Mindless Chatter

    I am sure we are all guilty of this “mindless chatter” at some point in our lives. Maybe some more than others. Well, I think they all work with me here.

    First off, let me tell you a little about the environment where I work. It is a small office inside a larger office. They call us the “fishbowl.” But, there are no windows. There are four cubicles and all but one is occupied. The empty one is for anyone that needs a quick desk and/or phone.

    I myself don’t mind a little conversation during the work day to break up the monotony. We spend a lot of time here, and talking to each other about personal things is normal. I do not have a problem with that at all. What I do have a problem with is when it is ALL THE TIME. How many times in one week or one day do I have to hear about your cat or dog? About how you are potty training your child? And this is not for just a few minutes and then it is done. This is for about 15 minutes SEVERAL TIMES A DAY EVERY DAY! It really makes me wonder how this company survives if all their employees are yapping all day.

    I think what is even more annoying is when you cannot hear the people talking. I am not an eavesdropper by all means, and I really could not care what they are saying, but the “pss, pss, pss” sound is more irritating than the talking itself. Why whisper? If you are whispering, then maybe you should NOT be saying it in the first place?

    Another pet peeve I have here at work is the “office politics.” I think these two are really close. I am here to work, make my money, leave and get home to my family. I don’t want to hear the latest gossip on whether or not “Jane” is hung over or if she is sleeping with “John.”

    I may sound like a person that does not get along well with others, but in fact I get along with almost anyone and any type of person. I get invited to events that happen out of work, as well as events and conversations that happen inside work. What is strange though, is the more you get involved with the people at work on a personal level, the more you are going to be a victim to the “office politics/gossip” and the “Mindless chatter.” I myself have enough going on in my life, and I do not need it. But then again, if you choose to stay out of the “loop” at work, you can also be victim to the same bullshit. So you are damned if you do, and damned if you don’t. I guess you just have to put yourself somewhere in the middle ground. I guess it really comes down to respect. Respect for your co workers. No one here has that.

    Oh, and another things that bugs me is when I receive an email and the sentence is “This is suppose to go out today.” Bad grammar makes me nuts sometimes. The word is “SUPPOSED” with a “D.” The reason spell check does not catch it is because “suppose” is also a word.