To my co-workers:
Jun. 24th, 2003 12:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
camwynAre you a temp who works in a different department from me, and therefore have no contact with me save the occasional interaction when you are at the reception desk and I am signing out? Then you are not permitted to use my nickname. I hardly ever see you, and I don't know you at all, so what makes you think you're entitled to call me by a nickname? You're a temp who comes in when the receptionist is sick, not a long-term temp worker or part-timer. You don't get to use the nickname. Use my first name, that's fine, I don't care - but do not use the nickname.
Are you a volunteer who comes in several days a week, but works in a different department from me and interacts with me once every month or two - generally when your computer is acting up but you don't know how to fix it because you're used to Macs and haven't bothered to educate yourself about how to use Windows? Then you are not permitted to use my nickname. First of all, I don't deal with you enough for you to qualify as someone who knows me well. Second of all, you're coming to me with a problem every single time, and generally a poorly described one because you think you know enough to describe it without having learned PC's or Windows. You talk nonstop to fill up silence when you're not actually working, even when I am trying to concentrate on what I am doing. Damn straight you don't get to use my nickname.
Oh, and - am I bleeding? No? Am I visibly swaying? No? Am I otherwise giving the impression that I'm shocked, frightened, or possibly unwell? If the answer is no, then DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH ME. I don't appreciate it. I don't like it. I don't need it. You are NOT allowed to touch me to get my attention; call my name or make a noise if you like, but you may NOT walk up behind me and touch my shoulder, you may NOT tap my arm, and you may NOT otherwise touch me to get my attention unless it is super-incredibly urgent OR I am unwell. Get out of my personal space and keep your hands where I can see them. Exceptions may be made for co-workers who are a lot older than me, because I know the Braille ladies don't mean anything by it, but I don't care if your culture uses touch as a friendly way to get attention. I'm a New Yorker born and raised. The only time touching to get attention from someone you don't know very well is appropriate is if there is too much noise for them to hear you, or if the person you are touching is deaf. I'm not. So don't.
Thank you. I feel better now.
Are you a volunteer who comes in several days a week, but works in a different department from me and interacts with me once every month or two - generally when your computer is acting up but you don't know how to fix it because you're used to Macs and haven't bothered to educate yourself about how to use Windows? Then you are not permitted to use my nickname. First of all, I don't deal with you enough for you to qualify as someone who knows me well. Second of all, you're coming to me with a problem every single time, and generally a poorly described one because you think you know enough to describe it without having learned PC's or Windows. You talk nonstop to fill up silence when you're not actually working, even when I am trying to concentrate on what I am doing. Damn straight you don't get to use my nickname.
Oh, and - am I bleeding? No? Am I visibly swaying? No? Am I otherwise giving the impression that I'm shocked, frightened, or possibly unwell? If the answer is no, then DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH ME. I don't appreciate it. I don't like it. I don't need it. You are NOT allowed to touch me to get my attention; call my name or make a noise if you like, but you may NOT walk up behind me and touch my shoulder, you may NOT tap my arm, and you may NOT otherwise touch me to get my attention unless it is super-incredibly urgent OR I am unwell. Get out of my personal space and keep your hands where I can see them. Exceptions may be made for co-workers who are a lot older than me, because I know the Braille ladies don't mean anything by it, but I don't care if your culture uses touch as a friendly way to get attention. I'm a New Yorker born and raised. The only time touching to get attention from someone you don't know very well is appropriate is if there is too much noise for them to hear you, or if the person you are touching is deaf. I'm not. So don't.
Thank you. I feel better now.
