Roughly fifty years ago I worked for a small, family-owned TV station. They had fairly recently had delivered a couple of those modern wonders quad videotape machines delivered. Each was over six feet tall, came packed in a heavy cardboard box inside a wooden crate for forklift handling. The corners were secured and held in place inside both the cardboard and the wooden containers with long strips of high-density foam of a semi-circular profile on each side of each corner.
When all unpacked somebody discovered the long foam pieces could be bent like a cotter key with the flat sides of each end together and a soft open loop at the other end. Somebody just had to test what would happen and playfully smacked a colleague with the loop end which brought the flat sides together with a loud pop and delivered no harm to anyone, like a vaudeville slapstick.
In an understaffed and underpaid newsroom on tight deadlines, conflict is inevitable, but soon the ritual arose of Friday evening battles in the parking lot. It was immensely cathartic, bonding and just plain fun. This was before employee handbooks by HR professionals but it worked like a charm and was far safer than the more common “happy hour” drinks I experienced at later jobs.
I think that sounds kinda fun. Who needs to sue over some grievance if you can just wait for December 25th. Cheaper and possibly less painful.
The original Festivus!
That was my first thought!
Only with a bit more intentional violence added
Roughly fifty years ago I worked for a small, family-owned TV station. They had fairly recently had delivered a couple of those modern wonders quad videotape machines delivered. Each was over six feet tall, came packed in a heavy cardboard box inside a wooden crate for forklift handling. The corners were secured and held in place inside both the cardboard and the wooden containers with long strips of high-density foam of a semi-circular profile on each side of each corner.
When all unpacked somebody discovered the long foam pieces could be bent like a cotter key with the flat sides of each end together and a soft open loop at the other end. Somebody just had to test what would happen and playfully smacked a colleague with the loop end which brought the flat sides together with a loud pop and delivered no harm to anyone, like a vaudeville slapstick.
In an understaffed and underpaid newsroom on tight deadlines, conflict is inevitable, but soon the ritual arose of Friday evening battles in the parking lot. It was immensely cathartic, bonding and just plain fun. This was before employee handbooks by HR professionals but it worked like a charm and was far safer than the more common “happy hour” drinks I experienced at later jobs.
Great story today
Merry Christmas
I say, let’s use this in congress!
Like everything else you can think of, it's on YouTube. Even has an official channel.
https://youtu.be/cibsmRLMnqA?si=CTT_46iJcrSNu5ob
Sounds like a rather interesting tradition, one worthy of taking part in or even merely observing.
In the photo, that’s a penalty hair pull!
Florida would love this.
"Just you wait until Takanakuy, motherfucker." Made me lol
I'll sit this one out , thanks.