While reading the posts here I was reminded of a funny incident from my first job.

This was back in the early 1980s, when people routinely listened to radios at work. My particular work location included a manufacturing area, where some people had their radios on during their shifts to keep their minds entertained (Internet-connected cell phones were still 20 years away).

One station encouraged people to “listen to us while you work,” and asked music trivia questions throughout the day where the Nth caller who could answer the question got some cool prize.

Well, somebody at our location knew the answer, called in, and was the right numbered caller!

So they were live on the air with the DJ, who asked the employee’s name, the company where he worked (remember this: it matters later), and all the usual happy stuff they talk about when someone wins a prize.

Unfortunately, a floor manager came along while the employee was on the pay phone (remember, cell phones did not exist yet) with the radio station. Enraged that someone was away from their station during work hours, the manager screamed at the top of his lungs:

“GET THE FUCK OFF THE PHONE!!!”

Everyone could hear it in every corner of the manufacturing area.

The employee on the phone, of course, heard it too.

Unfortunately, the radio station on the other end heard it as well, as did its listening audience to whom it was being broadcast live.

The interview was clumsily brought to a close in very short order.

Remember, the name of the company was mentioned earlier in the on-air interview. I’m sure its reputation as a place to work took a pretty good hit that day.