August 31st, 2004

DEAR MATILDA:

An outside vendor came to the place where I worked and made lewd comments to me. I reported the incident to my immediate supervisor. Within four working days, I was demoted, publicly humiliated, and felt forced to turn in my resignation. I had signed a sexual harassment agreement with my bosses that I would report any incident to them. Should I have kept my mouth shut? Do I have any recourse?

-- HUMILIATED

DEAR HUMILIATED:

You probably should have kept your mouth shut. You didn't say what the "lewd" comment was, which might make it easier to figure out what your damage is. Your "lewd" may very well differ from what everyone else's lewd is. Did he say "Nice ass" or was it "suck my dick". Did he tell a dirty joke about nuns, or did he jack off on your desk. All these possibilities..... Really though, it doesn't matter what he did, you were stupid to go whining to your boss about it - like you think he doesn't have anything better to do with his time than cater to your distress over some asshole that passed through the office one day. Likely you deserve to be demoted, since you demonstated your complete ineptitude with dealing with the office problems. I imagine, since you bothered to write me about this you are now considering getting a lawyer, suing and undergoing years of therapy because you were mentally harmed by this "lewd" comment. Your entire life and existance will eventually revolve around how you were so wronged, you will then validate your pitiful existance by forming a help group or protesting for women's rights. Please, for the love of God, get over it.

Love,

Matilda

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Dear Humiliated (8/31/04)