“I Didn’t Think It Would Be a Problem”: The Endearingly Oblivious Kevin and the Lessons He Never Learned
Every workplace has its characters—the overachiever, the gossip, the caffeine addict. But sometimes, if you’re very lucky (or unlucky), you get a Kevin. Not just any Kevin, but the kind of Kevin who approaches each day with the blissful confidence of someone who believes consequences are a myth and rules are just polite suggestions. Such is the saga recounted by u/Old-Class-1259 on Reddit’s r/StoriesAboutKevin, featuring an apprentice whose favorite phrase—“I didn’t think it would be a problem”—became the stuff of office legend.
The story of Kevin is both a cautionary tale and a comedy of errors, equal parts facepalm and fond nostalgia. Whether you’re a manager, a coworker, or simply someone who’s ever watched a train wreck in slow motion, you’ll find something to love—and a little to fear—about this chronicle of youthful optimism colliding with adult reality.
Meet Kevin: Apprentice, Optimist, and Serial Rule-Bender
Kevin’s year-long stint with the team was marked by a singular, unwavering belief: nothing he did would ever, could ever, possibly be a problem. Caught accessing systems without authorization? “I didn’t think it would be a problem.” Experimenting with work equipment after being told to save it for his own time? “I didn’t think it would be a problem.” Vaping in a supposedly empty classroom—while the school library was still open? You guessed it.
His catchphrase, delivered with the kind of frustrated sincerity that makes you wonder if he might actually believe it, quickly became legend. As OP recounts, “I lost count of how many times I heard it. And he was only with us less than a year.” Kevin didn’t just make excuses; he made the same excuse, every time. As OP quipped in the comments, “When I was a dickhead teenager I at least tried to come up with different excuses.”
The community couldn’t help but see some of themselves in Kevin. “That does sound like very stereotypical late-teen behaviour,” noted u/Frazzledragon, summing up the general consensus that Kevin’s antics might just be a rite of passage—albeit an extreme one. Yet, as OP countered, most apprentices he’d worked with had been “intelligent, capable, professional and responsible.” Kevin, by contrast, was a one-man sitcom.
Vodka Dreams and Budget Nightmares
Kevin’s optimism wasn’t confined to workplace rules. When asked about his weekend plans, his answer was simple: “Vodka.” At 18, with plans to move out and dreams of parties every weekend, he dismissed gentle warnings about rent and bills on an apprentice wage. Why worry? “He doesn’t think it will be a problem,” OP wrote, echoing the refrain that had become both punchline and prophecy.
This attitude struck a chord with commenters—many of whom remembered their own youthful naiveté. u/PrismInTheDark was reminded of an iconic Cosby Show episode, where Theo’s “no problem” approach to budgeting is hilariously dismantled by his father. It’s a reminder that, while Kevin’s brand of optimism is hardly unique, it’s almost always doomed to crash on the rocks of reality.
And then there was the not-quite-girlfriend. Kevin boasted about a girl who would be “visiting” for the weekend, despite having a girlfriend already. As u/Monotonedef1968 quipped, “I hope that when the girlfriend finds out or catches him, it won't be a problem.” The community, with gallows humor, predicted Kevin’s catchphrase would soon haunt him in his personal life, too.
Lessons from Kevin: Comedy, Concern, and a Dash of Hope
It’s easy to mock Kevin’s obliviousness, but the comments also reveal a certain empathy. “I see potential of him wisening up at some point, or at least hope so,” wrote u/Frazzledragon, capturing the collective wish that Kevin’s real-world misadventures would eventually lead to wisdom. OP agreed—up to a point—admitting he’d been a teenage idiot himself, but noting that Kevin’s lack of improvisation in excuse-making set him apart.
Kevin’s story also brought out tales of other workplace Kevins. u/pacmanfunky shared about a 16-year-old coworker who complained constantly, vanished for weeks, and finally asked for fewer hours—only to be granted “0” by the boss. OP’s reply? “Green as the grass he got high on, nice.” Clearly, Kevin is more archetype than anomaly.
As for Kevin’s fate, there was no dramatic firing—just the quiet end of his apprenticeship. No fireworks, no scandal, just a gentle fade-out. “His apprenticeship came to an end, nothing exciting,” OP confirmed.
From Kevin to the Rest of Us—A Little More Wisdom, Please
So, what’s the moral of the Kevin chronicles? Maybe it’s that every workplace needs a little comic relief, or that we all have a bit of Kevin in us—especially in our younger, more clueless days. As u/Neoxite23 joked, “I didn't think being unemployed would be a problem.” But, as OP and the community seem to agree, the real world has a habit of teaching lessons—eventually.
To all the Kevins out there: may you learn to spot a problem before it spots you. And to everyone else, may you find patience, humor, and maybe a little nostalgia in bearing witness to the next generation’s growing pains.
Have you ever worked with a Kevin? Or been one yourself? Share your stories below—because, let’s be honest, it can’t possibly be a problem… right?
Original Reddit Post: 'I didn't think it would be a problem' Kevin