Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Frigid offices, freezing women, oblivious men: An air-conditioning investigation
The Washington Post ^ | July 23, 2015 | Petula Dvorak

Posted on 07/23/2015 10:19:43 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican

You can spot them. The frozen ones who come outside at lunch like sun-seeking turtles, cardigans balled up next to them, bare shoulders defrosting in the noon sunlight, no matter how wilting it is outdoors.

Every single woman I talked to in downtown Washington on a hot, humid July afternoon was thawing out.

“I. Am. Fuh-reezing. Feel my hand, I’m still cold,” said Ruth Marshall, 64, who was seated on a park bench, face to the sky. And yes, her hand felt like a cold steak.

“I have to come out here for 30 minutes at a time just to warm up,” said Marshall, the director of administration at a construction firm, where the air-conditioning is set to Arctic.

It’s the time of year desperate women rely on cardigans, Pashminas and space heaters to make it through the work week in their frigid offices. And their male colleagues barely notice.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-87 next last
To: GOPJ

I think someone called it: “straining at gnats ans swallowing camels.”


21 posted on 07/23/2015 10:33:20 AM PDT by AEMILIUS PAULUS
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Harmless Teddy Bear

” I also did not wear clothing more suited for the beach then the office.”

You hit the nail on the head. I have no patience with women who come to work dressed like they are going to a beach party and then complain about being cold. I have worked with women who come to work wearing a flimsy skirt, no socks or hosiery, sleeveless blouse, and sandals. They can usually be found screwing around with the thermostat. One time I said to one of these chicks “Why don’t you go home and put some clothes on?” She did not like that. Too bad.


22 posted on 07/23/2015 10:34:32 AM PDT by forgotten man
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

A man in a 3 piece wool suit in the same office as a woman with a short sleeveless summer dress. The man complains it’s too hot and the woman complains it’s too cold.


23 posted on 07/23/2015 10:35:27 AM PDT by seawolf101
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

77 for an office environment is just plain silly.

Silly.

__________________________________________________

No kidding. 68 is more like it. 70 at the most.


24 posted on 07/23/2015 10:36:36 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd (With Great Freedom comes Great Responsibility)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican
From the link (about the author):

Petula is a columnist for The Washington Post's local team who writes about homeless shelters, gun control, high heels, high school choirs, the politics of parenting, jails, abortion clinics, mayors, modern families, strip clubs and gas prices, among other things.

It may not be strictly necessary for a ComPost writer to be a socialist, queer, babykilling tyrant ... but perhaps it helps.

25 posted on 07/23/2015 10:37:32 AM PDT by NorthMountain ("The time has come", the Walrus said, "to talk of many things")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

Blacks will fight over too cold an AC or too low a heater

White males and I guess Eskimos

Unite!


26 posted on 07/23/2015 10:37:53 AM PDT by wardaddy (Mark Levin.....I love him...but he is ignorant of Dixie)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican; a fool in paradise

Man-Cooling!

How sexist. lol

Set the thermostat to MANLY!


27 posted on 07/23/2015 10:38:28 AM PDT by GeronL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

I’ve been dealing with this for years. My theory is that most office buildings have one master thermostat that controls the entire building, or a maybe a few that control entire floors. The thermostats in individual offices are almost entirely cosmetic—they’re there to make the occupants feel like they have some control. The master thermostat is controlled by the building maintenance guy. This guy is on his feet all day, doing a lot of manual work to keep the building running. He works up a sweat and sets the master thermostat to a temperature that makes sense to him. As a result, a lot of the sedentary office dwellers get cold.

I get cold in the office, and my solution is a sweater and a space heater. So long as they don’t try to take away my heater, I’ll get along just fine.

There’s no need to turn this into a drama about sexism. Just deal with it.


28 posted on 07/23/2015 10:39:57 AM PDT by Huntress ("Politicians exploit economic illiteracy." --Walter Williams)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NorthMountain

I think it is necessary to be those things to work for a leftist media outlet


29 posted on 07/23/2015 10:40:47 AM PDT by GeronL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

LOL! I’m sitting here with a cardigan on. I’m working in the basement of our building. For some reason, it always gets colder down here in the afternoon.


30 posted on 07/23/2015 10:41:02 AM PDT by sneakers
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AEMILIUS PAULUS

Yes, good one Aemilius...


31 posted on 07/23/2015 10:42:09 AM PDT by GOPJ (They are not undocumented and they are not immigrants. They are illegal aliens. Lurkinnamloomin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Cowboy Bob
Yeah, but fat doesn't produce BUT, er, BTUs just being there. I just read something about the human body averages about 400 BTUs at rest (hence the early adoption of air conditioning in movie theaters).

Perhaps offering a grog ration at midday to wake up the liver's heat production in dealing with a bit of alcohol?

32 posted on 07/23/2015 10:45:20 AM PDT by Calvin Locke
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

FINALLY

I’ve had to suffer for years when I go into a building where fat women with their bellies sticking over the top of their short shorts will say Oooo doesn’t this cool air feel GOOOOOOOOD” even though its turning me blue with icicles hanging from my numb nose...

I carry a jacket or sweater with me in the car in 80 degree weather for just that reason..


33 posted on 07/23/2015 10:46:05 AM PDT by Tennessee Nana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

Silly hot

I run about 4 degrees cooler than wifey

Not that Wifey

Mine

It’s more than AC

She’s more discombobulated about being uncomfortable period

She’s petty and takes care of herself and is a good mommy and wife and trusts in the Lord

They are raised since toddlers to think if they do all that they deserve to be happy comfortable loved indulged and get their way most of the time


34 posted on 07/23/2015 10:46:41 AM PDT by wardaddy (Mark Levin.....I love him...but he is ignorant of Dixie)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

If you can’t take the cold stay out of the office.

;)


35 posted on 07/23/2015 10:47:32 AM PDT by Tony in Hawaii (Freedom!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican
The wife and will sitting on the couch watching tv. The AC is set at 74 degrees. She will be wearing a sweater and have an afghan across her lower half. I will be wearing a tee shirt and shorts and am barefooted. She will still be cold. I will be just about right. But I will go and set the AC at 75, and then she is comfortable. One measly degree difference.

Now here's the thing...in the winter (Wisconsin) we'll have the thermostat set at 71 degrees (furnace), and she'll be just right. But 71 degrees (AC) in the summer, and she's shivering/freezing. What gives?

36 posted on 07/23/2015 10:47:52 AM PDT by driftless2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cowboy Bob

I believe it’s tied to metabolisms and the fact that women’s metabolisms are slower on average. (But, disclaimer, I’m not a doctor and I did not stay at a Holiday Inn last night)


37 posted on 07/23/2015 10:49:01 AM PDT by Drrdot (Ban murder, not guns)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

When a woman gets to be a certain age, they welcome the AC and will freeze out their male counterparts without noticing. Just sayin....


38 posted on 07/23/2015 10:52:13 AM PDT by Mom MD
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

Those women will reach an age where they sweat even when the temperature is below freezing.

Enjoy being cold now, hot flashes await you!! You can always put on more clothing.


39 posted on 07/23/2015 10:54:42 AM PDT by KosmicKitty (Liberals claim to want to hear other views, but then are shocked to discover there are other views)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pfflier

I was just thinking the same thing. And again, it’s “women and minorities hit hardest”.


40 posted on 07/23/2015 10:55:13 AM PDT by mrsmel (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-87 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson