That's the point

Every week my supervisor attends a meeting where one of the topics is "Error Prevention Tools," which most weeks seems to just be a different way of phrasing "think before you act." And that was no different where this week's topic was "think about all the potential consequences of your actions before you act." It was demonstrated by this picture:

So these guys have put a table in the middle of their pool, placed a grill on the table, plugged the grill into a power strip that's floating on some flip flops, the power strip is plugged into an extension cord that's held in place with a door wedge and some duct tape, and the extension cord is plugged into who knows where. So the obvious lesson is that these guys should have thought about how dangerous that could be---electricity and water. Obvious, right?

So I work with this guy, R, who is a real pain-in-the-ass-thinks-he's-better-and-smarter-than-everyone type. Our supervisor, P, came back from this meeting and was going over the agenda items with us. He showed us this picture:

R: What the hell is that?! Do you see that?! Do you see what's going on there?

P (joking): That was B's pool party over the weekend. (B is a coworker)

R: Well someone needs to tell him right away that what they are doing is dangerous!! Do you see that?! I should go talk to him!! (R doesn't understand the concept of joking or sarcasm)

P: I'm kidding! It's not B.

R: It's not?!

P: No. It's just a picture from the internet.

R: Well who are those guys?! Someone needs to tell him right away that what they are doing is dangerous!!

P: I don't know who they are. It's just an example.

R: Well the first thing I notice is that they are being dangerous! Do you see that?! I notice these things!! (like he's the only one who spotted the problem.....um.....that's kind of the point that the picture was trying to make.....)

P: Yeah, we all see it. It's just trying to make you think about what the consequences of your actions might be.

R: Well I would tell those guys that what they are doing is very dangerous! Trust me! I know what I'm talking about! I've been a wiring designer for 35 years! So I know! You should NEVER mix water with electricity like that! That could be dangerous!!

P (joking): Well maybe they were just trying to keep the water warm.

R: No! That's not the way to keep water warm! That's very dangerous!! What are they thinking?! They make heaters for pools. That's what they should get! Not rig up this thing. Look how dangerous that is!! Do you see that?! Someone needs to let them know!

P (joking): Well why don't you go try to find them and tell them that.

R: I will tell them! They work here?

P: No! I was kidding about going to find them. I told you, it's just a picture from the internet.

R: Well someone should find them and tell them it's not safe! And they should trust me because I'm a wiring designer for 35 years, so I know!!

P: All right already. I think the picture made it's point.

R: That's not what I'm concerned about though! Making a point or not, someone needs to let them know that's a very dangerous way to heat a pool! That's all I'm saying. And they can trust me! 35 years experience!!

P: All right. We're done here.