The Curse of Gab (was: [CAUT] I am a genius)

[Barbara Richmond]

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Well, we have run the gamut, so to speak.  No harm in it--but I think =
the original gripe was folks overstepping sensible boundaries and not =
allowing us to get our work done.  Yes, of course, there are times for =
kindness and listening--but not <every> time!

Although I sent out memos asking to not be disturbed while I worked, I =
still had very good rapport with the faculty.  Maybe that's the =
difference in working for a small university.  I talked with faculty =
members enough that sometimes I felt a little like a bartender.  I never =
repeated what I was told--except once when there were hard feelings =
escalating between two of them and I went to my closest friend on the =
faculty and told him what I knew about the situation.  He took it from =
there and the situation improved.

Now, at this huge auditorium, I find myself in situations where I'm =
working and the union stage hands will come in to do some job.  One =
time, they arrived to do some sort of backstage maintenance job, I =
smiled and said hello and got back to my work.  I was regulating a piano =
and I had a lot to do.  Occasionally they would walk past, make a =
comment and I would respond, but I didn't pursue more conversation since =
I was intent on getting my work done.  In the meantime, they finished =
their work, but before they left, one said, "You were pretty quiet while =
working there and I know what that means!"   Well, I didn't know what he =
meant, but I smiled and said, "See you next time!" =20

Hmmm, what <did> it mean?! =20


Barbara Richmond, RPT

  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Jeff Tanner=20
  To: College and University Technicians ; Jeff Olson=20
  Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2005 8:27 AM
  Subject: Re: The Curse of Gab (was: [CAUT] I am a genius)




  On Aug 13, 2005, at 8:48 PM, Jeff Olson wrote:


    There are some people who seem unable to conduct a business-like =
exchange (which is, after all, what we're supposed to be doing),



  What is business, after all?  An exchange of a service for money?  If =
that is what we have come to, then that is a really sad indication of =
where we are as a society.


  When I am at death's door, do I want to be able to say, "if only that =
person had quit talking, I could have made another hundred bucks that =
day." or that something I did made a difference in someone's life every =
day?


  I rather like to believe that when people feel comfortable talking to =
me, it is an indication that the client likes me, and will call me back =
another day.


  I envy those of you who have established a solid private clientele =
that will sustain a decent living.  That's a heck of a lot better than =
dealing with this group of snooty =
better-that-the-piano-janitor-who-doesn't-have-his-PHD faculties we deal =
with every day.  There isn't a lot more depressing than to NOT be able =
to strike up a decent conversation with your coworkers because they =
don't have time for you and think you are lower class.


  Jeff


  Jeff Tanner, RPT
  University of South Carolina






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