# Why does "The Office" make me feel weird? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 27, 2006, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-office-make-me-feel-weird/370393 "2006-08-27T07:06:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mesquite-oh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@Mesquite-oh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mesquite-oh)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-office-make-me-feel-weird/370393/1 "2006-08-27T07:06:37Z")
How would you describe what kind of comedy “The Office” is, and why does it make me feel sorta negative and uneasy after watching the show? Does anyone else feel this way? I had never seen a whole episode before, but have seen bits and pieces and thought it was hilarious. Last thurs. I saw 3 whole episodes in a row and I was struck by the seemingly constant overall tone of bitterness. It seems that there is a certain “mean spiritness” to the show. Even the tousled haired guy and the girl-next-door receptionist, who I thought were the characters which are appealing and likeable, are really kinda smarmy and passive aggressive in their own way. Michael is a very depressing character to me. The writers made him sooo sad and pathetic, it makes it hard to laugh at him. I have heard of black comedies and biting satire, but I am not sure if this show fits those categories (or does it?). “Office Space” deals with similar themes and is one of my favorite movies. Even the ultra tense drama “Glenngarry Glenn Ross” didn’t seem as depressing to me. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-office-make-me-feel-weird/370393/2 "2006-08-27T08:30:55Z")
> [@chriscya](#): > > How would you describe what kind of comedy “The Office” is, and why does it make me feel sorta negative and uneasy after watching the show? Does anyone else feel this way? Yes. Though I enjoy the show. Yet, somehow, I sometimes feel “dirty” afterwards. Like I shouldn’t have been laughing. It’s the oddest thing, and I haven’t fully analyzed it. The comments in your OP revolve around whatever the issue is for me, I think. -FrL- ---
**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:** [August 27, 2006, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-office-make-me-feel-weird/370393/3 "2006-08-27T08:31:47Z")
I cringe because it’s so close to real life. That’s also why it’s hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-office-make-me-feel-weird/370393/4 "2006-08-27T08:35:49Z")
I find it hilarious. Although extremely uncomfortable at times. If I were standing there during some of Michael’s comments, I’d be dying on the inside. He reminds me of my ex-husband, who is someone you don’t want to go out in public with as he has no social skills whatsoever and can be embarassing. ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-office-make-me-feel-weird/370393/5 "2006-08-27T08:52:12Z")
Not that familiar with the US version, though I’ve seen a few episodes and have been impressed. The original version is hilarious, one of my favourite comedies. Watching certain characters, or behaviours in characters, mocked so cleverly is not only very funny but heartening and comforting. There are a few people we all meet in real life that show these defective behaviours. Seeing the piss taken in a way that is more subtle that most comedies makes meeting these people more bearable. Have you seen the original version? How do they compare? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/96bed5/32.png) [@Cat\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Jones)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-office-make-me-feel-weird/370393/6 "2006-08-27T09:12:33Z")
Can’t watch it. Can not watch it. I’d actually presumed it was a cultural thing - it’s been a long time since I lived in the UK and I don’t really work in an office environment - but I couldn’t get beyond the discomfort and, at the risk of repeating myself, can not watch it. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-office-make-me-feel-weird/370393/7 "2006-08-27T10:40:39Z")
I know exactly what the OP is talking about. I like the show, but it makes me squirm. This is particularly true when I was going through a really crappy patch at my last job, it was like “I just lived this, now I’m going to watch it?” I get the same feeling if I watch too many episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Best to enjoy them in a single serving. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-office-make-me-feel-weird/370393/8 "2006-08-27T10:50:18Z")
The humor of shame. I know someone who can’t watch Fawlty Towers for the same reason. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-office-make-me-feel-weird/370393/9 "2006-08-27T10:51:23Z")
