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Mary Thompson talks about workplace pranks and practical jokes.

Carl and Mary Thompson interviewed by James Leloudis, Charlotte, NC, July 9, 1979. Interview #H-182 in the Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007), Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Audio File: 

Mary Thompson Part 8 by LEARN NC

Duration: 
:51
Transcript: 

Audio Transcript

Jim Leloudis
Did you ever pull pranks on one another, practical jokes?
Mary Thompson
No. My mother always taught us it was childish to have practical jokes, that you could hurt people, it was dangerous, and it wasn’t fair to the other fellow.
Jim Leloudis
Did any of the other women ever do things like that to one another?
Mary Thompson
No, they never did have no trouble with them. I’ve seen young boys sometime pull practical jokes on people, but the bosses usually called you down on that if you was in the mill, getting loud, because it was dangerous.
Jim Leloudis
What type things would those young guys do? Do you remember any of them?
Mary Thompson
No, I don’t. They’d do anything mean till they get caught. [Laughter] But the bossmen would stop them pretty quick when they found out.
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