"Think I just hit a cyclist. But I'm late for work so had to drive off lol."

The Bould Rabbit

From Newstalk

"A stockbroker has been fired after a Twitter joke backfired.

The man, named as Rayhan Qadar, posted the tweet at 8.30am on Monday under the Twitter handle Ray Pew.

He wrote: "Think I just hit a cyclist. But I'm late for work so had to drive off lol."

http://www.newstalk.com/Stockbroker-fired-after-Twitter-joke-backfires


Right it was a stupid joke, not funny, (well not very funny) and in poor taste.

But did the muppet deserve to get the bullet from work over it?

Seems to me like his employers were just waiting for any excuse to get rid of him and the eejit handed them their chance on a plate.


As for that other trollop at the end of the article -

"In 2013, Emma Way, from Watton, Norfolk, was convicted of failing to stop after a collision and failing to report an accident after she tweeted about a collision with a cyclist.

She tweeted: "Definitely knocked a cyclist off his bike earlier. I have right of way - he doesn't even pay road tax!"

Well she deserves everything she gets.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Bit of a contradiction there?

Guy hits cyclist, doesnt stop - unlucky to lose job.
Woman hits cyclist, doesn't stop - "deserves whatever she gets"

sconhome

Same lad would probably think saying he'd a bomb in his bag at an airport is funny too.

Neither are jokes.

sconhome

Same lad would probably think saying he'd a bomb in his bag at an airport is funny too.

Neither are jokes.

kneemos

You started a cyclist v motorist thread,do not pass "GO" do not collect €100.

darkpagandeath

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

Bit of a contradiction there?

Guy hits cyclist, doesnt stop - unlucky to lose job.
Woman hits cyclist, doesn't stop - "deserves whatever she gets"

Nope man told joke got fired

Woman hits cyclist...

johnnyskeleton

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

Bit of a contradiction there?

Guy hits cyclist, doesnt stop - unlucky to lose job.
Woman hits cyclist, doesn't stop - "deserves whatever she gets"

He made a joke on twitter and got fired. She actually hit a cyclist, drove away and then she was blaze about her actions on twitter afterwards and was convicted.

You shouldnt get fired for making distastful jokes, but you should be convicted (and possibly go to jail) for hitting a cyclist and leaving the scene.

The Bould Rabbit

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

Bit of a contradiction there?

Guy hits cyclist, doesnt stop - unlucky to lose job.
Woman hits cyclist, doesn't stop - "deserves whatever she gets"

He didn't actually hit a cyclist according to the piece, he just cracked a 'joke' about doing so.

She, on the other hand, was convicted on two charges resulting from her actual collision with a cyclist causing him minor injuries and damage to his bike.

No contradiction there at all.

kneemos

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

Bit of a contradiction there?

Guy hits cyclist, doesnt stop - unlucky to lose job.
Woman hits cyclist, doesn't stop - "deserves whatever she gets"

You're wrong and need to be told continuously.
The internet needs retribution.

Riddle101

Just a joke, no reason to fire the guy. I can see the funny side of it as well. If he was rushing or late to work or something, and made a joke about it, i can see the funny side of it.

But then again, sometimes people don't know when you're joking or being real on the internet, so it's one of those things you have to be weary of.

RobYourBuilder

Think I just hit a cyclist. But I'm late for work so had to drive off lol.

Self important f*ck. The cyclist could of been his gaffer. Not that's important. It's basic human empathy to check on and ensure the person that you hurt is ok. A few weeks ago I was teaching my nephews and my lad how to cross the football. I launched one and hit a women in the back. I sprinted after to see if she was ok. "I'm so sorry let me walk you home."

I put a €150 voucher for Fire, beside the Mansion house, in her letter box.

Canis Lupus

RobYourBuilder wrote: »

Self important f*ck. The cyclist could of been his gaffer. Not that's important. It's basic human empathy to check on and ensure the person that you hurt is ok. A few weeks ago I was teaching my nephews and my lad how to cross the football. I launched one and hit a women in the back. I sprinted after to see if she was ok. "I'm so sorry let me walk you home."

I put a €150 voucher for Fire, beside the Mansion house, in her letter box.

