I am beyond devastated by the avalanche of visceral responses. Very few thoughtful responses. I am not a troll or whatever. I've had enough money for years that I haven't had a "real" job since the mid-90's but of course I've seen\heard of the metoo movement. Last "office" I worked at, I was doing 2 of the attorneys and 1 support staff. No I wasn't the boss of any of them. She doesn't work for me and it's just a place for me to go a few hours a couple times a week. Plus I've lived in the south until recently and most everybody seems more serious up here.

Based on so many comments that could've been relayed in a nicer way you've help push me over the edge and I'm headed back south. This northeast is so f'ing mean, so blunt, so acid...I hate everything about this part of the country...hate it. So I guess a thank you is in order.

Have an office I go to a few days a week to do paperwork\meetings and a woman shares the office with me who works for a relative's dental office up front. She's late 30's with a couple kids about 15 years younger than me. She works a couple nights a week in a "nice" restaurant\bar for a blue collar area. She's somewhat attractive. Very slender, tiny ass, flat chested, nice face...not a stunner by any means.

Seems very awkward that we sit there and rarely converse other than good morning\night. The other day her office manager about my age walked in and immediately said she liked my jacket\vest. This woman who I sit in the office with piped in saying yeah...she liked it too. Felt pretty good. So...a few days after that this woman who I share an office with wasn't wearing those baggy scrubs because she was working at the bar that night. She had on a cute yellow top that somehow accented her breasts. Complimented her that the regulars will be glad to see her smiling face and bright top on such a dreary winter day. She may have said thank you but her head was down and didn't say a word to me the rest of the day. WTF...does this make me a creep? My accountant is here once a week and she was saying how she enjoyed coming here and visiting with this woman while she works. Seriously???

Is there some double standard that a woman at work can compliment a man but a man complimenting a woman is a creep? Is it based on age? As long as a man\woman are around the same age it's okay? BTW, I know these questions sound kinda lame but I'm really trying to understand this harassment thing. I've had dozens of lovers and am not some geeky loser just genuinely curious what's up.

Anonymous wrote:As the breadwinner, yes- having kids has made me work harder.

After my first kid, I became more serious at work. Focused and worked harder when I was there. Wasted less time. It was noticed by my bosses and I was promoted to VP the year after I had my child. and I had another child.

Several years later I had surprise twins. I was downsized with severance 3 months after I returned from maternity leave. I freaked out. I thought, OMG, I have to find another job asap. I have 4 kids to support. I put 110% into job search, found a so so job, but then got a new job with great promotion the next year, making more than double my pay.

We had lots of savings. Many people would have taken a break to relax, but I didn't feel that was an option for me.

So, for me, being the breadwinner with 4 kids definitely pushed me to work harder and achieve more than I ever thought possible.

Yep...reminds me of a guy I knew who retired from outsides sales. His boss would shadow several coworkers but never him. He asked why and the boss said, you've got a house full of kids, I know you're working hard.

Looking back, being responsible for a child would have freaked me out and I know for sure I wouldn't have coasted through life, living here and there, like a college kid on summer break. Sadly, I can see how that would have probably made me a more well rounded and mature person. That's not to say childless people are not responsible or mature.