Mysterious illness takes 3 article writers' grandmothers

49 replies
Not sure whether this is a tragic coincidence or the lowest excuse imaginable, but no less than three different article writers told us they couldn't do our articles this week... because their grandmother died...
#article #grandmothers #illness #mysterious #takes #writers
  • Profile picture of the author Srikanth D
    May be all three were brothers (or same person with 3 pen names).. Just a wild guess
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  • Profile picture of the author Joseph Then
    All three of them from different locations around the world?

    Hmm... Sounds a bit lame, but then, take it that you believe them, IF they are good writers.
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  • Profile picture of the author ken_p
    Were they from the phils? coz it could happen that one or more grandma and grandpa dies in the same week... lol.most common excuse.
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    • Profile picture of the author Marx Melencio
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      • Profile picture of the author valerieSONORA
        Originally Posted by Marx Melencio View Post

        Ken,



        If they were all from the Philippines and unrelated by blood, I believe it would still be a statistical probability given the circumstances.

        Why?

        Most of us (Filipinos) here have loads of grandmothers and grandfathers.

        My grandfather's siblings and cousins are also my grandmothers and grandfathers (yes, not my grandaunts and granduncles, which should be the case technically speaking, but we just treat them as such).

        A large number of Filipino families now living in Manila among other cities were previously from the provinces.

        I fondly remember when my grandfather took me to his native province when I was 14.

        Two blocks, left and right = they were all my relatives, according to my grandfather, but the thing he said at that moment counted the most for me during our entire trip:

        ---> "Even if you have lots of people whom you know will look out for you, don't trust them, don't entrust your life to them: build yourself on your own, by your own: this builds a man first and foremost".

        While he was dying in my arms 2 years later (cancer), he told me "You're a man now. Be one".

        Anyway, if I also lived with my "other" grandmothers and grandfathers back then, I believe I would've gained added valuable mind-setting ideas from them.

        This is just me, but I think this could most likely show why every grandmother, grandfather, grandaunt, granduncle, grand2ndaunts, grand2nduncles, et al, are considered "tight-knit family" by most Filipinos.
        Awww I wish I was Filipino. I don't have a big or close family and have desired one badly by entire life. I don't think my grandparents brothers n sisters even know I'm alive except maybe 2 who I see maybe twice a year. Especially if someone dies.
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  • Profile picture of the author Fernando Veloso
    Summer? Hot days? Beach and daiquiris? Just a wild guess here.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Taylor
    Withy aplogies to Oscar Wilde:

    To lose one grandparent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness..

    To lose three looks like a conspiracy!

    John
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    • Profile picture of the author Poppy61
      Haha John, that was funny indeed.

      Originally Posted by John Taylor View Post

      Withy aplogies to Oscar Wilde:

      To lose one grandparent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness..

      To lose three looks like a conspiracy!

      John
      True, most people use death as an excuse- but 3 people using the same excuse at the same time- kinda unfathomable. Could be all 3 are one and only person and came to you as 3 different writers just to get maximum work- a possibility.
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    • Profile picture of the author ExRat
      Hi John,

      Withy aplogies
      Wombat alert - that looks like Olde English - bit early for whisky?

      Hi Poppy61,

      most people use death as an excuse
      In some scenarios, for example - being late for work, that's a reasonably legitimate excuse.
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      Roger Davis

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      • Profile picture of the author Harvey Segal
        Now if they had said that their fathers had died
        there could be an explanation.

        They were all registered with GoDaddy.

        Harvey



        .
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      • Profile picture of the author sahi
        hmmmm.... looks to me a typical excuse. I've seen such excuses when dealing with freelancers, and that's why it is best to have a plan "B" available in case of emergency.
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        • Profile picture of the author John Taylor
          Originally Posted by sahi View Post

          .. that's why it is best to have a plan "B" available in case of emergency.
          Keep lots of grandparents in reserve?

          John
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          • Profile picture of the author WritingMadwoman
            Wow, that certainly seems like a trend!

            I always wonder about people who use these kinds of excuses - do they keep a record of who they have given that excuse to? Otherwise they might say their grandmother has died 4 or 5 times, and that would be hard to explain.

            I guess it's possible that they really did have a loss but it sure seems unlikely that all three would at the same time...

