Instant Gossip

Tuesday, August 31st, 2004 | Personal

Instant messaging adds a whole new dimension to office gossip. The boss’ ineptitude can be communicated in great detail to a commiserating colleague from the comfort of your own desk. This is much more convenient than gathering near a cubicle wispering to one another, then scattering like kitchen roaches when he’s spotted coming around the corner.

My last job had an open floor plan. Our desks facing low partitions, our backs turned to management so they could peer over our shoulders periodically. Ah, but we had instant messaging. I can still remember the day our manager was finally fired for his incompetence. Some unfamiliar executive from the top floor came down and pulled him out of his corner cubicle. We appeared productive, but in fact were wildly speculating as to whether or not Mr. Inept’s day had finally come. When he packed up and left the office for the last time, we all cheered - online of course. To outsiders we looked like little busy bees at our desks.

Now that the nameless Fortune 500 Company I consult for has bought this place, it’s only a matter of time before the executives smell something bad down here. When will they unload the dead weight? By what date will this inept manager get the boot?

I should find a way to manage office wagers online.

4 Comments to Instant Gossip

karsh
Wednesday, September 01 2004

Our office actually relies very heavily on IM for talking between departments, yet doesn’t want us to chat for “personal reasons”. If only some of our supervisors checked our IM logs…they’d be in for a rude awakening.

Dan Tres Omi
Friday, September 17 2004

that letter is too funny. thanks for sending it .. aw man, i had a good laugh. those crooks. i agree with you , for real

fleshlight
Wednesday, October 26 2005

ask about fleshlight

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