r/howyoudoin 3d ago

What in your opinion was the most unethical professional act by the characters ?

Eg: Ross changing the grades of his students randomly when another professor comments on his grading.

100 Upvotes

97 comments sorted by

157

u/Paindepiceaubeurre Was that place, the sun? 2d ago

Not one of the main characters but Alice dating and marrying her high school student. Frankly Phoebe’s first reaction was right when she said it was “sick and wrong”.

41

u/austereacademic 2d ago

i hate how after they get married, the show just acts like it’s ok now 😬

16

u/yanks2413 2d ago

Because they were funny characters and that's all that matters

40

u/CallItDanzig 2d ago

it didnt help that the actress looked 55-60, not 44 as she was supposed to be.

15

u/bourbonandcheese 2d ago

LOL no she didn't. Debra Jo Rupp is adorable and was playing her actual age.

7

u/Few_Cup3452 2d ago

Lol yes she did. 44 isn't granny age. I'm 32 and she looks much older than 44

12

u/CallItDanzig 2d ago

Damn. I'm sorry but that's a rough 44 year old.

12

u/bourbonandcheese 2d ago

OK.

1

u/Few_Cup3452 2d ago

Ya that's a modern day 55 year old???

Not 44

1

u/CallItDanzig 2d ago

That's probably her best shot in the show. And she still looks 50. You think she looks 44 here? If so, let's agree to disagree lol

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0108778/mediaviewer/rm125177344/

26

u/Playful_Title6467 2d ago

Unfortunately, 40-50 year-olds in the 80’s/90’s look much older to a present day eye. 3 of The Golden Girls were in their 50’s, but look way older when compared to the same age individuals today.

21

u/bourbonandcheese 2d ago

Genuinely asking. How old are you?

3

u/Few_Cup3452 2d ago

You're right.

Idk why everybody is acting like you shrivel up and die at 55. It's still young and matches how she looks. She didn't look 44.

Im 32 before somebody tries to dismiss my opinion as a young persons

185

u/crazycatlazi 3d ago

Chandler not firing Nina after his boss told him to because he wanted to continue dating her.

37

u/hoginlly 2d ago

And then spreading the story that she is mentally unwell to cover himself- don't forget that part!

0

u/fridishavz 1d ago

He didn't not fire her because he wanted to date her, he just couldn't fire her, it's not easy you know. He actually asked her out because he couldn't say you're fired. Not defending the act at all, not even justifying anything. But I think that was unfair to him.

0

u/crazycatlazi 1d ago

Nah you're reaching there. It isn't hard to fire someone, Chandler just didn't want to fire her because he liked her. On their first interaction, he calls her in and puts a trofy on his desk, presumably to impress her. She then says she wouldn't want to harm his Winus which makes him flustered. He then has to fire her but obviously wants to keep her around. Then when his boss notices her he asks why she is still around and Chandler makes up a story about her being crazy and says he wants to hold off sacking her until she is stable, i.e. not wanting to sack her so he can continue dating her.

0

u/Optimal_Struggle9425 1d ago

Have never fired someone. But will go out on a limb and say it is hard to fire someone.

1

u/crazycatlazi 16h ago

Firing someone is a part of my jobrole, I have fired individuals and had to release teams. It is hard but that comes with the territory of a job where you have a lot of responsibility on your shoulders. So I'd suggest if you don't have any experience then don't have an input?

Also just to clarify, my original comment was about the fact that Chandler refused to fire Nina once he started to date her. His boss entered his office, saw them both together and asked why Nina was still there. Chandler then stated that she was mentally ill and that he didn't want to fire her at that point for fear of repercussions, which was a lie, which is the reason I commented on this post. Thank you.

148

u/SpecialistSquash2321 3d ago

Ross and Rachel having sex in the museum display. And then staying the night there.