            Wendy
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        • Profile picture of the author Barbara Wilson
          Originally Posted by sahi View Post

          hmmmm.... looks to me a typical excuse. I've seen such excuses when dealing with freelancers, and that's why it is best to have a plan "B" available in case of emergency.
          Looks like Anna used up plan "B" and plan "C". )

          I don't understand this type of excuse if it's not true. Being a superstitious Irish/German I can't "kill off" my relatives or friends as an excuse.
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      • Profile picture of the author John Taylor
        Roger,
        Originally Posted by ExRat View Post

        Wombat alert - that looks like Olde English
        My spill chocker must be basted.

        bit early for whisky?
        Does not compute!

        John
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      • Profile picture of the author Rob Anderson
        Originally Posted by ExRat View Post

        Hi John,

        Wombat alert - that looks like Olde English - bit early for whisky?

        Hi Poppy61,

        In some scenarios, for example - being late for work, that's a reasonably legitimate excuse.

        i know that i am supposed to visit the warrior forum to learn, teach and interact like a serious marketer, but...

        you guys are way better that my tv.

        now i have to stop "working" and go and blow my nose. and stop giggling.

        thanks for all the intertainment. of entertainment, or enteertainmint.... aaah crap - pass the whiskey please

        and no, there is nothing wrong with my grandmother.
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    • Profile picture of the author yommys01
      Originally Posted by John Taylor View Post

      Withy aplogies to Oscar Wilde:

      To lose one grandparent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness..

      To lose three looks like a conspiracy!

      John
      hahahaha, they must be really very careless. LOL
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  • Profile picture of the author AndyBlackSEO
    Maybe 'My grandmother just died' is some sort of local lingo for 'Sorry, the sun is shining but feel free to fetch me a nice cool cocktail. I'm over here by the pool'.
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  • Profile picture of the author R Hagel
    Next time you interview freelancers, ask for a list of their close relatives (grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents, etc), the ages of these people and their health conditions.

    Cheers,
    Becky
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  • Profile picture of the author ikontent
    Originally Posted by Anna Johnson View Post

    Not sure whether this is a tragic coincidence or the lowest excuse imaginable, but no less than three different article writers told us they couldn't do our articles this week... because their grandmother died...
    They've graduated from the "dog ate my homework" stage.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kindermon
    Impossible to be a coincidence as I had that one just a few weeks ago.

    I tried to contact the writer but they cancceled their account so I can't get in touch.
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    • Profile picture of the author ExRat
      Hi Mike,

      My favorite - "I've moved to another country - they don't have the Internet here."
      My ghost-writer said - 'the ghosts are on strike.'

      Hi Marx,

      My grandfather's siblings and cousins are also my grandmothers and grandfathers (yes, not my grandaunts and granduncles, which should be the case technically speaking, but we just treat them as such).[snip]This is just me, but I think this could most likely show why every grandmother, grandfather, grandaunt, granduncle, grand2ndaunts, grand2nduncles, et al, are considered "tight-knit family" by most Filipinos.
      Wow! I have often thought about these things because my grandparents all died when I was very young, my two uncles/aunties lived far away, and I rarely saw my father. I even gained a step-grandad and step-grandma later on, but sadly they died before I really got to know them.

      I admit I'm slightly envious. Just the other day I was having a meal, and found myself sitting close to a grandmother taking her granddaughter out for a meal and overheard a little of their chat. I couldn't help noticing how the dynamics between those two generations are different to parent/child and therefore beneficial - for example, the grandparent knows the parents better than most people and is therefore able to tell the child which bits of their advice to ignore.

      If you have grandparents and aunties/uncles that you are close to (literally and emotionally) - don't neglect them - you don't know how lucky you are!
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      • Profile picture of the author Sydp
        Originally Posted by ExRat View Post

        Wow! I have often thought about these things because my grandparents all died when I was very young, my two uncles/aunties lived far away, and I rarely saw my father. I even gained a step-grandad and step-grandma later on, but sadly they died before I really got to know them.
        If you have grandparents and aunties/uncles that you are close to (literally and emotionally) - don't neglect them - you don't know how lucky you are!
        I was fortunate enough to have one great grandmother until I was 27 and all 4 grandparents until I was 36 (my grandfather died suddenly in March). I do know how lucky I am. I just got off the phone with my grandma. She's a treasure. We're thousands of miles apart but closer than ever. I'm very sorry for those who aren't as fortunate as I am.

