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The original was posted on /r/maliciouscompliance by /u/rvralph803 on 2024-08-08 16:16:29+00:00.

The Background:

At the end of last year we were informed to greatly reduce our print requests sent to our district printshop because costs had gone up, and we had spent something like $20k in printing. We were informed that it was “acktuhalllllly cheaper” to print on-site because of the stellar deal they worked out with Toshiba (their name be praised).

Three days ago in our all-site meeting we were told in no uncertain terms that the only jobs to be sent to print shop were things that absolutely could not be accomplished on-site. Things like posters or bound documents.

Welllllll…

My needs:

I run my course off of a set of carefully curated guided notes, activities and labs that I have developed over the course of years. One packet per unit, and it includes most of the necessary content. These packets range from 10-25 pages, printed front and back, hole punched and corner stapled.

All told I will need to print 11 classes worth of packets, for 10 units, with an average page count of about 15 pages. That works out to around 50,000 pages, or five full boxes of paper.

The story develops:

As a result I have tried to kindly ask for an exception in my case as this is an enormous amount of printing and resource required to accomplish a full year’s worth of packets not just for me, but also for the new guy who is using my curriculum. I have talked with the power players on campus and at every turn I’ve been told that there is just no way because the cost would come out of instructional funds.

I even did a price comparison of what it would cost if I had to print these at Staples. $1000 per unit, vs the $45 from our own print shop. Somehow it’s still “cheaper” to use our printers, paper, toner and staples… not to mention my time.

The Malicious Compliance:

Today I set out to print my first unit of packets. There is only one printer on campus that has all the functions I need to complete the task. It’s in the main office suite.

So Ioad up all of the remaining paper left on-site because of course they haven’t ordered enough or there is a “shortage” or whatever… and then I let this job rip.

I timed the first copy going through. One minute ten seconds. 70 seconds for one. for the 160 I need that’s roughly 3hrs of print time disregarding any minor bullshit I need to attend to, that I will need to babysit this stupid printer to make sure it doesn’t spontaneously combust or something stupid.

About 20 copies in a lady walks in and just looks nonplussed by the fact that things are being printer on the printer she needs. Oh did I mention it’s the only color copier as well, and she only needs one sheet. “I’ll be done in about two hours” I tell her. Fuck em. I told them I’d piss people off if they forced me to do this.

30 copies in the printer starts screaming that it’s got zero black toner left. So not only do we now have no paper, but we also have no toner, because why would you order toner?

40 copies in and a few guys from my department walk in to print something in color and watch in awe as I explain what is occurring. They congratulate me and step away.

50 copies in and the printer is angry and making unhappy noises, beeping non-stop telling me of some impending disaster.

60 copies in and it happens… the printer just can’t do it anymore. I have driven it past its abilities and it has collapsed, both empty of paper and toner. It’s unquenchable thirst for toner has been its demise.

I hope admin has a good time making copies later because this shit is going to be hilarious when I do it again in two weeks.

Edit: Oh, and for those who will say “Why don’t you go digital” – Because we were told that we don’t have enough computers for kids this year. So we are not going to be 1:1 in the classroom.