Today at work I was confronted not once, but twice, with situations that I find have
become more and more irritating, and which I really wish there was a good way
around. Both of them were what I consider attempts by others to try to force a closer
relationship with (me in this case) that what is actually present.
In the first, I was chatting with a manager, and he said something about the **** family,
that I should see **** as my family, family I could go to when times got tough.
No… I won’t. I have a family, and **** is not anywhere near like what I have at work.
It’s much better than I have at work. I don’t need or want another family.
The second was similar. Someone called me “brother” in the way that people used
that term when I was young, to signify some sort of social brotherhood between us.
No… I have 3 brothers, and we are much closer than I am with anyone at work.
When people I have just met, and have really not even gotten to know their name,
want to fist bump, shake hands, high five, or anything else… No… I will not do that.
This situation is akin to saying that someone you just met for the first time, and who
you might not ever see again, is somehow someone that you want to be friends with.
Ridiculous.
The fact that I met you once does not make us friends. I do not ever say that I have
friends at work. I don’t. Even if, outside of work, we might meet a time or to socially,
they are not my friends. They are acquaintances, yes. But just because we did
something together does not make us friends, not in my book.
I will say sometimes say “I don’t know you”, and they will pipe up with “Oh, my name
is -----, so now you know me”. No, I don’t…
etc. etc. etc.