Depressing conversations in work..!!

[jd_1984]

For some reason in my workplace there is nothing my colleagues like more than a good old chat about who has died, people they knoe who are terminally ill or hospitalised, who has cancer, who is going through a nasty divorce, who's children are ill or in trouble.

I find it increasingly hard to be upbeat in this office! I am not unsympathetic at all and I am always on hand for support and advice but I just feel that you would think there was no joy in the world the way these people go on.

Todays converstaions so far...... "My friends mum has 2 weeks to live" "The guy I go to the gym with's wife has just left him" "My sister cant afford her bills and is in debt" Its only 8am. I find that it drags me down a bit.

Am I being really selfish??

[ummmm]

Are they Irish?

[jd_1984]

Nope.
I think perhaps they take comfort in sharing concerns etc... But it sounds like a therapy session sometimes. We all need to talk about concerns at times, but its ALL that my work mates discuss. I would like to talk about weekend plans, the football last night, holidays, even Christmas!!!! I find it quite depressing that some people talk relentlessly about the bad things in life. I dont want to come off as unsympathetic as I have needed shoulders to cry on in the past beleive me. But try to remain upbeat in work

[DTCwordfan]

Bit like a live AB then.....?

[B00]

Not at all, i too find conversations at work depressing, but for totally different reasons.

My work colleagues (occasionally) and my boss sometimes try to talk to me about work related stuff- I mean really, what's that all about? I turn up don't I? What more do they want from me.

And the customers answer me with a blow by blow account of their illnesses, when I politely ask how they are doing, im not really interested folk, im just being polite, pay for your shopping and bugger off!

;-)

[ummmm]

The reason I asked if they were Irish is because they are obsessed with negativity. They (my family and all the families I know) turn on the radio to listen for who's died. It gets you down...

[abstibus]

Ummm
Why Irish?

[abstibus]

Ummm
Our posts crossed.
In general, many people in Ireland have strong connnections with their community. This might go some way to explaining their interest.

[DTCwordfan]

can be a bit like that north of Hadrian's Wall too......

[tonyav]

Try and change the subject to something a bit lighter.
DT, do you remember me saying that my wife's Grandmother owns a cottage in Padstow, well it's up for sale !.

[albaqwerty]

When Mr Alba's aunt comes over, she regales us with who's died, who's got what and for how long. I think she's a walking edition of the Disptaches section of her newspaper.

[ummmm]

I know that, Anne. I'm Irish. They still tune in...even now they have phones and the internet. Even if they knew someone had died they'd still listen to radio to hear it on air.

[jd_1984]

Reminds me of the Peter Kay sketch "Guess who's dead?"

[sandyRoe]

It's being so cheerful as keeps us going. :-)

[abstibus]

Ummm
In Ireland, it is also genuine interest and concern. Many people like to show their sympathy and respect for the dead by sending messages, visiting the house, helping out at wakes, and supporting the bereaved family.

[ummmm]

Anne...I know, I'm Irish.

[wolf63]

We used to have a draw at work called 'pick a stiff'. The idea was to pick the name of a celebrity and pay in money each week. Which ever person picked the first celebrity to die got all the money in the pot. And then it would start again. I wasn't asked to join - not sure why.

DT - can be a bit like that north of Hadrian's Wall too I hope that you are not planning a visit up here any time soon. Cruising for a bruising!

[gness]

Blimey Ummmm. Not our lot. Yes we talk about everyone and what is wrong...out of concern. Depressing never! You must have been to a wake? Only the Irish send the dead off with such humour and as for our family get togethers! I love being with my Irish family and friends for the fun.

[tonyav]

LOL don't go DT.

[albaqwerty]

ach, DT will be fine, he can stop off at mine :-)

When we went to scatter my brother's ashes, we all headed for a meal and laughed like crazy. The waitress' face was a picture when she asked what we were celebrating and got the most unexpected reply she's probably ever heard.

[wolf63]

This is part of a post that I made a couple of years ago

We had my dad cremated but couldn't decide what to do with the ashes. <br/> <br/> My brother and I - with dad in his urn - took off in the car. <br/> <br/> I wanted to turf him off a railway bridge as he had been a train driver all his days. But we couldn't agree where. <br/> <br/> We drove around for ages and ran out of ideas. We went to McDonalds to think about it some more. <br/> <br/> We took off in another direction. Due to our earlier snack I ended up being car sick. <br/> <br/> Eventually we reached Loch Earn and my brother emptied the ashes into the Loch. Then he turned to me, I expected him to see something poignant, but he said &quot;I wonder if I could use this urn for my beetroot&quot;. <br/> <br/> It was hilarious at the time - my dad would certainly have approved