MetaChat - Office Dra-ha-ha-ma

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04 March 2010

Office Dra-ha-ha-ma →[More:]I'm hiding away from people at work today because there's been an enormous blow-up of an interpersonal issue that's been boiling under the surface for months, if not over a year. I've been trying not to be a part of it by lying low and flying under the radar. Not engaging with the people, etc. Doing what I'm supposed to do and not getting snared when people try to bring me in. There are multiple people and "sides" involved, and one side is currently ranting to whoever will listen while the other is boycotting cake the boss brought in for someone's birthday.

I must be successfully keeping my distance, because I think the whole thing is rather funny.

post by: Stewriffic at: 13:28 | 28 comments

Boycotting cake?!? Does not compute.

posted by octothorpe 04 March | 13:34

Both sides are behaving badly, in my opinion. The cake boycott, though, was rather hurtful to the birthday co-worker, who isn't embroiled in this at all.

posted by Stewriffic 04 March | 13:44

When I worked for the University of Texas, I was in an office of over 300 people. It was always someone's birthday. One of our office staffers would always excuse herself from joining in for cake and one day I asked her about it. She said that she really didn't know anyone well enough to join into their birthday parties, and in some cases, didn't like the birthday boy or girl and felt that it would be hypocritical to join in.

I casually mentioned that I'd celebrate anyone's birthday just to get some cake. "Hell," I said, "If you brought a cake here for Hitler's birthday, I'd have a slice."

I didn't realize at the time but the person I jokingly mentioned this to: a. was Jewish and b. shared her birthday (April 20) with Hitler himself.

And I had a little mandatory sensitivity visit with the Human Resources Department the next day.

posted by ColdChef 04 March | 14:15

On the plus(-size) side, boycott mean an extra slice of cake for you. You owe to the birthday boy/girl to eat an extra slice or three.

posted by danostuporstar 04 March | 14:18

People who share Hitler's birthday, holllllllllla!

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 04 March | 14:25

ColdChef - as a Jew, I found that story hilarious.

posted by serazin 04 March | 14:44

Aw Stewie, that sucks. I hope you at least got some cake and got to give the birthday coworker good wishes!

posted by leesh 04 March | 14:49

dano's got it: that cake is for YOU & the bday girl! have at it!

posted by chewatadistance 04 March | 14:54

And I had a little mandatory sensitivity visit with the Human Resources Department the next day.

Where you got counseling that perhaps you would work best with dead people.

I am aware that you deal with the live people side of things but I could not resist the joke. It's a boomer thing.

posted by danf 04 March | 14:56

Ha!

danf, I actually think explaining that deep inside, you really are more sensitive and aware than the joke might indicate is the boomer-y part. ;)

posted by Miko 04 March | 15:05

I too would eat Hitler cake so long as it's cake, ColdChef, and what's more, I snorked coffee up into my nose reading that.

Stewriffic, sorry you're weathering the office bluster. Blah. On the other hand, more cake for them as wants it. I am always in favor of more cake.

posted by Elsa 04 March | 15:06

Office drama is the worstest. People get so much more invested in it than they do with a lot of other of life's drama's. I think it comes from spending 8 hours in one stretch in one place. That doesn't happen in most of the rest of life.

posted by mudpuppie 04 March | 15:10

omg DRAHHHMAAAA!! Nice that you're laying low and can maintain optimism and perspective, Stewie :)

as an aside, I really enjoyed my job at CU, aside from 2 minor issues: the fact that they paid us records control peons in dead bugs and pocket lint, and the endless, over-the-top ZOMGOFFICEDRAHMAAAAA!!! -- which, thankfully we were mainly shielded from actual involvement in by virtue of a competent direct manager and a physical locale that was locked away in a records archive, far from the main sources.

Tho working as I did with 2 enthusiastically queeny gay guys, plus our outspokenly snarky manager, meant we were all kept well up to speed in the DramaSaga. Which was, in retrospect, extremely entertaining now that I think on it. Sort of a mashup of Gilbert and Sullivan vs. Office Space

posted by lonefrontranger 04 March | 15:49

Yeah, offices are weird, weird, weird. Someone the other day complemented me on my calm and even office temper amidst a fairly dramatic workplace. I thanked her, but inside I was smiling at my secret: It's really just that I actually don't care.

posted by Miko 04 March | 16:08

I am SO glad that there is not that drama on internet sites. Because that would really be bad.

posted by danf 04 March | 16:32

Oh, YEAH? Well I think it would be GREAT!

posted by Miko 04 March | 16:41

Why would you say something like that to my boy danf, Miko??? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU???? HEY EVERYBODY MIKO IS A MEANIE FACE MONSTER POO

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 04 March | 16:57

As if I needed someone to stick up for me TPS! This is between me and MONSTER POO over there!

posted by danf 04 March | 17:23

"Well I think it would be GREAT!"

That's easy for you to say. You never post comments at which others point and say, "Wow, what an asshole!"

posted by Ardiril 04 March | 17:24

When I worked for the University of Texas, I was in an office of over 300 people.

Dear Lord. 300 people? The students must have been dropping like flies to require a staff that big.

posted by ROU Xenophobe 04 March | 17:48

ColdChef's Huge Staff would be a great name for a band.

posted by ColdChef 04 March | 18:44

You never post comments at which others point and say, "Wow, what an asshole!"

YEAH WELL IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO START! I THINK CUTE BUNNIES MAKE FOR A DELICIOUS DINNER! HOW'S THAT?

posted by Miko 04 March | 21:47

It's really just that I actually don't care.

I'm seeing a multi-million-dollar self-help book contract in this offhand statement of yours.

posted by jason's_planet 04 March | 21:52

I hate workplace drama. Working in a newsroom (which is like a pressure-cooker for personalities) and being a video editor (which means I have a small edit room with a door that closes) means I have played the "shoulder to cry on" SO many times over the years. Having a beard and a quiet demeanor means people will mistake you for their rabbi or priest in times of stress. The edit bay looks like a confessional, I guess. Good grief, the shit I've heard from screamy/weepy/emotional people over the years.

It doesn't happen as much anymore, due to me working on long-form projects that take months to put together. I'm off in my corner doing my thing, and not interacting with very many people. But man in the old days when I was doing day-of-air stuff, it got crazy sometimes.

posted by BoringPostcards 04 March | 22:47

Not bad, Miko, but you should follow my lead more.

I have played the "shoulder to cry on" SO many times over the years. - ... and a very comforting shoulder at that.

posted by Ardiril 04 March | 23:42

Also a Jew and not offended by what ColdChef said.

I've attended a bat mitzvah shabbat service, though I didn't know the girl--but felt leery of partaking of the oneg provided by her family.

posted by brujita 05 March | 00:19

Having a beard and a quiet demeanor means people will mistake you for their rabbi or priest in times of stress.

I think this is the first time I've ever been happy I can't grow a beard. I'd never thought of it this way.

Count me in as a birthday boycotter as well. If it's someone that I'm close enough to (as in, would hang out with outside of the office) I'll go, but that only covers half a dozen or so out of hundreds. I actually asked my manager to not throw a party for my birthday last year. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a grump about my own birthday by any stretch of the imagination, but I find file cabinet parties to be SO AWKWARD and it's my birthday, and my birthday wish is to not have it.

posted by SpiffyRob 05 March | 07:57

Having a beard and a quiet demeanor means people will mistake you for their rabbi or priest in times of stress.

Haha!

posted by Miko 05 March | 09:20

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