The Things I Will Do For Free Stuff

26 July 2007

The things I will do for free stuff...for example...

Me wearing the Evil Mastermind Shirt

I have a weakness when it comes to free stuff, especially if it comes in one of three categories: food, books, or geek gear. For example, occassionally we'll have to stay late at work to support a release of our website. This is not all that fun. Usually it involves doing nothing, but we have to stick around just in case. All they have to do to make me completely happy is to buy me dinner.

It really shouldn't make me that happy. If I were to go home I would be able to eat a meal that costs very little, somewhere around $3 for my portion. Buying me a meal, even if it costs the company ~$7 does not make up for the time I "lost" by having to stay late. I'm salary, so they don't have to pay me anyway. Sometimes I stay late, sometimes I leave early. Who cares, because I get paid for doing my work, not working exactly 40 hour weeks. But back to what I was saying. The extra time I am spending at work, in terms of how much I get per hour if calculated in such terms, is not anywhere close to $3 an hour, or even $7 an hour. So it's not like they're really compensating for "lost" time. But you know what...it doesn't matter. If I get a free dinner I'm as happy ampersand on a query string. That shouldn't be true. There must me something wrong with me.

I while back Sourcegear was giving away this t-shirt. The only requirement was that you put a picture of you up on your blog wearing the shirt with a link to Eric Sink's blog. Because I have some insane fixation of free stuff in the geek gear category, I will do embarrasing things to myself, such as posting a picture of myself on my blog to get it. And, by the way...I REALLY like the shirt!

Do I need to see a psychiatrist? You decide.

Comments:3
Comments
  1. Anderson ImesWebsiteon Fri, 27 Jul 2007 02:34:03 GMT

    Right now at Mary Kay they are doing seminars for the Mary Kay consultants and this requires that a lot of the employees stay late to make sure that the consultants are well taken care of during their stay here in Dallas (LOTS of people, LOTS of parties, LOTS of logistics).  To kick the whole thing off, Mary Kay bought the building donuts.

    You have to figure that each donut couldn't have cost the company much - pennies, really.  But, it was nice and everyone appreciated it and for weeks since people have mentioned how nice it was.

    Free stuff is pretty universally respected, no matter the actual cost.

    Speaking of which - I just requested my own TShirt.

  2. Ericon Fri, 27 Jul 2007 08:41:50 GMT
    It also came with a semi-entertaining comic about the "Evil Mastermind" featured on the shirt. Can't complain about getting free shirt and comic book...
  3. TWebsiteon Thu, 23 Aug 2007 13:24:08 GMT
    i'm so happy i know you.  almost as happy as an ampersand on a query string.
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