# The Office (02/05) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 6, 2009, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-02-05/484699 "2009-02-06T14:39:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-02-05/484699/41 "2009-02-07T04:01:13Z")
> [@wmulax93](#): > > The show is less funny because of Michael. Seriously, I cringe every time he’s on screen now. He’s turned into latter-day Homer Simpson, and I can’t keep suspending my disbelief. I thought they’d toned him down a bit in the last couple of episodes, but he was back to being totally over the top this time out. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-02-05/484699/42 "2009-02-07T04:27:34Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > No way Dunder-Mifflin wouldn’t have a corporate newsletter that has announcements like weddings in it. Both my husband’s and my companies put our wedding in their newsletter. DM isn’t that big. Everybody would have known Karen got married. My company has like five or six branches. I have no idea what goes on at the other offices. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-02-05/484699/43 "2009-02-07T04:38:19Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > No way Dunder-Mifflin wouldn’t have a corporate newsletter that has announcements like weddings in it. Both my husband’s and my companies put our wedding in their newsletter. DM isn’t that big. Everybody would have known Karen got married. :dubious: This is not some universal truth here. And in the companies I’ve worked in, personal milestones don’t get into the company newsletter unless you ask to have them put in yourself. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-02-05/484699/44 "2009-02-07T04:50:27Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > I thought they’d toned him down a bit in the last couple of episodes, but he was back to being totally over the top this time out. Yep. Steve Carrel is really, really good at walking the line between over-the-top and weird but believable. I just wish he’d do it more. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-02-05/484699/45 "2009-02-07T04:56:58Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > My company has like five or six branches. I have no idea what goes on at the other offices. The office I worked at (until last week) actually had a party planing committee. The cakes were good. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-02-05/484699/46 "2009-02-07T05:48:11Z")
I think Andy should be handed the keys to the party planning committee. I bet the Nard Dog would totally rock at it. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-02-05/484699/47 "2009-02-07T07:24:00Z")
As far as I can tell this is the first time I have seen a customer in the office for a sales call. I got a kick out of the Nard-dog asking if he could go get his coat. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-02-05/484699/48 "2009-02-07T07:33:03Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > :dubious: > > This is not some universal truth here. And in the companies I’ve worked in, personal milestones don’t get into the company newsletter unless you ask to have them put in yourself. My company has one big location and several smaller ones. I don’t even think we have a corporate newsletter (although someone will often email out announcements like marriages and births) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Batman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@The\_Batman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Batman)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-02-05/484699/49 "2009-02-07T07:40:44Z")
What happened to Ryan? He’s not even in the background. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-02-05/484699/50 "2009-02-07T13:18:55Z")
Ryan went off to Thailand but not before he screwed Kelly one last time and took some money from her. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-02-05/484699/51 "2009-02-07T13:56:23Z")
Well, OK, I stand corrected. But my husband’s newsletter has the people in the Swiss branch who get married and have kids. In Switzerland. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-02-05/484699/52 "2009-02-07T21:13:38Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > Nonsense. It spoiled the fact that Karen was pregnant. I don’t want to know anything about an episode until I see the episode. I would have been much more surprised if I hadn’t known that Karen was going to be pregnant. Don’t even bother. Most people have come to understand – spoiler boxing promos is a very simple thing to do, and will do so as a common courtesy. And some people will simply continue not doing it, simply because “it’s not against the rules”. We’re well past the point of people not understanding the argument – it’s all about how much of an ass someone can be now. Sucks, but it’s really past the point of complaining any more. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-02-05/484699/53 "2009-02-07T21:19:40Z")
