all i can say is…wow.
the farewell email to end all farewell emails
August 27th, 2007 · 144 comments
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Tags: art · christie's · email · new york · office · oh snap · raging against the machine · sarcasm · spelling and grammar police · thanks (but not really)
144 responses so far ↓
#1 Lorina
Oh Jason–I think I love you!
Aug 27, 2007 at 11:24 pm rating: 0
#2 Anna-banana
Nice!
Aug 27, 2007 at 11:29 pm rating: 0
#3 Anna-banana
Team New Carpet!
Aug 27, 2007 at 11:35 pm rating: 0
#4 Allie
That’s amazing. Thanks go out the the snakes in the grass. I’m definitely posting the “favoritism is thicker than water” slogan on my cubicle soon.
Brilliant.
Aug 27, 2007 at 11:55 pm rating: 0
#5 Katy
Jason, may your life be happy and good from here on out. It’s so terrible to see a company and management as stuck-up and stupid as this one seems to be. I applaud the use of “snakes in the grass” as well.
Aug 28, 2007 at 12:00 am rating: 0
#6 Gwen
Oh Jason, you wonderfully worded person, you. I really wish more people had the balls to do something so brilliant and perfect. And I certainly hope that I do when my time comes.
Aug 28, 2007 at 12:06 am rating: 0
#7 mel
Okay, I may be a little slow on the uptake here… is Jason being sarcastic in para 3 (about the photo department)? I thought he genuinely meant that but as it went on I grew more confused. Hope it was clearer to Laura, Stuart, etc!
Aug 28, 2007 at 12:08 am rating: 0
#8 todd
makes me want to quit my job so i can one-up this supremely gratifying exit letter. kudos.
Aug 28, 2007 at 12:08 am rating: 0
#9 mw
The (Rich Text) designation in the title bar has a whole new meaning here, no?
Aug 28, 2007 at 12:09 am rating: 0
#10 Wry Exchange
Euphoric poppycock. I have to work that into a conversation somehow. Bravo, Jason!
Aug 28, 2007 at 12:13 am rating: 0
#11 Crazyskates
“Favoritism is thicker than water”
I can’t WAIT to use that in a conversation tomorrow!
Aug 28, 2007 at 12:20 am rating: 0
#12 Mela
Eep. I hope Jason isn’t expecting any references at Christie’s, and his new job offer letter is in hand.
Aug 28, 2007 at 12:21 am rating: 0
#13 Crazyskates
Wryexchange, I SWEAR I didn’t see your comment before posting the same thing right under you ….
Aug 28, 2007 at 12:21 am rating: 0
#14 Ceryniti
That’s fucking awesome. Nothing else need be said.
Aug 28, 2007 at 1:07 am rating: 0
#15 Kristi
that poppycock was fucking delicious.
Aug 28, 2007 at 1:09 am rating: 0
#16 robin
boring. please send an additional and just as in your face email regarding your future endevors. we really care. no, really.
Aug 28, 2007 at 1:35 am rating: 0
#17 robin
[sic]
Aug 28, 2007 at 1:36 am rating: 0
#18 luckymommy
I am speechless and in awe . That had to be on of the most beautiful things I have ever read. I sincerely envy his bravery and candor. I remember leaving a job feeling similarly back in 2004 but I did the obligatory walk-away-smiling-so-as-to-not-burn-any-bridges that most of us do out of fear.
Jason proved himself to be heroic in my eyes …cheers to him!
Aug 28, 2007 at 1:57 am rating: 0
#19 ian
I hope this gets picked up and talked about in the mainstream press as well.
Aug 28, 2007 at 2:04 am rating: 0
#20 Jeff Byrnes
Awesome. Thumbs up!
Aug 28, 2007 at 2:17 am rating: 0
#21 Sarah
Team Wants-Jason-to-come-work-at-my-company-for-a-while-and-then-leave
Aug 28, 2007 at 2:21 am rating: 0
#22 Dave Ward
Sweet.
However, we need a photo of the carpeting so we can get completely derailed in a debate about how tasteful/tasteless the carpet is and completely miss the point.
Aug 28, 2007 at 4:09 am rating: 0
#23 Juno Henry
Jason — c’mere and have a big old hug. That is the fucking best farewell letter I ever read.
Kudos and genuflections.
Aug 28, 2007 at 4:11 am rating: 0
#24 Jamie
Awwww. Carpet…
Aug 28, 2007 at 4:46 am rating: 0
#25 dirty old lady
…but how do you *really* feel, Jason?
Aug 28, 2007 at 7:04 am rating: 0
#26 M Thatcher
Unions are bad, so team christie’s
Aug 28, 2007 at 8:07 am rating: 0
#27 J Hoffa
Margaret Thatchers are bad, so team union and team Jason!!
Aug 28, 2007 at 8:42 am rating: 0
#28 super_fan#99
Jesus people it wasn’t that great. Sounds like he backed off quite a bit. I want more name calling and personalization.
Aug 28, 2007 at 8:46 am rating: 0
#29 ginger
i likes it. people should say how they feel more often.