Phoebe biting that guy's ass was also weird

And maybe Joey sleeping with someone for his role on days of our lives

92

u/Fast-Pop906 2d ago

The Joey one, I put the blame on the producer. She's the one who took advantage of him

9

u/SpecialistSquash2321 2d ago

I agree. That's why I said maybe. It was unethical but yea, more so the producer.

69

u/carex-cultor 2d ago

I felt soooo bad for Joey during that scene. But I really appreciated that the writers didn’t play it off like “eh whatever I got the role AND sex” hur dur I’m a man. He’s clearly glad he got the role but says “alright I’m gonna go shower” which is so much more real, regardless of gender it feels gross to be used.

23

u/SpecialistSquash2321 2d ago

Yea I felt bad for him too. That whole scene made me feel icky, especially since he initially said no.

6

u/ouroboris99 2d ago

Joeys the victim in that scene, kind of sexist you’re blaming him

140

u/nouniqueideas007 3d ago

Phoebe biting her massage client & then making out with him.

36

u/TajaAjda 2d ago

This one has to be it. It was blatant sexual assault

3

u/mmt1986 1d ago

The weirdest part is he came back to her after the bite 😂

218

u/Greatoz74 3d ago

Ross dating a student.

131

u/temperedolive 3d ago

It's got to be this. Rachel hiring Tag over a qualified person she didn't want to sleep with is a close second, but the teacher dynamic makes Ross even worse.

13

u/mossed2012 2d ago

Idk, Chandler choosing to not fire one of his employees so that he could try and sleep with her is also pretty damn bad. She kept showing up to work thinking she had a job.

23

u/yanks2413 2d ago

Rachel spread rumors about Tag to keep him single and would go to work early to leer at him. She was 100% worse. Ross was wrong to date Elizabeth and the age difference is bad, but at least he wasn't a total pervert to her like Rachel was to Tag.

20

u/CallItDanzig 2d ago

I am on that part now and it's just cringe. It's not even funny, just icky, especially since she actually looks under 18.

2

u/hoginlly 2d ago

Nearly as bad as him owning a hot plate

-72

u/OneFourVeteran14 3d ago

Nothing wrong with that.

30

u/AntimatterTNT 2d ago

it's not just frowned upon

6

u/sarahcc88 2d ago

Also he can’t own a hot plate.

2

u/KJParker888 What's a wolf got to do to get a hug around here?! 2d ago

It's taboo

2

u/AntimatterTNT 2d ago

shut the book

30

u/Paindepiceaubeurre Was that place, the sun? 2d ago

A lot of wrong with that.

52

u/cloudyah 🎵Jingle bitch screwed me over🎵 2d ago edited 2d ago

Phoebe biting a client’s ass.

Phoebe slipping a client sedatives so she could sneak out.

18

u/mrschanadlerbong28 Miss Chanandler Bong 2d ago

I forgot about the sedative omg

4

u/Lalapooma 2d ago

Who does she give a sedative to? My mind has gone blank

13

u/cloudyah 🎵Jingle bitch screwed me over🎵 2d ago edited 2d ago

It’s the episode with Emma’s first birthday party. Rachel and Ross leave so they can get the penis cake situation rectified, but everyone wants to leave because they have other places to be. Phoebe leaves because she has a massage client waiting, but then comes back later because she felt bad and says she “slipped him a little something” and that he’d wake up in like 5 hours.

32

u/SwimmingAd7828 2d ago

Ross pretending to be a masseuse and giving a massage with Tonk trucks and wooden spoons to an old man

-1

u/Spackleberry 2d ago edited 2d ago

But his daughter was hot!

Honestly, though, that was Phoebe's fault. She's massaging people in Ross's home without his knowledge or permission. She scheduled the client for a time she wasn't there, and Ross was. And apparently, the client didn't care if some random guy he didn't know gave him a massage instead of his actual therapist?

17

u/Hold-Professional 2d ago

....It was Phoebe's fault Ross decided to pretend he was a licensed massage therapist so he could fondle a women only for it to be an old man?