Exactly. Why can’t people show some simple consideration to their fellow fans? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-02-05/484699/54 "2009-02-07T23:22:37Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > Don’t even bother. Most people have come to understand – spoiler boxing promos is a very simple thing to do, and will do so as a common courtesy. And some people will simply continue not doing it, simply because “it’s not against the rules”. We’re well past the point of people not understanding the argument – it’s all about how much of an ass someone can be now. Sucks, but it’s really past the point of complaining any more. There’s a point at which demanding spoiler tags for every slightest thing crosses over from reasonable to being petty and imposing. Just because somebody doesn’t submit to an overbroad imposition (or, as in this case, posts without even knowing that someone might call it a “spoiler”) doesn’t make them an “ass.” ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-02-05/484699/55 "2009-02-07T23:42:59Z")
I don’t mind being spoiled by a promo. Hell, I probably know more about what’s to come in the show than most people here, because I seek it out. I’ll ‘spoiler box’ any info on upcoming episodes, but if go so far as to avoid seeing the promo, (must be difficult at times), then why not try to avoid it further and not enter the thread. Even if there’s no spoiler box, wouldn’t it be just as easy, if not easier, to avoid those posts as it would be a TV ad? That’s just my opinion. Not trying to ruffle feathers, and will use a spoiler box if I talk about an upcoming episode. If one were to make an argument that the PROMO’S spoil too much for those wanting to be surprised, I would understand that. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-02-05/484699/56 "2009-02-08T00:53:06Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > There’s a point at which demanding spoiler tags for every slightest thing crosses over from reasonable to being petty and imposing. Just because somebody doesn’t submit to an overbroad imposition (or, as in this case, posts without even knowing that someone might call it a “spoiler”) doesn’t make them an “ass.” And this is what _does_ make someone an “ass” – when someone knows full well where the line is, but doesn’t care about what anyone else thinks. Your “in this case” doesn’t even play here, since we’re dealing the theoretical. Still, the simple request has been made, repeatedly, not to openly talk about the previews. You choose to ignore that, and that’s fine – there’s not a person on this board who would expect more of you. The discussion comes up for others who may not know that the request is out there – if it’s not part of the show proper, then please spoiler it. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-02-05/484699/57 "2009-02-08T01:00:42Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > That’s just my opinion. Not trying to ruffle feathers, and will use a spoiler box if I talk about an upcoming episode. If one were to make an argument that the PROMO’S spoil too much for those wanting to be surprised, I would understand that. Much appreciated. For me, I stop watching at the end of the show. Everything I watch I watch on DVR, so I never see a commercial. I know the shows I like, and I’m going to watch them no matter what is in the promo, so I’d prefer to go in and be surprised. If I happen to see something that’s coming up, ah well, not the end of the world. The only problem here is when people decide that other people’s requests are inconsequential to their world. If others want to watch promos, previews, read spoiler boards, however far anyone wants to take it – that’s just fine by me. We just ask that you don’t go out of your way to ruin (and I’d love to come up with a better word, for “ruin” is obviously far too strong in this case) it those of us who want to remain in the dark. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-02-05/484699/58 "2009-02-08T01:37:46Z")
Well, but not putting stuff that’s in the ads in spoiler boxes isn’t “going out of your way to ruin it” it for anyone. It’s just not going out of your way to cater to someone else’s potentially overbroad standards. Sure it’s not a lot of extra hassle to put in a spoiler box, but it _is_ extra hassle. And if someone doesn’t want to go to extra hassle to cater to you, that doesn’t make them an ass. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-02-05/484699/59 "2009-02-08T01:52:14Z")
Aren’t the promos basically the commercials that are shown constantly and without warning during other shows? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-02-05/484699/60 "2009-02-08T02:29:17Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > And this is what _does_ make someone an “ass” – when someone knows full well where the line is, but doesn’t care about what anyone else thinks. > > Your “in this case” doesn’t even play here, since we’re dealing the theoretical. Still, the simple request has been made, repeatedly, not to openly talk about the previews. This request is unreasonable and ridiculous. It’s this request itself that’s rude, not declining to cater to it. Demanding that people spoiler commercials is ludicrous. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-02-05/484699.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-02-05/484699.md?page=4)