Read it again.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

The Bould Rabbit wrote: »

He didn't actually hit a cyclist according to the piece, he just cracked a 'joke' about doing so.

She, on the other hand, was convicted on two charges resulting from her actual collision with a cyclist causing him minor injuries and damage to his bike.

No contradiction there at all.

Fair enough, my bad - I thought they'd both hit people.

Slicemeister

Made in bad taste, but did he deserve to get fired? No imo., unless as OP says they were hunting for his head already.

If a comedian pulled this joke on opening night of a set of gigs would the theatre cancel the remaining shows? Would they flock.

Lingua Franca

Seems like overkill and he'd have good grounds for an employment tribunal.

Diabhal Beag

Slicemeister wrote: »

If a comedian pulled this joke on opening night of a set of gigs would the theatre cancel the remaining shows? Would they flock.

If it's Dapper Laughs he gets his awful show on ITV cancelled and cries on Newsnight wearing a turtleneck.

henryporter

RobYourBuilder wrote: »

Self important f*ck. The cyclist could of been his gaffer. Not that's important. It's basic human empathy to check on and ensure the person that you hurt is ok. A few weeks ago I was teaching my nephews and my lad how to cross the football. I launched one and hit a women in the back. I sprinted after to see if she was ok. "I'm so sorry let me walk you home."

I put a €150 voucher for Fire, beside the Mansion house, in her letter box.

Thinly veiled 'chatted up a woman in the park' and 'I has money after Christmas' post

mikemac1

Lingua Franca wrote: »

Seems like overkill and he'd have good grounds for an employment tribunal.

Not really.

A few months a managing director of investment management firm in London got nailed by the British regulator after he admitted dodging train fares for years.

The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority banned Jonathan Burrows from all regulated financial-services work, saying he “lacks honesty and integrity” after cheating to pay less for his commute.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-15/former-blackrock-managing-director-banned-for-evading-rail-fares.html

This stockbroker has to sell himself and sell his company. If they reckon he is a liability he'll get the chop. And if they don't sack him the regulator may do it for them

Lingua Franca

The guy in the OP posted a lame joke on his personal Twitter account. You're comparing him to someone who actually ripped off over 40K off the transport system. I personally see a chasm of difference between an ill judged gag and several years of systematic theft

neckedit

Maybe they Fired him for alwaya being late.......

The Bould Rabbit

kneemos wrote: »

The internet needs retribution........

......and thanks whoring attention seekers.

Lingua Franca

Looks like it was more down to him bringing the company into disrepute. I do think it's harsh, given that it was a gag tweet on his personal Twitter account. But this serves as a good reminder to keep your work and private life separate, even online.

major bill

why is it so difficult for people to understand how twitter works? are people so retarded that they think they can say whatever and get away with it?

stupid thing what your man said, don't think he should have been fired unless as mentioned the company were looking for an excuse but you can't say those things on twitter and expect just a giggle back.

Jawgap

Think it's more to with the fact that the company has a certain reputation, brand, image etc it wants to project and he damaged it with his ill thought joke.

Plus you'd have to say that it showed poor judgment and would you really be trusting someone like this to manage your money, make trades and provide advice?

Finally, the growth in cycling means a lot of people who have taken or returned to the activity are fairly affluent (look at the cost of some of the bikes people are riding for leisure), so there's a fair chance that a good chunk of the firm's client base would regard themselves as cyclists - not a clever move to go around making jokes about your clients!

The King of Moo

How on Earth was that supposed to be funny? How were people supposed to know it was a joke? The "lol?"

RobYourBuilder wrote: »

Self important f*ck. The cyclist could of been his gaffer. Not that's important. It's basic human empathy to check on and ensure the person that you hurt is ok. A few weeks ago I was teaching my nephews and my lad how to cross the football. I launched one and hit a women in the back. I sprinted after to see if she was ok. "I'm so sorry let me walk you home."

I put a €150 voucher for Fire, beside the Mansion house, in her letter box.

What? Why would you do that? It was just a football. Children get hit in the face by them all the time.
Is this also a joke?
What would I get if you bumped into me on the street, €20 for HMV?

