Inappropriate office chatter

[wambam]

Three of my coworkers are debating the death penalty. I keep walking out - going to the bathroom, hanging out in the lab for a few minutes - and every time I come back, they're STILL talking about it.

Does this happen elsewhere or is this just another "perk" of working for a small company?

[ginap]

You mean like the conversation some of my co-workers were having before the last election about how could anyone who voted for Obama look themselves in the mirror the next morning?

[wambam]

Mar 4, 2015 13:33:28 GMT -5 ginap said:

You mean like the conversation some of my co-workers were having before the last election about how could anyone who voted for Obama look themselves in the mirror the next morning?

:?

[wambam]

Yes, my company is 6 people. But even this seems more "open" than we usually would be. I feel super awkward right now.

[Deleted]

I don't know if I'd call that "inappropriate."

There's nothing actionable about that.

[meggers5]

Our office is only 5 people. It's less than professional sometimes.

[Deleted]

I work for a very large company and there are conversations all around me that make me cringe on the regular.

[pirate]

My co-workers like to talk about guns a lot. It's not pleasant.

[ninjabridemom]

Yeah at a meeting once at an old job people were talking about Bruce Jenner and transgender ness in not a nice way. It was super duper awkward and entirely inappropriate.

[wambam]

Mar 4, 2015 13:39:37 GMT -5 puddleofgrace said:

Wait, who was the person that was having the open conversation at work regarding homophobia or something?

I do have an openly homophobic coworker. He's being a real douchelord today.

[Eagles]

I fight a constant uphill battle regarding professionalism here. Constant. Last week a customer was discussing how his BIL lost something in a strip club and instead of shutting the convo down, my boss kept it going. WE DON'T TALK ABOUT STRIP CLUBS.

[picaflora]

I work in a big company, and had a co-worker try to gossip about another co-worker's daughter was pregnant again out of wedlock & how "scandalous" this was. Also, how hard it was going to be for the co-worker because the father is black. What??? I kept telling her that wasn't my business not did I care. She keeps trying to push her church stuff on me too, but if they are half as judgemental as she is - no thank you.

[meggers5]

Mar 4, 2015 13:55:44 GMT -5 picaflora said:

I work in a big company, and had a co-worker try to gossip about another co-worker's daughter was pregnant again out of wedlock & how "scandalous" this was. Also, how hard it was going to be for the co-worker because the father is black. What??? I kept telling her that wasn't my business not did I care. She keeps trying to push her church stuff on me too, but if they are half as judgemental as she is - no thank you.

What century are we in that either of those things matter?

[picaflora]

Mar 4, 2015 13:57:23 GMT -5 meggers5 said:

Mar 4, 2015 13:55:44 GMT -5 picaflora said:

I work in a big company, and had a co-worker try to gossip about another co-worker's daughter was pregnant again out of wedlock & how "scandalous" this was. Also, how hard it was going to be for the co-worker because the father is black. What??? I kept telling her that wasn't my business not did I care. She keeps trying to push her church stuff on me too, but if they are half as judgemental as she is - no thank you.

What century are we in that either of those things matter?

I don't know! It is a smaller mountain town in the South, but I've lived in other smaller towns that were less crazy. She is the only one from here I've encounter like this, so it looks like she's the exception.

[nonsensetomfoolery]

Wait until a coworker asks you how you can work with special needs kids and still vote for Obama. Because, abortions.

(It didn't make sense to me either)

[meggers5]

This reminds me of when I was on a work night out in Scotland and my co-worker told me that he hoped FI didn't give me AIDS.

There are really some things you don't discuss with or say to a co-worker.

[wambam]

Mar 4, 2015 14:06:45 GMT -5 meggers5 said:

This reminds me of when I was on a work night out in Scotland and my co-worker told me that he hoped FI didn't give me AIDS.

There are really some things you don't discuss with or say to a co-worker.

This gives me a tight feeling in my chest. OMG.

[ginap]

Mar 4, 2015 14:06:45 GMT -5 meggers5 said:

[Deleted]

Racism, sexism, homophobia, and sexual escapades are not office appropriate. A political discussion about the death penalty does not fall within those categories. Nothing about that offends me.

[Deleted]

Not that I'm offended, but I really think topics that tend to have polarizing viewpoints shouldn't come into the office. Nothing good can come from it

[meggers5]

Mar 4, 2015 14:18:27 GMT -5 nuggetbrain said:

Mar 4, 2015 14:06:45 GMT -5 meggers5 said:

This reminds me of when I was on a work night out in Scotland and my co-worker told me that he hoped FI didn't give me AIDS.

There are really some things you don't discuss with or say to a co-worker.

