Random Rants #88: [incoherent screaming]

[Lexicus]

You're not trying to solve anything in a huddle. It's not a working session. You're basically talking to your teammates and finding out what's going on. Often in a huddle you discuss personal lives.

oh okay nevermind, i had no name for this thing at any of my former workplaces.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Often in a huddle you discuss personal lives.

That's boring though.

 

[MaryKB]

That's boring though.

Oh not at all, that's the best part.

 

[Synobun]

When I could still hold a real job, there was nothing worse than being expected to interact with a coworker and share personal anecdotes and details.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

"I set my dinner on fire again, oh yeah and I clogged up the toilet too."

 

[Farm Boy]

It's a mandatory social meeting, sure. Why not have that be what it is?

If it's not over a meal it sounds like hell. Social tracking and observation.

 

[amadeus]

That's not what a huddle meeting is. It's not about making it sound better, it's about being descriptive as to the type of meeting.

You're not trying to solve anything in a huddle. It's not a working session. You're basically talking to your teammates and finding out what's going on. Often in a huddle you discuss personal lives.

• not trying to solve anything
• discuss personal lives with co-workers

Unfortunately, this clarification has only solidified my opposition to this huddle concept.

 

[MaryKB]

Why? Don't you people enjoy socializing?

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

No.

 

[amadeus]

Why? Don't you people enjoy socializing?

With the people I choose.

I’m plenty cordial at work and talk about minutiae, but my life and time outside of workhours is mine.

 

[Synobun]

Why? Don't you people enjoy socializing?

With people I want to socialize with, sure. With coworkers... no. The only thing keeping us connected would be the fact we have the same employer. That puts them in the "avoid when possible" basket.

 

[thecrazyscot]

A standup is the term they use around here for that.

My company uses both, although "huddle" is mostly used for individual project meetings.

 

[MaryKB]

Networking is important, you want to develop relationships with people because you never know when you might need them. Especially colleagues ... it's much easier to get someone's help on something quickly if you're friends.

 

[tjs282]

Why? Don't you people enjoy socializing?

...she asks, of a bunch of folks who spend vast quantities of 'social' time on CFC...

Mary (or should I rather call you Ms KB?), your faith in humanity is wonderful to behold

Networking is important, you want to develop relationships with people because you never know when you might need them. Especially colleagues ... it's much easier to get someone's help on something quickly if you're friends.

I agree with this though.

 

[Farm Boy]

Networking is important, you want to develop relationships with people because you never know when you might need them. Especially colleagues ... it's much easier to get someone's help on something quickly if you're friends.

A lunch meeting, sure. A smoke break? Makes sense. The smokers were the most productive people I knew in bureaucracies until they broke them down. Cross-departamental, reliable, voluntary... A mandatory personal share time in a small group with people you are ranked and supervised by? Sounds like playing Show and Hell.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

Why? Don't you people enjoy socializing?

You're asking this question of gamers?

Actually, I think most of us enjoy socializing to some extent, just not the corporate way. We're socializing right now, but not in a "tell me personal things about your life so I can privately or openly judge you as I see fit, and therefore help or ruin your career if I so choose" way.

I remember back in the late '90s when I was on the board of directors for the local First Night group. The chairperson decided that First Night would be represented at some political/business community shindig, and told us to "go and schmooze so we'll get donations."

I don't "schmooze" for anything that's not related to something I actually care about promoting. In SF fandom circles, back in the '60s-'90s, it was called "smoffing" ("SMOF" means "Secret Masters/Mistresses of Fandom" and is actually something that means discussing issues related to fandom, usually conventions. When it was decided that NonCon 8 would be held in Red Deer and I was part of the concom, I ended up attending parties I wouldn't normally have gone to. But at least in that case I could just put on a normal costume and help promote having a science fiction convention here and persuade people to buy a membership.

Networking is important, you want to develop relationships with people because you never know when you might need them. Especially colleagues ... it's much easier to get someone's help on something quickly if you're friends.

True. It's sometimes surprising how knowing someone can open a door. I'd never have guessed that having a particular teacher for Grade 12 biology in 1979 would help me get a job in 1993. Not that he put in any word for me; it's just that the interviewer coyly asked if I was a party member (this was for Elections Canada and I was interviewing for a Deputy Returning Officer). She wasn't supposed to ask that, and made a big dramatic show of immediately realizing she wasn't supposed to... but since she had... was I?

I knew better than to say that you couldn't pay me to vote for the party she or the candidate (my former teacher) represented. I just said I'd known him for many years, as he'd been one of my Grade 12 teachers. She beamed when I said that, and figured that of course that meant I supported him.

It's always been annoying to realize that she cared more for that than the fact that I already had years of experience as an enumerator, DRO, and other polling station positions.

 

[MaryKB]

I mean, the "personal life" stuff I talked about is they'll often ask questions like:

- What's your favorite book?
- What's your favorite dinner?
- What's the last good movie you've seen?
- What's your favorite holiday tradition?

I mean, like totally non-threatening things. It's meant to just be kinda chatty and get everyone comfortable with each other.

Sometimes conversations get started from the questions, like "Do you prefer Star Wars or Star Trek?", or "Who did you want to win the Game of Thrones?" etc.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

What's the last good movie you've seen?

I only watch bad movies.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

I mean, the "personal life" stuff I talked about is they'll often ask questions like:

- What's your favorite book?
- What's your favorite dinner?
- What's the last good movie you've seen?
- What's your favorite holiday tradition?

I mean, like totally non-threatening things. It's meant to just be kinda chatty and get everyone comfortable with each other.

Sometimes conversations get started from the questions, like "Do you prefer Star Wars or Star Trek?", or "Who did you want to win the Game of Thrones?" etc.

Ah, okay. That kind of conversation is something I could handle. They'd be disappointed with my answers, though.

1. In which genre?
2. Anything involving fish.
3. I haven't set foot in a theatre in over 20 years.
4. Don't have anything current.

I hate Wars vs. Trek questions; they're in no way equivalent choices. I haven't seen Game of Thrones, so I have no idea how to answer the last question.

I can talk about this stuff all day on a forum, or in a group of people I know are science fiction/fantasy fans. But in RL, I'm out of step with most people around here. Saying I like Star Trek is likely to produce a condescending comment about "Trekkies."

 

[The_J]

We normally talk about the social stuff while we wait for the people who're late .
Or during lunch or coffee breaks.
Works as well.