Intolerance and Indifference in the online workplace

Everyone knows about online bullying and people saying things from behind the computer screen that they would not utter if face to face. Most people have experienced or seen other employees treated unfairly in a physical workplace but not everyone may be aware of intolerance and indifference in an online employment setting but I just experienced it. I took a job where I was paid for every article I wrote as opposed to being paid per views. I was required to join a group Skype chat where about 10 or 12 fellow writers posted on a daily basis.

I was welcomed initially but over time I began to feel like Dumbo when the big elephants closed their ranks with their behinds cheek to cheek in order to keep the little pachyderm with the big ears out. Whenever I commented on posts I was basically ignored. When I wrote my own posts or said "Good Morning" hardly anyone responded. I could feel with everything in me that I was not wanted in this group but continued to write. In my mind, these individuals were glaring at me the same way the elephants above glared at Dumbo. I am not being dramatic this is exactly how I felt.

The site owner would at times post story ideas and we had to click on the ones we wanted to write. If someone else had already chosen an article we were not supposed to request it. On my end, if I saw that no one had chosen a story idea I would request it. I received a message one day that I was requesting stories that others had chosen first and this individual said I had taken 3 of her stories. I apologized and said that on my end it was not showing that anyone had asked to write about these specific issues and she did not respond back. I would refresh my Skype or log out and back in and I would not see where someone else had asked to write a certain story which puzzled me.

One day when another writer took over for the site owner I was called out by name and told to only request one story at a time and not to ask for a second one until I finished the first. I knew then that these people were after me and thankfully the site owner replied to the post. She said she did not care who asked for stories or how many they wrote just as long as they got written. I began to wonder why there was such indifference towards me and considered if it was because I was new, I was a senior citizen, a fast writer, or because I was the only black person in the group. Perhaps it was all of the above.

I am not accusing anyone of overt racism or agism but I do know that we all can at times feel uncomfortable with those who are different from us in many categories. One writer in the group was a white male whom I befriended years ago while we both worked for Blasting News. He told me he was deleting me from Facebook because as an Atheist he did not like reading my faith-based posts. I share this to point out that people can be intolerant of others for many reasons. In this group, however, religion was not discussed and I don't recall anyone saying they could not write on Sunday because they went to church.

None of what I was feeling or that I experienced can be proven and f I asked I would probably be called disgruntled or told I was paranoid. I tell you truthfully that I could feel the animosity each time I logged onto Skype. It was so strong I actually wondered if someone was into the occult because a lot of negative energy was coming my way.

I shared in another Vocal article the details of how and why I was let go from this site. The gist of it is that the owner said I was her competition because I wrote soap spoilers on Vocal which were "All over Facebook" and were not for her. Who, I wondered was taking the time to pay so much attention to what I did on Facebook groups and why. One person that I shared this with said that perhaps there was some competitive jealously and he may have been right but there was no need. We could come up with as many ideas on our own and pitch them and there was no limit.

I cannot prove anything but I believe someone had it out for me and wanted me gone. I truly believe that just like the elephants above that whether literally or figuratively there was a solemn oath to get rid of me. Every person reading who has been pushed out of a job for no reason can understand and appreciate what I am describing because it is real. Were these writers envious that I had built up a following of soap fans on my own or perhaps intimidated by my moderate but growing success?

Clearly, my presence on the Skype chat made them uncomfortable and I share this to let someone know that yes pettiness can take place even in an online working community. Dumbo was rejected because of his ears and ended up saving the day. I am motivated to be successful and do better than I ever could have on that particular site. I am not throwing shade I am bringing awareness.

I always say: It's not that I should not tell my stories, but I never should have these stories to tell. There are many who can say they were hired for a job where from day one they were never given a chance and basically shoved out the door. Sometimes there is not two sides to a story, there is the truth that innocent people can be mistreated when they have done nothing wrong. I believe that rassimus is alive and well and in many workplaces, both physical and online. Sometimes people believe they aer superior and do all they can to hold others down.

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