[bk400]

First of all, I would like to thank all of you for your comments, whether snarky or substantive. I started this thread on Saturday night, my time, as a way to channel some negative energy into a positive endeavor: finding an excuse to get good old Wally Backman some airtime. I didn't think that a post on a baseball card forum would lead me to some constructive introspection about real life issues.

Some of you put some real thought into your responses, so I'll respond in kind in two posts.

Packs -- With respect to your most recent point about a bias toward student athletes at work, I'll say that the first time I thought about her background as a walk-on, turned varsity D1 rower was when I was thinking about which junior colleague to send the work related email. I was frankly shocked that the first colleague felt like I was putting him under undue mental pressure -- enough to BCC HR in his carefully and assertively drafted response to me.

So you are correct in that I did take into account her background as a Division 1 rower in deciding which colleague to contact next. Rowing is one of the most physically and mentally painful sports, and I did assume that someone who was willing to put themselves through an endeavor like that for four years with little or no chance of NIL riches or professional career prospects at the end of it would be able to mentally handle a weekend email, whether welcomed or unwanted. Candidly, I also took into account the fact that she is female who decided to work in an overwhelmingly male industry. Is this bias? Perhaps. But we are all human beings at the end of the day.

To complete the point, I haven't really worked directly with either of the colleagues. This was basically the first substantive engagement with either. The only evidence I now have are their respective responses to my email.

I'll also reiterate that I did not provide a weekend deadline for the work (those days are long gone). I just asked to review something "early next week". I remain somewhat amazed that the mere receipt of a work email over the weekend could constitute undue mental pressure for any young professional. But I'm learning, albeit slowly.