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Something odd just happened.

The fire alarm went off tonight in myUniversity Halls. I was not prepared for it when it went off, and so took my time reporting down to the area where everyone is suppost to stand in the cold.

I took my cup with my medicine in and walked downstrairs.

Well, I arrive down quite late, to be fair I would have been down there quicker if it was not such a frequent occurance. AT the door I was confronted by a fire man, who said something like "You should have been out by now!". I was unsure by his facial gestures whether he was joking or annoyed [after all, fire men are normally plesant folk]. Being unsure of how to take his gesture I just said 'O.K' and smiled and walked out.

This is where the fun starts. Our 'Resident assistant' comes waltzing over to me and demands an explanation for why I was late coming down. I told her I was on the phone [I don't trust this person as she has been quite rude with me in the past, I would not tell her the real reason] and so was delayed. Big deal?

Next thing, about five minutes later she comes over and tells me that I have been reported to the fire brigade by the head fire guy there, or something like that, because apparently I was told repeatedly to leave the building and refused to, or something like that! So now the Brigade want me, and I have to see the head of the Hall's about disiplinary measures!

To be honest, I am very annoyed by all of this. I didn't ask to be disturbed at this time of night [middnight] by yet an other [false] alarm. I understand that I should have been down there sooner, and I will be next time. However, as an adult, I do not see the reason to treat me like a child and throw me in front of the 'teachers'. They could simply say 'be quicker next time' and I will be. In fact, they don't even need to tell me, because I'll be doing it anyway!

I am also annoyed by how my smile and "OK" has been interpreted as a resistance to fire brigade orders, or whatever it is I have been accused of .

So now I have to wait until tomorrow to see what happens next. Does anyone have any recommendations? I demanded to the Residential assistant that she give me the name of this fire man, as I wanted to confront him at the time. However, she did not have it/did not want to give it to me. So, now I have to wait whilst all the powers work against me, and little old me [who has enough on his plate with work as it is] has to worry about what is going to happen.

Has anyone been in a similar situation/has any advice as to what I should do?

Keep your cool and calmly explain things in as much detail as you can. Be nice & respectful and don't lose your cool no matter how much feel like reaming them a new asshole for their stupidity. Don't play by their rules, and don't sweat it. And keep your cool and don't be confrontational with them. Are you getting the idea that being cool, calm, and respectable is important? Don't raise your voice, don't give them attitude, don't smartass them, and chances are you'll be fine.

In my misguided youth I was caught red-handed by cops for starting a fire right outside a school, and by using the above tips and apologizing profusely I got off with just a warning to never do it again & a nice speech from the cops.

My recommendation is that you check yourself before you wreck yourself.

That and take aerius' advice.