I count items in containers to get averages so the company knows how much stuff is processed - how to allocate people and how much to charge customers etc.

Someone on the shift after mine unbiasedly counted a load of containers rammed full of items and came up with the idea that they're sorting ~1 million more items per year than they get credit for.

So I was asked to count a load more of those containers. Lo and behold my figures didn't reflect theirs AT ALL.

An arsey colleague comes along making snidey comments (to other colleagues but within earshot of me) about what I'm doing.

I tried explaining what I was doing, he didn't get it or calm down so I just gave up; shrugged, smiled (which annoyed him even more) and continued getting my counts. If he'd have politely approached and asked me, I wouldn't have minded and would've happily explained. I've no reason to fuck them over, I just want to achieve my targets and go home.

You'd think a man in his 50s would know how averages work. Argh.