Also: "I'm so sorry, let me walk you home?"
*shudders*

Capt'n Midnight

There's been a crackdown on the financial centre in the UK. remember yer man that got fired and banned for life for fare dodging on the train.

In the current climate any stockbroker / trader that dirties their bib will get the book thrown at them, mainly to deflect critism from the sector re the financial stuff that really matters.

Lingua Franca

major bill wrote: »

why is it so difficult for people to understand how twitter works? are people so retarded that they think they can say whatever and get away with it?

Yes. Frequently. People post rape and death threats to celebrities all the time. There are entire websites devoted to the sh*t that people post on Twitter, like teens posting pics of their first credit card without blurring the name and numbers.

People have this really bizarre idea of "freedom of speech" and honestly believe the have the inalienable right to say what they like, whatever crap comes into their heads at any time, without censure. Freedom of speech, innit. Forgetting that with rights come responsibilities, and that anyone can read what you say and weigh that against you.

The King of Moo wrote: »

How on Earth was that supposed to be funny? How were people supposed to know it was a joke? The "lol?"

Yep, that's how some people think. "I posted lol so it was clearly a joke." In the age of instant, universal communication, communication skills are becoming a lost cause.

Baron Kurtz

RobYourBuilder wrote: »

Self important f*ck. The cyclist could of been his gaffer. Not that's important. It's basic human empathy to check on and ensure the person that you hurt is ok. A few weeks ago I was teaching my nephews and my lad how to cross the football. I launched one and hit a women in the back. I sprinted after to see if she was ok. "I'm so sorry let me walk you home."

I put a €150 voucher for Fire, beside the Mansion house, in her letter box.

Way-hay! You put fire in her letterbox, eh?! Saucy.

Oh and don't be teaching the kids any kind of sports if that's the way it's gonna be.

Lingua Franca

RobYourBuilder wrote: »

It's basic human empathy to check on and ensure the person that you hurt is ok. A few weeks ago I was teaching my nephews and my lad how to cross the football. I launched one and hit a women in the back. I sprinted after to see if she was ok. "I'm so sorry let me walk you home."

Your story reminded me of this, which is one of the best things I have ever read and might give you a giggle too.

http://imgur.com/r/4chan/3YdJs

Plates

Three pages of replies and no one has commented on the guys Twitter name yet. Ray Pew, really?

neckedit

Plates wrote:

Three pages of replies and no one has commented on the guys Twitter name yet. Ray Pew, really?

Well spotted....didn't notice.

CountyHurler

The Bould Rabbit wrote: »

Right it was a stupid joke, not funny, (well not very funny) and in poor taste.

And it's not like stockbrokers and the like are renowned for their maturity...

dmc17

RobYourBuilder wrote: »

Self important f*ck. The cyclist could of been his gaffer. Not that's important. It's basic human empathy to check on and ensure the person that you hurt is ok. A few weeks ago I was teaching my nephews and my lad how to cross the football. I launched one and hit a women in the back. I sprinted after to see if she was ok. "I'm so sorry let me walk you home."

I put a €150 voucher for Fire, beside the Mansion house, in her letter box.

I'd say they're still none the wiser!

major bill

Stegral wrote: »

He should be allowed make jokes on twitter without being fired.

Freedom of speech and all yea ok

kneemos

The Bould Rabbit wrote: »

......and thanks whoring attention seekers.

Apparently .

The Bould Rabbit

The Bould Rabbit wrote: »

Seems to me like his employers were just waiting for any excuse to get rid of him and the eejit handed them their chance on a plate.

I think Plates post below confirms my initial suspicions.

Plates wrote: »

Three pages of replies and no one has commented on the guys Twitter name yet. Ray Pew, really?

I didn't pay much attention to his twitter name myself but now that I see it I have no sympathy for the arsehole.

I wouldn't give him a job shovelling shít.

conorhal

Lingua Franca wrote: »

Seems like overkill and he'd have good grounds for an employment tribunal.

Indeed.
What I get up to in my own personal time outside work is none of my employers business. If I tweeted this on company time with company resources, fair enough, but the encroachment of employers entitlement to discipline me for what I get up to outside work is worrying. I hope the odious little dick takes his employer to the cleaners.

