help him but my thing is that just because I set my own schedule and my time is flexible it doesn't mean other people get to decide when I will be available.
It just annoyed me yesterday for a number of reasons including the fact that I have this event today and I was procrastinating enough on my own without someone else trying to distract me from what I need to be doing.
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
10 Jul 10
Today is a big day at our house. It is my oldest son's birthday. We are planning a birthday celebration for him. If the weather continues to cooperate, it will be an outdoor bash. Hope this day is great for him!
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
10 Jul 10
I hope the weather cooperates for you and that your son has a great day! I am hoping for excellent weather here today as well as I am participating in an outdoor celebration this evening and I don't want by booth or my stuff getting wet!
@Suggar (3606)
• Bulgaria
10 Jul 10
I know what u mean ... some people think that if u work for yourself u are your boss and can make yourself break time when u want that, but it's not like that. If u want to have something, u have to work very hard about that.
Sometimes i'm very rude with that kind of people, who want to waste my time with their chatting.
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
10 Jul 10
Especially when their chatting is about nothing significant!
I plan outings for a group of people at least once per month. There is one person in our group who is very nice and as soon as she comes to one of our outings she wants to go out almost every night to do something else and will even offer to pay my way to some things so she can have someone to go with. I keep saying I don't have the time (or even the interest) to do that, but she just kind of lives in her own little world...
She is very sweet, but she is a little older, divorced and a grandmother and works a "real" job. She can basically do whatever she wants when she wants. Again she is really nice, but because we have very different lifestyles she can not relate to me and the chatting drives me crazy when I am busy.
@TexLadyPj (1328)
• United States
9 Jul 10
Herro Canellita
I think most people don't think about what they are doing. They have a free moment and think, gee, I forget to say ???
So they pick up phone and text. Because it is not their schedule, they forget that you may have responsibilities.
Even though I don't make a lot of money online, it is my enjoyment and hobby. I love what I do. I've done crafts in the past, however, right now am not active. If I knew you had responsibilities, I would not text you. But that is me.
Prosperous crafts
Prosperous mylotting
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
10 Jul 10
You are absolutely right and it drives me crazy! Maybe it is because I think too much, lol! I am sometimes shocked at how thoughtless even nice and well-meaning people can be at times. HAGD!
@terri0824 (4991)
• United States
9 Jul 10
I totally understand where you are coming from. Though it is me that is usually bothered by while I am at work. I have been on vacation this week from my regular job. I have done a lot of cleaning around my home that really needed it. And had I not been called on for grandma babysitting duty, I would have accomplished a lot more.
And I know I as well too usually have something on the side to make extra money. And currently have been making hair ties, and hair bows. Which I hope to post on facebook to sell by the end of this weekend.
Then off to work world I must go. I feel like I have worked just as hard if not harder being off from work this week.
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
10 Jul 10
Must have been good to get a break from your day job. I'm looking forward to seeing your hair ties.
1 person likes this
@edwardjoy2000 (2387)
• United Arab Emirates
9 Jul 10
I am in the UAE and we are not working today. But its a pity that i was working.We have an audit in office tomorrow and the client will be here so we are working on preparing the documentation. Oh what a pity...wasted my weekend.
@tracey2335 (1)
• United States
10 Jul 10
I hear ya! If they know you are working, why ask a question of what are you doing?!!!
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
10 Jul 10
That's what I'm saying! It should automatically be assumed that I am busy, right?
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