We have all encountered them...those people who walk around our places of employment with their lips permanently attached to the supervisor's behind.

Yes, I am referring to all of the suck-ups out there.

If you are one of the very few people who have not yet witnessed this in the workplace, let me assure you it us one of the more sickening displays you will never see.

The frustrating thing about these people is that they are so blatantly obvious about sucking up. They refuse to be halfway decent to anyone who is not in a position to promote them or create future opportunities for them. Alternatively, their lips must be pried off of the behinds of their superiors.

It's important for suck ups to note that this behaviour is not lost on your fellow employees. Not only are they able to perceive that you are treating them like dirt, but they are well aware of your butt kissing and they likely make fun of it behind your back. It is extremely nauseating to witness you in action. My personal experience is that I have been forced to turn up the radio at work to avoid losing my breakfast during a fellow employee's suck-up session. I am not always so lucky as to have the radio right there, so sometimes I just have to try to ignore it and think about other things. Be assured, however, that the second I have a chance to vent to someone, the suck-up becomes a great source of entertainment.

Another frustrating aspect of the supervisor/suck-up dynamic is that many supervisors absolutely love it and completely buy into it. The fact that these suck-ups are totally phony cannot be lost on the supervisors, yet they often seem quite flattered and in many cases, they actually do offer more opportunities to the suck-up! Well, for those supervisors, all I can say is shame on you for falling for that. These people will keep on sucking up until they are looking to get your job, at which point they will not likely find any reason to continue being so nice to you. As far as self-respect is concerned, supervisors who fall for butt-kissing are entitled to none.

My advice to all of the suck-ups out there is this: You may find it convenient to suck up and get your way at the time, but those of us who receive promotions and special opportunities based on hard work and merit are the ones who truly get to feel good about ourselves. And you can think twice about having the respect of your colleagues...let us just hope that none of them become your supervisor in the future, because I assure you that your nauseating display is not easily forgotten.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.