Venus In Furs

Has to be more than just a joke on Twitter that got him fired? Maybe a poor record as an employee prior to it?
Adult with Twitter handle Ray Pew... gobshyte.

Strong Life in Dublin

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

Bit of a contradiction there?

Guy hits cyclist, doesnt stop - unlucky to lose job.
Woman hits cyclist, doesn't stop - "deserves whatever she gets"

Can you even read? He never hit anyone, it was a joke :rolleyes:

The Bould Rabbit

conorhal wrote: »

Indeed.
What I get up to in my own personal time outside work is none of my employers business. If I tweeted this on company time with company resources, fair enough, but the encroachment of employers entitlement to discipline me for what I get up to outside work is worrying. I hope the odious little dick takes his employer to the cleaners.

Chances are, there is a clause in his employment contract relating to behaviour that might reflect poorly on the firm he worked for.

And as this tweet related to him being late for work, it could be interpreted that his employers were ok with him knocking people off bikes as long as he got to work on time.

Furthermore, if he was late for work then the chances are, he was tweeting on his personal twitter account on his company's time.

And given, his twitter name, it would appear that he is not someone to be taken too seriously.

I reckon any employment tribunal would draw the same conclusion.

Venus In Furs

Strong Life in Dublin wrote: »

Can you even read? He never hit anyone, it was a joke :rolleyes:

Given the fact there are three posts already advising that poster of same, your first question above is kinda funny.

Grayson

Unless he was using a work account I don't think it was grounds for dismissal. Maybe some disciplinary action if his account is linked to work somehow (has multiple business contacts as followers) but dismissal seems excessive.

Koobcam

Good spot there by Plates on the Twitter name-'Ray Pew'?? I would suggest he deserved to be fired just for that. Between that and the 'joke', I'm finding it hard to muster any sympathy for this guy.

seamus

Grayson wrote: »

Unless he was using a work account I don't think it was grounds for dismissal. Maybe some disciplinary action if his account is linked to work somehow (has multiple business contacts as followers) but dismissal seems excessive.

It really depends. If he interacts a lot with clients, then potentially anything he publishes on social media has the potential to backfire, and client facing staff need to be extra vigilant about not being stupid publicly.

There's also the angle that his tweet gives the impression that his employer would rather be get into work on time than stop for an accident. Which reflects badly on the employer.

But yeah I would say they were itching to give him his marching orders anyway. Similar happened to a guy in my place. He'd been creating friction all over the place and generally being an ass. Then he had a generic rant on facebook about stupid colleagues. His boss flew into Dublin the next day and basically told him to pack up and leave. They were delighted to be rid of him

Grayson

seamus wrote: »

But yeah I would say they were itching to give him his marching orders anyway. Similar happened to a guy in my place. He'd been creating friction all over the place and generally being an ass. Then he had a generic rant on facebook about stupid colleagues. His boss flew into Dublin the next day and basically told him to pack up and leave. They were delighted to be rid of him

I've seen people in work be asked to remove posts they have made about the company. That's as far as it's gone though.

jimgoose

Many employers these days are using the likes of Twitter and Ye Booke of Faeces as a highly effective idiot filter. So it goes. :cool:

Grayson

jimgoose wrote: »

Many employers these days are using the likes of Twitter and Ye Booke of Faeces as a highly effective idiot filter. So it goes. :cool:

Something like 40% of companies in the US said that they would look at prospective employees on social networking as a final stage in their hiring process. And there was even a case of a guy who had set his to private but the prospective employers demanded their passwords.

jimgoose

Grayson wrote: »

Something like 40% of companies in the US said that they would look at prospective employees on social networking as a final stage in their hiring process. And there was even a case of a guy who had set his to private but the prospective employers demanded their passwords.

Yes, so I hear. I don't think much of that carry-on, but there's no helping the type who does the equivalent of photocopying his arse at the office party on-line with little or no security enabled. :pac:

whisky_galore

Plates wrote: »

Three pages of replies and no one has commented on the guys Twitter name yet. Ray Pew, really?

A classy handle for a classy guy.

A Primal Nut

I hope none of the people saying he should have been sacked listen to Frankie Boyle.

Offensive jokes are always the funniest.

nc6000

Sounds like they were just looking for an excuse to get rid of him.