The UK version of the show was MUCH worse in this regard (for me, at least, and I’ve heard the same from others) – and I’ve heard it compared to _Curb Your Enthusiasm_ and _It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia_, too. It’s almost … sadistic, is the best word I can think of at the moment: you’re laughing, but you feel bad about it because the humor is derived from people being astonishingly stupid, selfish, or downright cruel. I’d say the US version of _The Office_ has gotten a lot better about this, though, I think. It’s not totally focused on making you laugh because of Michael’s amazing ignorance and selfishness; now there’s other stuff, too, and Michael isn’t nearly as Pure Evil as the boss in the UK version was … well, not anymore, he isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-office-make-me-feel-weird/370393/10 "2006-08-27T11:42:48Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > The UK version of the show was MUCH worse in this regard (for me, at least, and I’ve heard the same from others) – and I’ve heard it compared to _Curb Your Enthusiasm_ and _It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia_, too. It’s almost … sadistic, is the best word I can think of at the moment: you’re laughing, but you feel bad about it because the humor is derived from people being astonishingly stupid, selfish, or downright cruel. I think the key is that they aren’t real people. We can feel safe laughing - even cruelly - at horrible people because they won’t suffer. They don’t have mommies who love them. Their careers won’t be ruined. Seeing people like this in real life would horrify me and/or break my heart. But on screen = hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-office-make-me-feel-weird/370393/11 "2006-08-27T13:48:08Z")
Yeah it is remarkably cringeworthy. When I first watched the English original I would sometimes find myself covering my ears, knowing and fearing what was going to come out of David Brent’s mouth. The next Ricky Gervais series _Extras_ is slightly more gentle. I recall that, much though I love _Fawlty Towers_, there was one time that they showed it on TV and I didn’t watch each week because Basil wasn’t funny just maddening. Years later when I saw it again I found him human and hilarious again. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-office-make-me-feel-weird/370393/12 "2006-08-27T14:29:59Z")
There is something completely pathetic about nearly all those characters: Jim is the passive/aggressive “nice guy” who floats in some job he doesn’t care about because it’s comfortable and he pines after the receptionist Pam has abandoned any dreams of doing anything more with her life than being a Dunder Mifflin receptionist engaged to some oaf in the loading docks Dwight is a pathetic dork with dilusions of grandeur. Jim says in best when he states “I’ve never seen a person abuse so little power”. and Michael is simply an arrogrant ass made pathetic by his simultaneous need to be liked while being completely insensitive to everyone else. The least pathetic character is Ryan the temp who is portrayed as a competent business school candidate. But one must ask why he is stuck at a company like Dunder Mifflin. We also see that he is unable to extracate himself from his dysfunctional relationship with Kelly. We are not witnessing high powered lawyers battling over life or death cases or power brokers backstabbing each other over billion dollar deals. The people in The Office appear even more pathetic and petty because of their insignificance. ---
**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:** [August 27, 2006, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-office-make-me-feel-weird/370393/13 "2006-08-27T14:38:38Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > and Michael is simply an arrogrant ass made pathetic by his simultaneous need to be liked while being completely insensitive to everyone else. He is however a good at what he does (at least compared to other managers at Dunder Mifflin). Remember the presentation he give at Corporate? A video diary of everyday Scranton folk or some such? Just as you couldn’t possibly cringe any harder the boss says something like “We were expecting a presntation on sales figures…” “Oh that,” and he gets out the powerpoint and the %s and such - and give a good presentation with good numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-office-make-me-feel-weird/370393/14 "2006-08-27T14:53:46Z")
I haven’t seen The Office, so I’m just guessing, but I suspect that this is about the same as I have for the Coen Brother movies. They take real people and then spend the next two hours making fun of them for being normal people with real problems. Personally it just pisses me off rather than making me laugh, but so it goes. Not sure what sort of humor you would call that. Meanspirited? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-office-make-me-feel-weird/370393/15 "2006-08-27T15:18:08Z")
> [@Sage Rat](#): > > They take real people and then spend the next two hours making fun of them for being normal people with real problems. I see this - and the observations of the other posters who refer to it as cringeworthy. It seems to be part of the progression of TV in our lives - whereas in the beginning, they wouldn’t refer to Lucy and Ricky’s pregnancy except in oblique terms and showed separate beds in the bedroom, now nothing is sacred or held back. Add to that the fact that, while everything is now fair game, humans are incredibly fallible - if we get it right as individuals 20% of the time, we are doing pretty well, but that fallible 80% makes for cringeworthiness and now it is up for grabs on the TV screen. We all have delusions of greatness and think we don’t say stupid shit - and in our heart of hearts, we know we do. The tension between those two feelings are the focus on shows like the Office and make for pretty intimate and uncomfortable viewing if you identify at all with those opposing forces… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-office-make-me-feel-weird/370393/16 "2006-08-27T15:19:28Z")