        As regards the original post:
        I got crap from my boss when my cousin died unexpectedly at 19. She didn't see what the big deal was. As a boss, I have always accepted people's word at face value unless I had a good reason to not do so - primarily because of the way my boss treated me when my cousin died and how that soured me for the remainder of my tenure with her.

        It could be a coincidence, it's not that improbable that three different people all lose their grandmothers in the same week. It's odd that they all work for you, but it would be just as unusual if three completely unrelated people all decided to use the same made up excuse on the same week.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
    I lost two relatives over the past year, both within just a few months of one another. Neither of them were my grandmother.
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    • Profile picture of the author skydivedad
      Got the same thing going on with an outsourced project. 1st off this is the 3rd person hired to do the work. Seems a plaque hit India and fathers, grandfathers and grandmothers, aunt and uncles of all ilk are dropping like flies since January. Here's the one I got last week which was 2 weeks after he buried his Grandfather.
      "My Mother is ill over her PaPa's death, I've got to take care of her can't you wait another 10 days for an update on my progress".... yada, yada, yada. All I can say is Thank God for Escrow!

      Paul
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  • Profile picture of the author Goatboy
    Perhaps they are using Excuse spinning software?
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  • Profile picture of the author annihilator
    "If one grandmother dies it's a tragedy. If three of them die it's a statistic." - Joseph Stalin
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  • Profile picture of the author Anna Johnson
    Next time you interview freelancers, ask for a list of their close relatives (grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents, etc), the ages of these people and their health conditions.
    Thanks Becky. You know, I'm really tempted to do exactly that...
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  • Profile picture of the author valerieSONORA
    lol now when someone really has a grandmother die nobody will believe them.

    Maybe they were related and had the same grandmother?
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      Maybe they were related and had the same grandmother?
      So they all lived in Alabama? (sorry, Dave)
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      • Profile picture of the author Magic Johnson
        When did Michael Jackson become a grandma? Oh well, bad taste.

        Wow Marx, that's emotional to me, I know I have three left, two sisters, and my parents in life.

        But no one has ever giving me advice like your grandpa did. Is this something I could work in to my family`?

        I know all families are different, I guess mine aren't as close as
        I wish we were.

        We meet up every week. But never have any closer conversations, just weather, and what we are going to eat to dinner and tv, etc.

        I guess I see things differently, I will deff try to provide for them lives hard lessons, as I am going to be a role model one day, not only when they are children but when they are adults too.

        It seems many parents in my country, forget that we never become adults, just aged and older, hopefully take wiser mature paths, but we certainly need and depend on others to have role models and find inspiration for our entire lifetime.

        Awesome
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      • Profile picture of the author valerieSONORA
        Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

        So they all lived in Alabama? (sorry, Dave)
        LOLOL Kay. Mean, but funny.
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    • Profile picture of the author Sheryl Polomka
      Originally Posted by valerieSONORA View Post

      lol now when someone really has a grandmother die nobody will believe them.

      Just what I was thinking - I think a thread like this does make those who are in a legitimate grieving position feel like they will not be believed.

      Perhaps I'm just overly sensitive in an issue like this as my dear Gran passed away 2 weeks ago and yes I have had to delay some of my work as a result. Now I'm thinking those who I deal with may not believe me if they read something like this.

      If these writers are using a death as an excuse and it's not real - then shame on them, it's not something that should be taken that lightly. 3 together does seem a big strange, but as much of a coincidence that it would be for all 3 to have had a Grandmother passing, wouldn't it also be a bit of a coincidence that all 3 would use the same excuse as a lie???
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      • Profile picture of the author Killer Joe
        Why do I have a feeling this is going to end up as another Frank Kern subject line. :p

        Or maybe it already was...

        KJ
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        • Profile picture of the author michellegreen
          It all sounds a bit dodgy to me! I sadly lost my two grandmothers, so will not be using that excuse!

          I just do not understand why many writers can't be honest with their clients????

          If you're not up to the task, tell the client. You will gain a lot more respect and the client is likely to use you again in future if they need writing done on topics you are comfortable with.

          I recently told a client after he had asked me to write some articles for him that I really did not have the expertise in the area he wanted me to write about (I'd written other articles for him in the past). He thanked me for my honesty and then asked me to write about another topic instead. It wasn't hard and I didn't waste his time, nor did I have to come up with silly excuses.

