Feeling at odds with the world

I take part on here by using a tablet and it does scramble my brain sometimes. I wonder how people go on who are instantly glued to their phones and what it's doung to them. Watch Nathan Barley if you haven't before. It's on ch4 catch up. It'll make you feel better. Also re no smartphone....just "own it". It's your life and you can live it however you want without having to explain to anyone. 

I'm glad you're over the worst.

For the last couple of years, I have met my colleagues only for Christmas lunch. Lots of nice food and drink (it is a finance company, and most of us are contractors).  Very quickly the tempo heats up then I can switch off and continue indulging myself in a drunken stupor.  

I am heartened by how many other people on here seem not to have a smartphone. I feel that I am not alone in this anymore

out_of_step said:

They are covering their arses against people's stupidity.

I think most of the world seems to be doing that these days. I think somehow though that this makes people more stupid. Like for instance we used to have buses with platforms at the back and no doors and everyone was fine but you couldnt do that now cos people would film themselves hanging out the doors and there would be accidents. Somehow the human race has got more stupid. Maybe its because we are treated as stupid by health and saftey culture, maybe it is because of smartphones and social media, Im not sure

Yes whats app groups are the worst. Complete social rejection if you dont want to be part of one, I know how that feels

out_of_step said:

Some of your sentiments in posts remind me of me in burnout

I feel that I am over the worst of my burnout but yes there is still some of it left there 

A lot of people have to do this and hate it. It's public sector box ticking. Stuff like this gets my goat but I've learned to "play the game" ie let it go over my head even though I find it incredibly frustrating. I had to do a WFH module when I don't WFH anymore "don't overload your plug sockets and have adequate lighting". They are covering their arses against people's stupidity. But I'm sure you know that! When i joined a new team it was just expected I'd be in the whatsapp (for "Ofsted purposes"). I was glad I don't have a smartphone. I actually would like to switch off from work even if no one else does. I felt a hint of ostracism but didn't care. I bet people who work for themselves read this and glad they dont have to put up with this nonsense. .

Interestingly,  my autocorrect while typing this changed "joined a new team " to "jinxed". I only worked there a few months.

Some of your sentiments in posts remind me of me in burnout.

Same, I like to eat lunch at my desk with my headphones in. I like talking to people but in small manageable doses 

Honestly, I miss it. I dont miss lockdown, it was a horrible experience. I love being able to go out to the river or pub without masks and distancing and I love seeing full football stadiums on TV but I miss the fact that social interaction was optional instead of compulsory. I wish it was still optional. Sometimes my subconcious secretley hopes for a positive test when I do my weekly tests so that I can stay home, be away from everyone and no one will blame me or expect me to do anything. I then feel guilty and realise I dont want that cos I dont want to risk infecting my family

I wish I could work from home, thats my dream 

Oh God, tell me about it. We had lunch together me and my colleagues few days ago. It took about 50 minutes to end, it felt like torture. I couldn't relate nor care about one single topic that happened there. I stayed silent for 50 minutes. I was hoping that the food would be worth it, but it wasn't. Our boss is pregnant and I couldn't even say "congratulations" . Maybe because inside of I don't feel like it's a happy event happening but more of "wow, a huge responsibility is on the way, lot of stress and work and changes in your world". I couldn't fake the word and everybody looked sooo thrilled about the news!. It exhausted me.. damn, I prefer eating alone. 

Thank you! Its so nice feeling like there are other sane people in the world. I know, right, Im 35 years old, I think I know how to sit in a chair and type. And yes, I cant imagine terrorists running for the hills as soon as they hear a whistle. 

Im glad you feel the same as me about smartphones. I have been turned down for jobs for not having one before, seems like discrimination to me 

I try to let it wash over me.  If I have to be involved then its tiring.  Covid saved my sanity. Everybody had to work from home and communicate only when necessary via Zoom.  The company downsized the office and I work only from home, but now part-time

I'm so glad I don't have to work, although I'm not sure being physically disabled is any better. I refuse to have a smart phone and would utterly resent being forced to do so. Two hours on how to sit in a chair?!! Even if one were doing it wrong surely five minutes would be more than ample to correct things. A whistle against terrorists sounds about as useful as bear spray. You have my sympathy.