When 'Read-Only' Goes Wrong: The Legendary Tale of Kevin, a PDF, and the Laminator
If you’ve ever worked in an office, you know there’s always that one coworker whose antics become the stuff of breakroom legend. Maybe it’s the guy who microwaves fish, or the person who thinks “Reply All” is a personal challenge. But sometimes, just sometimes, someone comes along and raises the bar for workplace comedy. Enter Kevin.
Now, Kevin isn’t your run-of-the-mill office joker. No, Kevin’s the kind of coworker who takes instructions very, very literally. So literally, in fact, that when he encountered a “read-only” PDF file, he decided to make it—wait for it—permanent. How? By laminating his computer screen. Yes, you read that right.
Let’s set the scene: A bustling office. The hum of printers, the clack of keyboards, the distant whir of the laminator. Suddenly, a scent of melting plastic fills the air. You and a few coworkers follow your noses (and a creeping sense of foreboding) to Kevin’s desk. There he is, meticulously running a laminating machine over his monitor, brow furrowed in concentration.
“Kevin, what are you doing?” someone finally asks, equal parts concerned and fascinated.
Kevin doesn’t miss a beat. “The file said it was ‘read-only,’ so I’m making it permanent.”
The room falls silent. Somewhere, a coffee mug pauses mid-air. And just as you start to process what’s happening, there’s a quiet crack—his monitor succumbing to the heat of the laminator, the ultimate victim in this battle for document preservation.
A Closer Look at Kevin Logic
Let’s give Kevin some credit: he’s nothing if not committed. In a world where digital files float ephemerally in the cloud, Kevin wanted to anchor his PDF in the physical realm. No hacker, glitch, or accidental deletion would erase his “read-only” masterpiece—not on his watch!
But somewhere between intention and execution, the chain of logic snapped like his poor monitor. Laminating documents is a time-honored way to protect important papers—menus, ID cards, that crayon drawing your kid made. But computer screens? Not so much.
The Literal-Minded Among Us
We all know a Kevin, and sometimes we are the Kevin. Instructions can be confusing, especially when presented in the cryptic language of tech. “Read-only” sounds serious, doesn’t it? It conjures images of museum archives and ancient scrolls, not a simple software restriction. To Kevin’s credit, he took action—just not the action anyone expected.
It’s easy to laugh, but this story is also a reminder: office life is full of moments where communication breaks down, and assumptions run wild. Next time you write an instructional email or slap a warning on a file, remember Kevin. Maybe, just maybe, a little extra explanation goes a long way.
Office Folklore: The Legend Grows
Of course, the best part about stories like Kevin’s isn’t just the one-time spectacle—it’s how the tale grows in the retelling. Months from now, new hires will hear whispers of “The Great Laminator Incident.” Kevin’s monitor will become an office relic. Someone will inevitably threaten to “laminate” their own screen as a joke, and everyone will laugh, united in the shared absurdity of it all.
And poor Kevin? He might be a little embarrassed, but he’s also now a legend. Besides, how many of us can say we tried to make digital files truly permanent?
Let’s Hear Your Kevins
Do you have a Kevin in your office? Or maybe you’ve been a Kevin yourself (we won’t judge, promise). Share your most hilarious workplace misunderstandings in the comments! After all, it’s these moments of confusion, creativity, and comedy that make the 9-to-5 grind a little more bearable.
So, next time you see a “read-only” file, remember: some things are better left un-laminated.
Have you witnessed an epic office blunder or a creative misunderstanding? Drop your stories below and let’s keep the laughter going!
Original Reddit Post: My coworker Kevin tried to 'save' a PDF by laminating his computer screen.