          Easy peasy!
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  • Profile picture of the author AnneE
    I thought you were going to say that you had read 3 articles by 3 different people about their grandmother dying and how to ensure that you had your dear ol' Grandma around for a very long time. You know sort of like the growing trend to tailor these supposedly personal blogs about people discovering tooth whitening secrets or how to lose belly fat and gosh, supposedly this person lives some place close to you (cool programming, grabbing that IP address, resolving to a place and slapping it into the text).

    While it is certainly POSSIBLE that 3 writers had their grandma's pass away... it's also possible that people who churn out How-to articles on tasks they don't understand, may not have the highest level of truthfulness to them.

    There is probably a thread on a freelance-writer-forum titled "I Over-Committed and Can't Produce What Should I Do?" and someone said, "Just do what I do and say your grandma died."
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    • Profile picture of the author Magic Johnson
      Well, that's what I call one step forward thiking. Wise thoughts.
      Originally Posted by AnneE View Post

      IThere is probably a thread on a freelance-writer-forum titled "I Over-Committed and Can't Produce What Should I Do?" and someone said, "Just do what I do and say your grandma died."
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      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        I remember my own school days. Some of my grandparents died several times...

        Originally Posted by ikontent View Post

        They've graduated from the "dog ate my homework" stage.
        I may be the only person in history to actually get away with this excuse. We only lived half a block from the school, so I walked home for lunch. After lunch, I brought back the pile of soggy, shredded notebook paper and laid it on the teacher's desk...
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  • Profile picture of the author MichaelHiles
    My grandmother died today.

    How insensitive of you people.














    :-D
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  • Profile picture of the author FredJones
    Originally Posted by Anna Johnson View Post

    Not sure whether this is a tragic coincidence or the lowest excuse imaginable, but no less than three different article writers told us they couldn't do our articles this week... because their grandmother died...
    I write arcitles and my grandmother is still alive, don't want to kill her !!!
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  • Profile picture of the author Rod Cortez
    Three different article writers? Hmmmmmmm...........
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  • Profile picture of the author jvwinwin
    Hey... it may really be so. Chances may be so... but it still can happen.

    My grandma was, in fact just admitted to hospital yesterday night. It was pretty hallowing for the whole family.
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    • Profile picture of the author milan
      So the only thing they had in common is they all bid for Anna Johnson? Hmmm... The conclusion is obvious:

      Freelancers! Don't bid for Anna Johnson, don't open emails with Anna Johnson in the From field. It's not an actual person but a computer virus which kills grandmothers. Microsoft, FBI, CIA, Norton, Sophos, Mc-Afee still haven't reported an anti-virus for this deadly malware.
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      • Profile picture of the author Srikanth D
        Originally Posted by milan View Post

        So the only thing they had in common is they all bid for Anna Johnson? Hmmm... The conclusion is obvious:

        Freelancers! Don't bid for Anna Johnson, don't open emails with Anna Johnson in the From field. It's not an actual person but a computer virus which kills grandmothers. Microsoft, FBI, CIA, Norton, Sophos, Mc-Afee still haven't reported an anti-virus for this deadly malware.
        LOL!! I was thinking along the same lines...
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      • Profile picture of the author Nigel Greaves
        Originally Posted by milan View Post

        So the only thing they had in common is they all bid for Anna Johnson? Hmmm... The conclusion is obvious:

        Freelancers! Don't bid for Anna Johnson, don't open emails with Anna Johnson in the From field.
        You're right Milan!

        My mother was taken into hospital again this week so - Anna for crying out loud please don't email me!

        Nigel
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        • Profile picture of the author Sean Kelly
          ..so each of these three writers were actually having their grandmothers do their writing for them?
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  • Profile picture of the author Chiayee
    Anna:

    Just curious: are these writers from the same country(or race)?

    I asked this because..
    I used to work in a MNC. Colleagues from specific region always used similar excusewhen did not show up for works.

    CY
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    Nothing to see here

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  • Profile picture of the author Anna Johnson
    So the only thing they had in common is they all bid for Anna Johnson? Hmmm... The conclusion is obvious:

    Freelancers! Don't bid for Anna Johnson, don't open emails with Anna Johnson in the From field. It's not an actual person but a computer virus which kills grandmothers. Microsoft, FBI, CIA, Norton, Sophos, Mc-Afee still haven't reported an anti-virus for this deadly malware.
    Looks like my devious plan to divert attention away from the real culprit (me) backfired...
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    Sounds like a really bad week for Grandmothers ...
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