It’s the genius of the uncomfortable silence. Americans hate silence and will fill any void with meaningless chatter. This series exploits that by having some dimwit arrogant boss who says mean or stupid things. Most people will not challenge what the boss says, regardless of how stupid and unfeeling his/her comments are. Think of your own work situation. When the boss berated someone in public, did you speak up? Did anyone? Of course not. We cringe because it’s too close to life as we know it. It’s also hilarious because Steven Carell (sp?) can do this shtick effortlessly, right down the deliberately awful impressions he does. The other Office inhabitants are people we have all known and recognize. The series is a gem. ---
**Author:** ![Jean\_Poutine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a5b964/32.png) [@Jean\_Poutine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jean_Poutine)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-office-make-me-feel-weird/370393/17 "2006-08-27T15:46:44Z")
If you think the US version makes you uncomfortable, don’t watch the UK version, especially season two. There are moments where David Brent is embarassing himself that are excruciating to watch. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-office-make-me-feel-weird/370393/18 "2006-08-27T15:57:31Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > . > The least pathetic character is Ryan the temp who is portrayed as a competent business school candidate. But one must ask why he is stuck at a company like Dunder Mifflin. We also see that he is unable to extracate himself from his dysfunctional relationship with Kelly. > . During the opening credits we see Ryan holding up a white plastic bag of…something. What is it? Anyone? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-office-make-me-feel-weird/370393/19 "2006-08-27T16:11:59Z")
> [@Sage Rat](#): > > I haven’t seen The Office, so I’m just guessing, but I suspect that this is about the same as I have for the Coen Brother movies. They take real people and then spend the next two hours making fun of them for being normal people with real problems. Personally it just pisses me off rather than making me laugh, but so it goes. > > Not sure what sort of humor you would call that. Meanspirited? I don’t think the Coens or The Office are _making fun_ of ordinary people and their problems. In fact, I think it’s just the opposite. I think what the Coens and The Office recognize is that you don’t have to be a gangster, a beautiful surgeon, a high-powered lawyer or a supermodel to have drama in your life. They prove that you can tell fascinating, compelling stories about normal everyday people. It grants the people who work in boring jobs at Dunder-Mifflin the same level of attention as the beautiful people you see on other shows. Why is The Office cringeworthy? Why does it make you feel uncomfortable? Because it hits home. If The Office were just ham-handedly making fun of its characters, it wouldn’t be nearly as good. The characters are not two-dimensional cut outs. Take Michael, for instance. Sure Michael is selfish and oblivious. But he’s not intentionally mean, just utterly socially inept. He has occasional moments of goodness. Think of the episode where Michael lets it slip at the corporate meeting that he had slept with Jan. Michael does the right thing, dives on the bomb and takes full responsibility. Dwight is capable of being a helpful and friendly co-worker (after a concussion.) On the other hand, the sympathetic characters have their glaring shortcomings. Pam, while cute, funny and sweet, is completely oblivious to Jim’s crush and Roy’s oafishness. Jim is smart and funny but utterly ineffective. The writers have captured the mix of good and bad qualities that we all have (in various proportions), rather than just creating characitures. Personally, I’ve known several Dwights and a few Michaels. Angela is dead-on for a lady I worked with. Plus, they manage to capture the workplace attitudes and environment so well. The little annoyances and idiocies that plague the workplace. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-office-make-me-feel-weird/370393/20 "2006-08-27T16:25:20Z")
Part of the reason it has kind of a creepy feel to it is because they don’t use a laugh track. It puts an entirely different, and in my opinion, more realistic spin on it. It’s not that \*forced hilarity \* that tells you what \*they \* think is funny. That’s how those situations would come down in real life. Uncomfortable “oh-my-god-what-is-he-doing?” stuff that you have to follow through to the inevitable crash-and-burn. I’ve worked with all those people at one time or another in my life. (shudder) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-office-make-me-feel-weird/370393.md?page=2)