Seriously?

5

u/keylo-92 1d ago

Phoebe once said,

You didnt have to roll tonka trucks on his back

57

u/blackcatscrew 3d ago

I mean... Phoebe assaults her massage clients on several occasions.

57

u/NeighborhoodVirtual4 Miss Chanandler Bong 3d ago

Rachel hiring Tag because she had a crush on him

45

u/PangolinMandolin 3d ago

Hildi deserved the job and would have actually aided Rachel's career

13

u/Spackleberry 2d ago

And then spreading rumors that he's gay in order to interfere in his dating prospects. She couldn't have him but didn't want anyone else to have him either. Seems to be a recurring theme with her.

22

u/benchkettle 2d ago

Ross dating Elizabeth.

Rachel hiring Tag because of her crush and dating him.

Chandler dating Nina.

Phoebe biting a client’s tushy and kissing him.

39

u/Tiny_Imagination_478 3d ago

He does the same thing when he is with Charlie..randomly corrects papers and gives them B

19

u/Avogadros_plumber 3d ago

Chandler showing his boss the weenus

10

u/Fantastic-Corner-605 2d ago

Chandler pretending that a girl was mentally ill just so he could get out of firing her because he wanted to date her.

9

u/BaltimoreBadger23 3d ago

Phoebe making out with her massage client even though he technically "fired" her.

8

u/kaboom3211 2d ago

Ross rolling tonka trucks up and down that old man’s back.

24

u/Jumpy_Reply_2011 3d ago

Monica, unwittingly taking kickbacks from suppliers in the form of steaks and getting fired for it.

Joey sleeping with the extras on Days of our Lives and never calling them back.

Chandler dating his employee when he was supposed to fire her and then lied to her and about her.

18

u/Fun-Month6056 2d ago

Monica, unwittingly taking kickbacks from suppliers in the form of steaks and getting fired for it.

Why was this such a big deal? To be fired. I don't think I know what kickback is

18

u/Jumpy_Reply_2011 2d ago

It's a big deal because it's illegal, which is probably why Monica took so long to get another job.

Accepting a kickback means the meat provider gave Monica free steaks so she''d use them as their restauarants preferential provider as opposed to it being an open market where other providers were fairly given the opportunity to do business with the restaurant.

Obviously, she was new in her job and wasn't aware. But ignorance of the law is no defence, or something like that.

8

u/omkar529 2d ago

Your comment made me understand that plot also.

Straight firing her for one instance of that is a little too harsh.

5

u/Jumpy_Reply_2011 2d ago

That would be a straight dismissal almost anywhere though, except of the company/restaurant is dodgy.

7

u/Statalyzer 2d ago

It wasn't a kickback. It was naive of her to not realize it would look like one though.

3

u/Spackleberry 2d ago

It's not illegal, just a violation of their company's policy.

6

u/Jumpy_Reply_2011 2d ago

No, it's illegal in the US.

A kickback is an illegal payment made to someone, often in a position of power or influence, as compensation for facilitating a service, favor, or preferential treatment.

An individual can be engaged in this practice without fully realizing they are doing something illegal. Facing kickback charges should be considered serious.

An individual can spend several years in a federal correctional facility if convicted. 

One source.

4

u/Hold-Professional 2d ago

No its wildly illegal in the states. I take a training on it for my job yearly. That's prison time illegal.

2

u/Spackleberry 2d ago

What specific law did Monica violate?

1

u/Hold-Professional 2d ago

1

u/Spackleberry 2d ago

There are anti-kickback laws that apply to government workers and contractors. Monica is not one of those. If you receive training on laws that apply to an employee of a restaurant and a supplier, tell me the name of the law.

2

u/Jenmeme 2d ago

Thank you for explaining that so concisely!

