I worked in a lab
where we tested samples of polymer, specifically nylon. One of the funny little facts about nylon is that it absorbs water, which then weakens it slightly. So when we were testing samples of polymer pellets, we had to dump out the stuff on top on the theory that it had absorbed some tiny amount of moisture, which might skew the results.

I didn't know this at first, and asked a lab tech to process a small sample. She informed me that the sample was too small, because they had to dump out at least 30 grams of material and use the stuff from under it.

Me: Really? 30 grams? That seems like a lot. Why do we have to dump that out?

Her: Because it's in the standard operating procedure.

Me: Yeah, I know that, but why is it in the procedure?

Her (slowly, as she was obviously talking to a mong): It's in the procedure.

Me: I understand that. But why does the procedure say that?

Her: It's in the procedure! And you never, ever question the procedure!

By this point this middle aged bog troll was red in the face and starting to slam her fist against the counter top. I felt like I had been asking a Christian fundamentalist about why she considered sex to be a sin- she was really getting agitated, and was getting ready to throw me out of the lab for daring to question the procedure.

Sadly, the above is a direct quote from her and not exaggerated or paraphrased in any way. Even though I am an engineer, she still didn't trust me from that day on, and always gave me dirty looks. What a clenchbutt.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Fri 13 May 2005, 15:12, Reply)