Gossip. Rumors. Hearsay. Chatter. Buzz. Tales.
No matter what you call the unfounded stories that inundate our lives, they can add up. Eventually all of the little rumblings combine to form one colossal boom and everyone is busy running for cover.
Take the workplace, for example. Any workplace. The watercooler breeds gossip and by the time an innocent comment has made it's way through the rumormill, innocent, little Joy - the part-time receptionist who works in the basement - is a known assassin who makes her real money as an exotic dancer at Shady Palace.
When you spend 8 hours a day (at least) with a group of people, stories will be shared. History will be drudged up. Cautions will be given. But, how do you know who to trust? After all, your BFF co-worker could just be waiting for you to slip up so that she can notify everyone that she heard through the grapevine that you slept with your last boss and 'resigned' after his wife found out.
My advice is: Do Not Trust Anyone! Unless you go into business with a bona fide friend (which I would not recommend)...your co-workers are just that...your co-workers. And if you end up taking a trip to Cancun with some of them and get completely wasted, accumulating beads left and right...well, don't be surprised to find a pink slip waiting for you.
The worst thing you can say to someone - friend, acquaintance, co-worker or even a family member is: "This stays between you and me..." Ninety-nine percent of the time, your whole group of friends, your entire family or office building will know your little 'secret' within 24 hours. Nothing is sacred.
You may think I have trust issues, but I assure you I do not. I trust my husband with my life. I trust him with office 'secrets'. I used to have a boss (who I hated very much and would have LOVED to spread some rumors about - but he didn't need any help making himself look bad) who would want me to promise (pinky swearing comes to mind) that there would be no 'pillow talk' between me and my husband regarding top secret, classified information going on at work. I think it was because 99% of the stuff he said was full of crap.
So, what would I do? I would go home and tell my husband. Take that former bossman. You may have trusted me...but I can now admit...EVERYTHING you told me was passed on to my husband.
I trust my good friends. The ones who I have chosen to be my family. I trust them to confide in me and I trust that I can confide in them.
I trust some members of my family. I did not choose to have them related to me. But I can choose which ones I trust. Same with co-workers. I did not choose my co-workers. In fact, if it were up to me, a lot of them wouldn't be employed. But, I have been blessed, to a certain extent, at work.
In my last job I found a handful of friends. I built relationships that I believe will last a long time. I trusted few at that place and I knew that many just liked to stir up crap - don't worry former bossman...your name will remain confidential (or will it?).
Currently, I work for an organization that has millions of employees across the country. More than 300 in our region. And sadly, there is ONE person who I trust completely. She's frank. She's honest. And there are no high-school games to be played. If you piss her off, she'll tell you. If you did a good job, she'll tell you. If she thinks going to Cancun, getting wasted and bringing back a busload of beads is a bad idea...she'll tell you that too.
That's called respect people. In order to get it, you have to give it. So, while you gossipmongers are hanging out by the watercooler sharing your next embellished factoid...I'll be watching...for doctors from the mental institution from which I hear you escaped.
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