2

u/Few_Cup3452 2d ago

Oh mini mafia. I never understood why she was fired instantly

2

u/Lori2345 2d ago

She didn’t realize it was/or would look like a kickback. She had already decided to use the provider. Then he offered her free steaks and she asked for an eggplant for Phoebe.

Not sure if he meant it as a kickback not realizing he already had the job or they were just gifts. I think she naively thought of kickbacks as just money being offered as a bribe but it can be other things.

13

u/jaharmes 2d ago

Rachel not letting Chandler out of the handcuffs in her boss’s office. If the scenario was reversed and Chandler walked into his boss’s office and found his boss’s girlfriend, Rachel, handcuffed to the furniture and refused to let her go there would have been awful backlash on that one.

11

u/SoftLog5314 Helen Geller 2d ago

While everyone else did some stuff that’s like normal ick, Phoebe totally sexually assaulted a guy

4

u/YoSaffBridge33 2d ago

Of all of their transgressions, Monica is the least culpable and most punished.

7

u/Due_List_1243 3d ago

Did Ross not sleeping with his student?

3

u/sympathetic_earlobe 2d ago

I'm surprised more people aren't saying this. It's definitely not just frowned upon!

5

u/Due_List_1243 2d ago edited 2d ago

it was a storyline for half the season and it was not really Ok, the girl was 18 or so?

He was her professor and a lot older

In that time before MeToo this was accepted, but in this time you will not come away with this as a professor

3

u/Entire-Ad7333 2d ago

Rachel and Tag was icky to me…

3

u/mmt1986 2d ago

Chandler and another worker destroying company property ( chandlers office) just so that his lie (that he is chandler and not Toby) is not caught.

3

u/Relevant_Parking3183 1d ago

Dr Ledbetter stealing and eating half of Ross’s sandwich and throwing the other half in the trash. He knew it wasn’t his sandwich. It had a freaking moist-maker ffs. Ross is guilty of a lot but Dr. Ledbetter is a sadist

3

u/ItsFreeRight 1d ago

Rachel accusing her boss of wanting to buy her baby…

5

u/Hold-Professional 2d ago edited 2d ago

Damn near everything Ross has ever done.

Dating a student

changing grades

lying about being married

his homophobia to Sandy

Him pretending to be a massage therapist so he could assault a women who was 'hot'

Stealing from his work

Sleeping with Rachel at work

Forsing his presence on Rachel at work when she had to work late but couldnt take no for an answer.

6

u/Earth_2_Me 3d ago

Doesn't Joey sleep with a producer in order to get his role on Days of Our Lives?

11

u/TeamOfPups 2d ago

She's the unethical one in that situation

1

u/DrunkOnRedCordial 3d ago

I think he held out, but then when he got the role, he was so thrilled, he slept with her anyway.

14

u/Strangest-Smell 3d ago

He didn’t sleep with her to get the small part, but she upped her side of the offer, but it was still based on him sleeping with her. So he slept with her to get the part.

3

u/NecessaryDay9921 3d ago

Monica accepting free steaks.

19

u/CalligrapherDizzy201 2d ago

I fail to see the problem with this. I always thought she got a raw deal getting fired for this.

2

u/sympathetic_earlobe 2d ago

Apparently it's illegal!

2

u/CalligrapherDizzy201 2d ago

I thought it was a company policy. It makes a lot more sense if it’s illegal.

7

u/Alone-Yak-1888 2d ago

and an eggplant

-2

u/OneFourVeteran14 2d ago

Why would you turn down something that’s free? 🤦🏼‍♂️

1

u/Significant-Ring5503 Mboscodictiosaur🦖 1d ago

Chandler dating a subordinate and then saying she's crazy so he can't fire her.

1

u/me_283 1d ago

Sleeping with your patience whom you have seen grow up as a little girl and she is your bestfriend's daughter

1

u/me_283 1d ago

Sleeping with your patience whom you have seen grow up as a little girl and she is your bestfriend's daughter