Aug 28, 2007 at 8:52 am rating: 0
#30 Mrs L Carrot
Jason,
As somebody who worked for years in the arts, I can appreciate what you have been through. All I can say is this. The bitterness does wear off but it takes some time! The real world, which looks so much harsher, is actually a kinder happier place to work. You will be amazed.
Take care and good luck with whatever you do.
Aug 28, 2007 at 9:09 am rating: 0
#31 Jessica
This is the letter I would love to write when I leave my suck-ass job. Which should be anytime now. Jason, you rock.
Aug 28, 2007 at 9:16 am rating: 0
#32 T-Bone
Hooray for Jason!
Ironically, I had just sat down at my desk and gone through my office email, prior to getting my daily PAN fix. I had an email from the “finance” folks at my work saying I was not eligible for the paltry cost of living raise they provide annually, nor the “this-year-it’s-your-department’s-turn-for-a-pat-on-the-back” raise, because I started working here last April, rather than in March.
Then I read Jason’s email and was instantly uplifted! I will use his fine words as my template for the email which I will send to my future former employers when I leave this dump.
I’m gonna go home and watch “Office Space” tonight and get drunk.
Aug 28, 2007 at 9:35 am rating: 0
#33 The Fresh Cracker
I’m with Sarah!
Aug 28, 2007 at 9:41 am rating: 0
#34 Al Hanso
I was hoping for more fireworks. Hopefully this was a warm-up for when Jason burns bridges at his next workplace.
Aug 28, 2007 at 9:53 am rating: 0
#35 Mandy
I picture him sobbing and intermittently stuffing his possessions into a very small box while he’s writing this.
Aug 28, 2007 at 10:01 am rating: 0
#36 rupert
I suspect the carpeting reference was really to point out that they ordered the carpeting after the raises they couldn’t afford didn’t go out.
I am in the art business and Christie’s took a painting out of the country and then forced us to pay them to return it.
Aug 28, 2007 at 10:02 am rating: 0
#37 Ima Wurdibitsch
That was fantastic. I hope his upper management sees that and realizes what a gem they’ve lost.
Aug 28, 2007 at 10:05 am rating: 0
#38 claw71
This was a weak display and Jason is an idiot. First there’s the confusion as to how he really feels toward the photo department. It’s not good form to mix sincerity with hostility. Unless you’re sincerely hostile and in that event there’s no confusion.
Then you have that awful metaphor of favoritism being thicker than water. What? That doesn’t even make sense, in fact it’s not even a metaphor because he fails to establish the conection. Blood being thicker than water addresses nepotism.
Tust me, I’ve burned my share of bridges and this is not even close. This is more like spitting into the wind.
Aug 28, 2007 at 10:07 am rating: 0
#39 PatHMV
I think he really was being nice to the photo department people… which is bad for them. When the office trouble maker leaves, do you really want his parting shot to tar you with being his friend?
Beyond that, I agree with claw71 (#38), this was lame.
Aug 28, 2007 at 10:21 am rating: 0
#40 More Mishee Than Thou
The carpet was nice. I know you don’t like it, but I do.
Aug 28, 2007 at 10:53 am rating: 0
#41 Zsa
Holy finish one thought per sentence, Batman!
If Jason’s organizational skills were as bad as his writing skills, I’m surprised he lasted long enough to idenify the “snakes in the grass”
Want to applaud the attempt, but it does kinda suck. Best one I ever saw was at a company who’s employees tended to leave long, mushy, keep-in-touch farewell emails)
“I’m NOT sending out my personal email for you freaks to contact me. Never call or email me again. Suck this- I’m outta here!”
Aug 28, 2007 at 11:10 am rating: 0
#42 Mierin
Good for him for writing an angry parting letter, but it wasn’t as seething with sarcasm and bitterness as I would have liked. 3 starfish out of 4.
Aug 28, 2007 at 11:13 am rating: 0
#43 Near Mishee
Anyone know where they keep the copy paper at Christie’s? There is nothing in the copy room except for a very moldy sandwich.
Aug 28, 2007 at 11:32 am rating: 0
#44 sadandsorrypeople
Calw#71 you are my hero, it really wasnt that good. Jason just wants some attention let’s ignore him and see if he throws his baby food at us too !
Aug 28, 2007 at 12:02 pm rating: 0
#45 Anon 2
I just really want to see what the carpeting looks like.
Aug 28, 2007 at 12:16 pm rating: 0
#46 D_luv
Not impressed. Could and have done better being only slightly miffed. With all the fodder a long stint at a suck ass job gives, I’d slice and dice those muthas like an old-school game of Operation!!!
Aug 28, 2007 at 12:24 pm rating: 0
#47 lauralaiwc
i just left a job with similar feelings but i kept it to myself, not necessarily because i didnt want to “burn any bridges” but because i didnt want to stoop to the imaturity displayed here.
i was bored with this one. i cant beleive im commenting.
Aug 28, 2007 at 12:27 pm rating: 0
#48 mere
wow, i hope jason never needs to go back to christie’s for anything. kinda burned THAT bridge.
Aug 28, 2007 at 12:29 pm rating: 0
#49 winter_coat
I am in the process of leaving my job right now and this letter warms my cold, embittered, under-employed heart.
