http://blogs.ft.com/dearlucy/2009/10/should-i-report-an-insane-co-worker-to-human-resources/

This guy doesn't sound crazy; he's just a social maladroit who likes to shock people. I do that a lot too.

huqw

Doorknob falls apart. I attempt to fix it. Big deal. This "gentleman" strikes me as damn wierd. Though.

..

Maybe it's just that I've become inured to your recurrent fantasies about jamming objects up the rectums (recta?) of people you abhor.  But you never say "my knife."

I harbor just about zeto fantasies about killing folks. Doorknob is annoying and it's a Navy knife. Sorry to disappoint.

In this day and age, what with Columbine and workers going postal in the workplace with automatic weapons, an employee who talks about committing violence is reportable to HR.  Simple.  Better for Corporate Security to have him in for a little talk and rule out a problem, than for something to happen later on and have everyone wondering why no one picked up on it.

I agree that he's probably harmless.  But he should still be checked out.

Forever.

I say it is impossible to make a judgment form one-sided story presented in the letter.

The letter writer could have an ax to grind. He calls him "insane", he doesn't say what prompted the remarks that are reported, and the "proofs" of the other employee's insanity and dangerousness don't worry me at all (as reported.)

Though, he does sound a bit like "Dwight" in the office. And maybe he is trying to!

I feel sorry for him.

Until or unless he does or says something more indicative of being dangerous - because there is no problem with being insane as long as he's not dangerous, right?

I think Lucy's advice, to get to know him better, is the best advice. Maybe he is dangerous. But, maybe they just don't get him.

My responses in ALL CAPS:

I say it is impossible to make a judgment form one-sided story presented in the letter. THAT'S DEFINITELY TRUE, WE'RE ONLY SEEING THE WRITER'S VIEWPOINT.

The letter writer could have an ax to grind. He calls him "insane", he doesn't say what prompted the remarks that are reported, and the "proofs" of the other employee's insanity and dangerousness don't worry me at all (as reported.) I AGREE THAT "INSANE" IS HYPERBOLIC, CONSIDERING THE "INCIDENTS" THAT SUPPOSEDLY MAKE THE GUY "INSANE."

Though, he does sound a bit like "Dwight" in the office. And maybe he is trying to! THAT'S HILARIOUS -- I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT OF DWIGHT SCHRUTE ALSO. SOMETIMES, JRI REMINDS ME OF DWIGHT SCHRUTE -- THE GOOD PARTS OF DWIGHT SCHRUTE, JRI! (JRI: "WHO'S DWIGHT SCHRUTE?")

I feel sorry for him. I DO TOO, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN HE SHOULDN'T BE TREATED WITH CAUTION AND WATCHFULNESS.

Until or unless he does or says something more indicative of being dangerous - because there is no problem with being insane as long as he's not dangerous, right? I AGREE - JUST BEING INSANE, OR BIZARRE, OR ECCENTRIC, IS NO REASON TO REPORT SOMEONE TO H.R. IN FACT, I'M SURROUNDED BY INSANE, BIZARRE AND ECCENTRIC PEOPLE IN MY WORKPLACE EVERY DAY, AND ALTHOUGH I'D LOVE TO REPORT THEM TO H.R., THERE ARE REALLY NO GROUNDS TO DO SO. THE CORPORATE WORLD BY ITS NATURE IS INSANE, BIZARRE AND ECCENTRIC. I'M FOCUSSING SOLELY ON THIS PERSON'S VERBALIZING A DESIRE TO COMMIT BODILY HARM.

I think Lucy's advice, to get to know him better, is the best advice. Maybe he is dangerous. But, maybe they just don't get him. COULD BE. MAYBE JUST A CONTINUED PERIOD OF RELAXED BUT WATCHFUL OBSERVATION IS THE TICKET HERE.

.

huqw

I say cautious watchfulness is desirable.

two people.

One person losing it I can kind of understand. I will never understand how these things can happen with two people.

that it was just one sad, sick, man, acting out his illness, not an organized attack.

And I think the most important indicator is mood. Anger is a bad sign. Anger leads to reckless, dangerous, thoughtless, behavior.

Anger and resentment. Gotta watch for those.