I’ve been doing the beach clean-up for years but I’m here to let you know you will never see me there again. Your disrespectful, rude and generally unfriendly tone completely took me by surprise. To work for someone for free all day and get treated like that is a real slap in the face. —A.N.
This article appears in May 30 – Jun 5, 2013.


I think more details are in order, but you aren’t exactly “working for someone” if it’s “for free”. And surely the person who was disrespectful is not the only one who uses the beach?
I occasionally do guerilla-cleanup at the beach I go to, and it would take a helluva lot more than a rude commissionare or lifeguard to make me stop.
Yes, more details required. You worked all day, is that a once a week, or a once a year clean up? At first I thought the unfriendly person was possibly someone employed by the HRM or Nova Scotia parks or something, but Ivan got me thinking it could have been a beach goer like he suggested. It’s hard to fathom a person who uses the beach getting made at a volunteer, unless they thought you were a city employee and were getting paid to be there.
McNabs Island cleanup was this past weekend. Maybe it’s about that?
I guess you weren’t polishing the StarFish the right way?, must be more to this.
“I have rocks that need cleaning at home.”
Just because you “work for free” doesn’t mean you don’t have abide by labour standards/rules or take direction/constructive criticism from a superior. Looks like your interest in doing charity work is waning, and me not knowing the situation, gives me the impression that you are looking for an out. I may be completely wrong, who knows with this vague-ass bitch?
Cannatell may be on the right track with the McNabs reference. There is no despot so tyrannical as the “Volunteer Generalissimo” armed with a messianic sense of purpose and sublime arrogance. OP may have a point. I have a great regard for people who get together to things like this but these events always attract the dreaded, self-appointed organizer – part camp counsellor/part Khmer Rouge cadre. And they never take long to make themselves known…and thoroughly detested.
Oh Ivan! For some reason, this brings me back to my second degree days where organizations would ask our students for volunteers and then demand a resume, cover letter and references and would post job-like ads that were more pretentious than actual paying jobs.
were there lots of beach whistles? there usually are
The millenials are giving PK the thumbs down.
And good on you, OBoru! Don’t let those beach-cleaning supervisors bully you any more!
ON MOUNTING UNSUSPECTING FEMALES AT THE BEACH
“Your disrespectful, rude and generally unfriendly tone took me completely by surprise.” A.N.
Even though you engaged in beach clean-up for free, this does not entitle you to mount unsuspecting females who just wanted to get an all-over tan. Frankly, given the context, I find their disrespectful, rude and generally unfriendly tone quite understandable.
The fact that you were surprised indicates that you have failed to distinguish those activities which properly fall under the concept “beach clean-up” from those which do not. I can see that more reflection on this matter is called for.
A pleasure as always.
Cheerio!
No good deed goes unpunished OP. Sounds like Ivan may have been correct, some clown letting their clipboard go to their head. Treating a volunteer poorly is dreadful, even if one picks up a single piece of trash and then takes off, that’s one piece of trash gone from the beach.
I name the two dislikes I get on every post ‘Gary’s Ghost’ and ‘Wisp of Wog’ respectively.
OB, your post is too short on details – what did they say or do specifically that showed you disrespect or rudeness? Otherwise, I’m left to wonder what _was_ said or done, and what your behaviour was like to bring on their treatment of you.
Yes, there certainly does seem to be a “dislike” monster lurking in the shadows.
They really shouldn’t have the like/dislike, all it really proves is how popular or unpopular you are on the LTWWB boards. It seems a lot of dislikes are directed more towards the person making the comment than the actual comment.
LOL – “dislike” is the equivalent of having Southern Baptists burn your books, or some bearded cunt dressed like a sofa issue a fatwa against you.
You know you’re doing something right.
I disliked your post ironically, m_kegg.
Anyone who dislikes Simpson’s references just isn’t even worth considering.
ON MOUNTING UNSUSPECTING FEMALES AT THE BEACH: BORDERLINE CASES
I have been in contact with A.N. who takes my point about the inappropriate mounting of unsuspecting females at the beach who just wanted an all-round tan. However, he asks about borderline cases and provides an example. I summarize for purposes of clarity:
The naked female in question has dozed off and her legs have assumed the full akimbo position revealing her magnificent labia and affording a glimpse of a delightful bit of pink meat which naughtily peeps out from between them. Instead of mounting her with the intention of full penetrative intercourse, A.N. asks if it would be acceptable to instead lightly grasp her labia between thumb and forefinger and give them a few playful little squeezes.
I advised A.N. that I found nothing objectionable about this and, indeed, that it might well be considered an integral part of normal beach clean-up. I assume all readers will agree.
A pleasure as always.
Cheerio!