영어기사 공부하기: Help! I Accidentally Saw Some Very Compromising Photos of My Co-Worker.
[출처 : Slate] https://slate.com/human-interest/2023/06/photos-coworker-revenge-dear-prudence-advice.html
Help! I Accidentally Saw Some Very Compromising Photos of My Co-Worker.
Anyone could've opened it.
slate.com
# Dear Prudence is Slate’s advice column. Submit questions here. (It’s anonymous!)
Dear Prudence,
I work in a small office. My co-worker, “Jon,” recently broke up with his boyfriend who seemed paranoid and controlling. If Jon ever had to stay even 30 minutes late he would become very anxious and start receiving a barrage of texts and calls. “Bruce” even started calling our office randomly to make sure that Jon is there. This was the last straw and Jon broke up with him.
I typically order and receive supplies for the office, so when an envelope showed up, I opened it without a second thought. It was full of photos of Jon in bondage. I thought this was some revenge porn and threw it away immediately without telling anyone. Weeks later, I learned over after-work drinks that Jon is angry with his ex for not returning some personal belongings and is considering taking him to small claims court, but that Bruce swears up and down that he already returned these items. I think this may be the envelope I threw away. Should I tell Jon what happened? I would be so humiliated if someone at work saw my personal photos. In a sense, I think that’s what Bruce likely wanted. He didn’t put a name on the envelope and just addressed it to our office, so anyone could have opened it. —Letter Opener
* barrage : a lot of criticisms, complaints, or questions directed at one person
a barrage of abuse
* straw : the last of a series of events that causes an angry or violent reaction
When he didn’t come home that night, it was the last straw.
* humiliated : to make someone feel very embarrassed and ashamed
She enjoyed humiliating me in front of the other students.
* In a sense : a way of thinking about or understanding something, although there may be other ways
In one sense, Robertson is a typical politician.
Dear Letter Opener,
If your theory is right, Jon is correct that his controlling boyfriend never returned the items to him. Sending something to a person’s office in an envelope that doesn’t have a name on it doesn’t count as returning! By keeping quiet about what you may or may not have opened, you save your colleague from humiliation and you let him proceed with holding Bruce accountable. Most of all, you deny Bruce the satisfaction of knowing that Jon’s co-workers saw his private photos. And keep in mind, you don’t even know for sure if the photos are the belongings he was talking about. So don’t say a word.
I understand the desire to help John, who has been through a lot. But the best way to do that is to continue to be a good friend to him—listening to him over after-work drinks, offering to pick up any tasks that might lighten his load, and letting him know that you understand how much he’s going through and are happy to see that he’s removed himself from a terrible situation.
* hold someone responsible/accountable/liable : to believe that someone is responsible for something
* accountable : in a position where people have the right to criticize you or ask you why something happened