"Next time, I want a guard of honour"

[Paul Thompson]

Just as we all hear that Alan Barclay is going to be the next Deputy Chair of Council (and therefore likely successor to the throne next year), you imagine that things cannot get any dafter.

Well, they do !

I have just received the following email :
"I thought you might be interested to know that Christopher and Stephen Akers-Belcher have put in a formal complaint against staff at the Borough Hall on the grounds that they did not hold the doors open for them as they arrived for the Hartlepool Business Awards dinner last night."

I will just leave that one there for a little while to sink in.

[Land Phil]

They definitely put the champagne is Socialist.

[jawsbbc]

Narcissistic personality disorder Signs and symptoms
People with narcissistic personality disorder are characterized by their persistent grandiosity, excessive need for admiration, and a disdain and lack of empathy for others.[7][8] These individuals often display arrogance, a sense of superiority, and power-seeking behaviors.[9] Narcissistic personality disorder is different from having a strong sense of self-confidence; people with NPD typically value themselves over others to the extent that they disregard the feelings and wishes of others and expect to be treated as superior regardless of their actual status or achievements.[7][10] In addition, people with NPD may exhibit fragile egos, an inability to tolerate criticism, and a tendency to belittle others in an attempt to validate their own superiority.[10]

According to the DSM-5, individuals with NPD have most or all of the following symptoms, typically without commensurate qualities or accomplishments:[7][10]

Grandiosity with expectations of superior treatment from others
Fixated on fantasies of power, success, intelligence, attractiveness, etc.
Self-perception of being unique, superior and associated with high-status people and institutions
Needing constant admiration from others
Sense of entitlement to special treatment and to obedience from others
Exploitative of others to achieve personal gain
Unwilling to empathize with others' feelings, wishes, or needs
Intensely envious of others and the belief that others are equally envious of them
Pompous and arrogant demeanor
NPD usually develops by adolescence or early adulthood.[7] It is not uncommon for children and teens to display some traits similar to NPD, but these are typically transient without meeting full criteria for the diagnosis.[10] True NPD symptoms are pervasive, apparent in various situations, and rigid, remaining consistent over time. The symptoms must be severe enough that they significantly impair the individual's ability to develop meaningful relationships with others. Symptoms also generally impair an individual's ability to function at work, school, or in other important settings. According to the DSM-5, these traits must differ substantially from cultural norms in order to qualify as symptoms of NPD.[7]

Associated features
People with NPD tend to exaggerate their skills and accomplishments as well as their level of intimacy with people they consider to be high-status. Their sense of superiority may cause them to monopolize conversations[10] and to become impatient or disdainful when others talk about themselves.[7] In the course of a conversation, they may purposefully or unknowingly disparage or devalue the other person by overemphasizing their own success. When they are aware that their statements have hurt someone else, they tend to react with contempt and to view it as a sign of weakness.[7] When their own ego is wounded by a real or perceived criticism, their anger can be disproportionate to the situation,[10] but typically, their actions and responses are deliberate and calculated.[7] Despite occasional flare-ups of insecurity, their self-image is primarily stable (i.e., overinflated).[7]

To the extent that people are pathologically narcissistic, they can be controlling, blaming, self-absorbed, intolerant of others' views, unaware of others' needs, the effects of their behavior on others, and insist that others see them as they wish to be seen.[7] Narcissistic individuals use various strategies to protect the self at the expense of others. They tend to devalue, derogate, insult, blame others and they often respond to threatening feedback with anger and hostility.[11] Since the fragile ego of individuals with NPD is hypersensitive to perceived criticism or defeat, they are prone to feelings of shame, humiliation and worthlessness over minor or even imagined incidents.[10] They usually mask these feelings from others with feigned humility, isolating socially or they may react with outbursts of rage, defiance, or by seeking revenge.[7][8] The merging of the "inflated self-concept" and the "actual self" is seen in the inherent grandiosity of narcissistic personality disorder. Also inherent in this process are the defense mechanisms of denial, idealization and devaluation.[12]

According to the DSM-5, "Many highly successful individuals display personality traits that might be considered narcissistic. Only when these traits are inflexible, maladaptive, and persisting and cause significant functional impairment or subjective distress do they constitute narcissistic personality disorder."[7] Although overconfidence tends to make individuals with NPD ambitious, it does not necessarily lead to success and high achievement professionally. These individuals may be unwilling to compete or may refuse to take any risks in order to avoid appearing like a failure.[7][8] In addition, their inability to tolerate setbacks, disagreements or criticism, along with lack of empathy, make it difficult for such individuals to work cooperatively with others or to maintain long-term professional relationships with superiors and colleagues.[13]

[Inspector Knacker]

To paraphrase a quote by George Eliot. ' They were the cocks who thought the sun had come up to hear them crow'.

[jawsbbc]

kicking off on facebook someone has  cut n copied  pauls  post

[kevplumb]

To paraphrase a quote by George Eliot. ' They were the cocks who thought the sun had come up to hear them crow'.

sweet 

[Inspector Knacker]

The 'cow' at the end should have been a crow... damn this predictive texting malarkey.
I wonder if all their mirrors have love bites on them?

[kevplumb]

 all knew what you meant
and in answer to your question
probably

[mala]

The dogsh*t on the end of my shoe is more important than those two turds

[fred c]

I have just received the following email :

"I thought you might be interested to know that Christopher and Stephen Akers-Belcher have put in a formal complaint against staff at the Borough Hall on the grounds that they did not hold the doors open for them as they arrived for the Hartlepool Business Awards dinner last night."

I will just leave that one there for a little while to sink in.

Am I alone in thinking that the CEO and Borough Solicitor should stand up for the employees of the council and put this pair of Prima Donna's firmly in their place........

You really have to wonder why, a bloke who was sacked for telling monumental lies to his employer should think himself superior enough to have someone open doors for him.

[Darknessontheedgeoftown]

I'm sure there was a time when security were not allowed to let cwissy into the borough hall for an internal event shortly after his 'abrupt departure' from the employ of HBC.

[mk1]

These are the same clowns that decided to bring back a Mayors Parade so the newly elected Ceremonial Mayor (I.E not real Mayor)  SAB could waddle up Victoria Road and along to Park Road and wave to the adoring crowds. As a direct result of a campaign of bluff on this site they cancelled the Parade and were forced to scuttle about in a Council car because they were frightened someone might shout at them.
SAB is also the man who was so scared of his adoring public he got the Council to buy him a bespoke XXXLLL stab-proof vest that he can clearly be seen wearing at the Town Hall Meeting about the Hospital Closure. The man is a complete coward and is reduced to a quivering mass of jelly by the thought of meeting anyone who might disagree with him.

[WhatTheHeck]

Perhaps staff had not been made aware that the queen and consort were attending the event.

[mk1]

Be interesting if UNISON defend the men or throw them to the wolves sheep

[Inspector Knacker]

Or maybe they'll get the underlings in and give them compulsory training in deferential behaviour, respect to their superiors and betters and forelock tugging and humbleness at the Uriah Heep Academy of knowing your place. But only after a public apology, appropriate grovelling and a signed confession and dismissal.

The staff on the other hand  deserve a medal.