Being a Flake
Define Flake
A 'Flake' is a person who can't be relied on.
A Flake might be a really fun character, someone you want around, but who can not be entrusted with even the slightest responsibility.
This is because a Flake is...
Flakey.
At events the Flake shows up at some point, (either very late or early). No one expects more from a flake. Just show up, spend time and go away.
No one asks a Flake to organise anything. No one asks a Flake to Chair anything. No one would ever ask a Flake to perform the vital unpaid tasks upon which society depends.
Hence, when there's work to be done, one skips the Flake.
One goes to the Dog's Body, the Megalomanic, the Martyr, the Somebody, the Drudge, the Willing, in fact, everyone is asked before the Flake, and if there's no one else to ask, the Asker will do it himself.
Beginning to Look Attractive?
People are often requested to perform unpaid lots of work jobs.
Whether the request is made at the office, a club, by a religious organisation, political group, P.T.A., name it, there's something that needs to be done and if you've ever displayed competence, interest, ability, you're the one who will be asked to do it.
Once you get the that so-called laudable reputation for being able to deliver, you will have a lot of deliveries to make. There's always something to be done and since you did so well here and there and last time, etc. they'll ask you again.
Eventually your 'life' is made up of performing tasks for all sorts of interests which
carry no recompense, take a lot of time, and if they go wrong, you get the blame.
You're the one the boss 'trusts' so you get to do.....
Your Spiritual Leader relies on you to do....
Your Member of Parliament requests that you....
The Chairman asks you to...
Soon enough your social 'calendar' is full of meetings you must attend, on top of doing all forms of work for which, if you're lucky, you'll get a gratuity, and if you're not, you have to borrow money from the bank to survive.
Of course, if you're a Flake, delete.
How To Be a Flake
Unless you were born with a few loose connections, you've probably considered being a Flake on par with having a propeller beanie on your head.
Although some Flakes are born, many are made. They are made in the furnace of overwork. They were hard working over worked martyrs who realise that if they could just get their status reset to flake, they'd go home on time and have a real life.
Now it is not hard to become a flake, but it does take a little planning.
Firstly, one can't go from reliable, responsible drone to flake. This would provoke thoughts that one is out of his mind and result in medication and/or psychiatric care.
One needs to slowly become Flake-like.
Secondly, one can't start as a Flake for then one wouldn't even be allowed on the track. One must begin as responsible and sensible and then start to go off the rails. Not far, but far enough to become MASE...(Must Ask Someone Else).
Thirdly, once you get on the border of Flake, screw up every 'chance' you have to escape from your Flakehood.
Make sure that even when you are the 'last resort' the Asker searches for someone else.
Step By Step
How to be a Flake?
Let's start.
Forget things.
Little things.
Then a big thing.
Just one big thing, not enough to lose your job, like losing the payroll, just forgetting to bring the bread to a company picnic.
Be absent.
Have a doctor's certificate or good reason why you are absent, especially when everyone is depending on you.
Prepare the wrong thing, do it perfectly, but the wrong thing; and be totally confused to the extent others feel to console you.
Along with this, take every possible sick day you can, be as late as you can, leave as early as you can.
Start slow here, for again you don't want people to think...what is wrong with you today.. you want it to seem normal.
Work up to the point where you are normally ten minutes late, or normally pack up ten minutes early. Once this becomes your 'norm' you can steal a few more minutes here and there.
When you go out to lunch get lost.
Get lost at all times.
If someone sends you to buy lunch take forever.
If you are given five things to do, do two right, one wrong and forget the other two.
If there is any kind of function outside of your core, don't show up. Never volunteer for anything and if you are volunteered don't do it. In most cases, letting them down once is once too many.
Have a cheerful attitude, almost goofy. So that people don't take you seriously.
Soon enough you will be left out, left off, and actually get a life.
Don't screw it up by becoming reliable.
