I get the “what’s wrong?” a lot. It is usually from the same woman and always in a baby voice. Yeah, I understand we work in a daycare and all, but I am not a child. When you use that voice with me I do not think it is cute or funny. It is annoying and you use it many times a day, many times towards me.
And nothing is wrong. It is early and we have few or no children yet. Let me sit in the quiet while we have it an drink my coffee. It’s going to be six hours of Dora so forgive me if I don’t talk every day. I’ll join the conversation soon enough, so stop with the stupid voice.
Yeah, I’m normally the girl who tells all the stories at work. When it gets slow, I’m pretty much the entertainment. I don’t mind- my coworkers are nice ladies and talking with them is fun. I just need a break every once in a while. The minute I sit down the same person does the “what’s wrong” game and every time I give the same answers. She never really gets it.
I got tired of the “you’re so quiet” crap so now I just say the first thing that pops into my head. No matter how retarded, offensive etc. If I think it, I’ll say it.
Several jobs back, the receptionist paged over the PA system for me to please call her IMMEDIATELY. She wanted to tell me that I had used the “Do Not Disturb” feature of my phone, and so she was unable to forward calls to me. Yes, she WAS blond…how did you guess?
The first thing my cube-neighbor wanted to tell me about herself is that she’s the quiet type. She just likes to work. She doesn’t understand why everyone wants to stand around and talk about silly things all the time. Why, this one time…<insert long anecdote about people who can’t shut up, plus her personal epiphany and how she felt about such things as a child>. I’ve heard her give this speech to many people now. I think she actually believes it, although she’s one of the worst constant talkers I’ve known.
The sad thing is that she’s probably just a lonely old lady who wants a little companionship, and I’m a friendly enough person. We could talk. Only I don’t dare to respond to her or so much as catch her eye, because it starts her up and then there is no fucking end. I was quiet before she came; I’m practically a stone statue now.
“You’re too quiet.”
“Yes, I am a quiet person - I know some people find it unusual.”
“But you’re too quiet… I’m concerned for your sanity”
“My sanity is fine but thanks for your concern. I am just a quiet person by nature and I like that to be respected.”
“But you’re so quiet…it’s just wrong!”
“It’s not wrong, it’s just different to what you are used to. Now I really need to get back to work so I’ll see you later, have a good day!”
This is one of the ‘rules’ I noticed many, many years ago.
If you are a grunt in the company, you are not allowed to have your monitor facing away from traffic. The monitor must be visible from the traffic stream.
I’m not saying this is a written rule, but it does seem to be enforced. Look at the higher ups in the company. Look at how their monitor faces away from the entrance.
When I noticed this I brought it up to coworkers. One, who thought she wasn’t a grunt, decide to move her computer around so that it faced away from the entrance. It actually made more sense that way because of the way her cube was arranged. (no cords to trip over etc)
She attracted attention right away, when she started moving stuff. Managers would stop by and comment that it didn’t make sense to move it (though it did). This went on for an hour…where higher ups stopped by and made some comment.
2 hours later, the head of the division stopped by and ordered her to move it back the way it was.
Even in my current company…lower have all computer monitors facing the entrance (so passerby’s can see) and anyone above a certain level have their monitors facing away (even if they are in cubes).
Not a hard/fast rule but I bet it holds up well across companies.
She was being too quiet, so I put her in the vending machine. It’ll be $2.25 to bail her out, or you’ll have to wait for the Vend-Ar man tomorrow morning.
No way! they’d call 911 and start CPR or go get the defibrillator, and I definitely do NOT want those things unless I need them. I’d be in a heap of trouble over it, too. You do NOT joke around about electrocution at my workplace. Safer to just turn around and slug 'em.