Aug 28, 2007 at 12:29 pm rating: 0
#50 Greenie
My. Hero.
Aug 28, 2007 at 12:35 pm rating: 0
#51 nyc_lala
Minutes after this email was sent, JC was escorted out of the building by security.
Don’t mess with the man!
Aug 28, 2007 at 12:44 pm rating: 0
#52 tweedle
“With all the fodder a long stint at a suck ass job gives, I’d slice and dice those muthas like an old-school game of Operation” –D_luv
That’s pretty.
Aug 28, 2007 at 12:57 pm rating: 0
#53 carolb
I wonder if anyone forwarded this to his new employer? That could happen. I just hope he won the lottery…
Aug 28, 2007 at 12:57 pm rating: 0
#54 Eric S.
What a pathetic human being.
Aug 28, 2007 at 1:33 pm rating: 0
#55 Jason
How in the hell did my email end up on this site? Someone at Christie’s just forwarded this to me.
I just went through two and half years of non stop nonsense. I waited and waited for things to get better, but they didn’t. I left on my terms and I sent this out because I knew I would regret it if I didn’t. For the record, all my bridges were reduced to cinders ages ago…….and yes it is true, the powers that be didn’t find it funny as they sent a security guard to remove me from the building 25 minutes after I sent this out. I guess I am banned from returning - what ever that means.
Aug 28, 2007 at 1:38 pm rating: 0
#56 Jason
For the record, I don’t care what anyone has to say about my email.
I see a mix of good and bad comments and I feel everybody is entitled to their opinion.
And right now, I’m off to better and brighter things, far away from Christie’s…….
Aug 28, 2007 at 1:49 pm rating: 0
#57 Anna-banana
You go Jason! Good luck to you!!!
Aug 28, 2007 at 1:55 pm rating: 0
#58 hannah
I loved your email, Jason. Good luck and don’t look back!
Aug 28, 2007 at 1:57 pm rating: 0
#59 Team Cinnamon
Brilliant Jason!
Aug 28, 2007 at 2:01 pm rating: 0
#60 will
While certainly cathartic for the writer I think that it’s a pussy move to fire a broadside like this on the way out the door. Nice job making everyone else workday more uncomfortable.
Aug 28, 2007 at 2:06 pm rating: 0
#61 Sky
Team Jason, and team union, all the way.
Aug 28, 2007 at 2:11 pm rating: 0
#62 Nanna
Team Whatever.
Aug 28, 2007 at 2:23 pm rating: 0
#63 lauralaiwc
team no whiney ninny.
most people DON’T enjoy their jobs, and most of them probably have a right to gripe. we all put up with nonsense, its how we handle it that determines if we are a mature adult and actually deserve better out of life.
im all for you leaving on your own terms. absolutely. you dont like it, get out of there. but you dont have to wave little flags and spout fireworks over your head, no need to cry out for attention. its not like bitching about it in that way is going to change anything. youve proved nothing positive about yourself, so, kudos.
Aug 28, 2007 at 2:30 pm rating: 0
#64 Where is Mishee?
She is sitting at Jason’s old desk, enjoying some quality online time.
Aug 28, 2007 at 2:39 pm rating: 0
#65 claw71
Jason, sweetie, if you didn’t care what we thought you wouldn’t have bothered posting a response. You’re a chump…in this particular context. That doesn’t mean that you’re beyond redemption and I wouldn’t be above buying you a beer when you come of age in three or four years but until then put on the big boy pants and get over yourself.
Most people on this board have toiled much longer in jobs that were far less appealing. Welcome to life. It sucks, doesn’t it?
Aug 28, 2007 at 2:41 pm rating: 0
#66 Where is Mishee?
This carpet smells funny!
Aug 28, 2007 at 2:44 pm rating: 0
#67 will
Did you expect that you co-workers would read your email and then lift you on their shoulders and triumphantly carry you out on your last day?
Be a big boy next time, just say goodbye and walk out with a smile on your face.
Aug 28, 2007 at 2:52 pm rating: 0
#68 anglophile
Uh, claw71. Why the personal attacks on one of our content-providers? Via website comments, no less! Jason’s not the only one who needs some big boy pants. If there were no Jasons in this world, there’d be no PAN. And then what would we do?
Aug 28, 2007 at 2:59 pm rating: 0
#69 NotMishee
The carpet was fucking delicious!
Aug 28, 2007 at 3:00 pm rating: 0
#70 CA Girl
Wow, I think I am pretty speechless.
Aug 28, 2007 at 3:04 pm rating: 0
#71 Josh
“Most people on this board have toiled much longer in jobs that were far less appealing.”
Bravo for you! I guess that means no one else is entitled to complain about their jobs ever again. Thanks for taking care of that!
Aug 28, 2007 at 3:13 pm rating: 0
#72 Anna-banana
I know that this site is a place to vent on P-A notes, et all. But besides that, I was secretly getting my evil thrill on the “Mishee vs. Boggy Woggy (and most everyone) feud”. Entertain me, please!!!!
Aug 28, 2007 at 3:23 pm rating: 0
#73