When Adults Act Like Babies

I deal with a lot of people in my job--solving data issues. I must admit that most of these people are pretty nice and I enjoy working with them. Undoubtedly, however, there is a handful that are demanding and take up lots of time. Often they know less than they pretend to, and they rely on being nasty to get their way and direct blame at others.

Most people realize that fixing a problem takes some investigation and thinking. Other people don't care to be reasonable and they demand answers and immediate solutions. These people often rise up the ranks of the business world--in spite of behaving like babies.

I have a baby son, who is too young to wait patiently if he is hungry or has a dirty diaper. He wants immediate action--whether I am otherwise occupied or not. This is simply because he is less that a year old and cannot place the larger world and the needs of others into context with his own needs. Yet I work to help people who behave exactly the same way who are allegedly adults!

If a baby is reaching for a dangerous object, you have to intervene on their own behalf. "No baby, you must not pull on the accelerator handle of the dual combustion flame thrower! That is 'owie.'" This will result in the baby reaching for it until you move the flame thrower out of reach and then the baby will cry loudly.

The same happens with some adults. "No alleged adult, I cannot magically make your problem go away and take you ahead of all of the other people who had problems and reported them before you did!" This will also result in loud crying...