NO.  WHAT?!

I think I've told this before, but here it is.

We were on a work night out and after awhile (after it stops being worky) FI (then BF) joins us at the bar. I introduce him and later he tells me that he knows "Dave" because they used to work together.

Later on in the night when we're all drunk Dave pulls me aside and tells me to be careful because Nigerians just want to get girls pregnant and they aren't good people. I tell Dave at this point I'm walking away, and he tells me the one last thing "Well I hope he doesn't give you AIDS".

FI then asks me what Dave was saying and I'm all oh nothing. Then I tell him and FI was not surprised because Dave was always an asshole.

At work on Monday he tries to act like he was too drunk to remember what he said. No.

[pittsmcgee]

Mar 4, 2015 14:24:35 GMT -5 meggers5 said:

Mar 4, 2015 14:18:27 GMT -5 nuggetbrain said:

[deanlicker78]

On her first day of employment our boss introduced one of our managers to her visiting friend as "This is so and so. Yes he's Mexican, but dont worry he's here legally." She was trying to be funny. If co-worker were not the most laid back guy I have ever met, I don't think she'd have a job anymore. He let her have it, privately and then he accepted her apology and moved on.

She didn't really learn though.

[deanlicker78]

Mar 4, 2015 14:32:05 GMT -5 puddleofgrace said:

Mar 4, 2015 14:28:26 GMT -5 deanlicker78 said:

On her first day of employment our boss introduced one of our managers to her visiting friend as "This is so and so. Yes he's Mexican, but dont worry he's here legally." She was trying to be funny. If co-worker were not the most laid back guy I have ever met, I don't think she'd have a job anymore. He let her have it, privately and then he accepted her apology and moved on.

She didn't really learn though.

I wish this would surprise me but the fact that they didn't fire Mr. Masterbation tells me it's rather hard to get fired from your job. LOL

Right? Basically unless you kill someone while on the clock, you're golden.

[Deleted]

Inappropriate is when your coworker tells you about getting a sex swing for Christmas. Or, when your boss says that extended breast feeding causes children to be gay. I'm good with a discussion about the death penalty.

[birdistheword]

My favorite is my coworker who is openly homophobic telling me about her husband (who gives anti-bullying talks to teens as part of his job) making rude comments to/mocking gay and transgender people in public.

[Deleted]

Mar 4, 2015 13:38:39 GMT -5 wambam said:

Yes, my company is 6 people. But even this seems more "open" than we usually would be. I feel super awkward right now.

Is talking about the death penalty inappropriate?

Politics and political issues have often come up where I've worked. I've never worked at a company with thousands of employees, but have definitely worked at some decent sized places. 

[bostogriff]

I had a male boss talking to a female co-worker about how his wife didn't want to have sex with him after their daughter was born.  I don't have kids, but aren't you supposed to wait a little before you start having sex?  Anyway, CW engages in the conversations asking details, does he initiate it, etc.  Tells him her husband won't initiate it, so she does x,y,z to get him in the mood.  I lost respect for both of them after that.  Totally inappropriate and creepy. 

[8675309]

I'm from So Cal. I just went to a supplier recognition luncheon at one of the local divisions. We are sitting at a table of 6 people and we are all suppliers coming from various states and backgrounds. (None of us know each other AT.ALL.) A division is opening up in North Carolina and the topic turned to the difference between living in California vs North Carolina. Out loud and proud, the dude next to me blurts out "The BEST thing about our state (N Carolina) is that we don't have those MEXICANS. California is littered with them!" We all exchanged glances and I wanted to spit my water out onto his lap. Instead I said "And what's wrong with Mexicans?" He then went on to backtrack by saying what loyal hard workers they are.

Um no. I don't know ANYONE who thinks saying shit like that is ok.

[picaflora]

Mar 4, 2015 18:31:00 GMT -5 8675309 said:

I'm from So Cal. I just went to a supplier recognition luncheon at one of the local divisions. We are sitting at a table of 6 people and we are all suppliers coming from various states and backgrounds. (None of us know each other AT.ALL.) A division is opening up in North Carolina and the topic turned to the difference between living in California vs North Carolina. Out loud and proud, the dude next to me blurts out "The BEST thing about our state (N Carolina) is that we don't have those MEXICANS. California is littered with them!" We all exchanged glances and I wanted to spit my water out onto his lap. Instead I said "And what's wrong with Mexicans?" He then went on to backtrack by saying what loyal hard workers they are.

Um no. I don't know ANYONE who thinks saying shit like that is ok.

Ummm what? While highly offensive, he also must live under a rock. NC has it's fair share of a Latin population as well.