3 ms·

I'd like to hear this from the other side. Sure, maybe it makes rich people feel better about themselves to know the names of the folks who clean their offices

by hugh3 16y ago

I'd like to hear this from the other side. Sure, maybe it makes rich people feel better about themselves to know the names of the folks who clean their offices. But I want to hear what the folks who clean the offices think. Do they want personal relationships with us, or would they rather ignore us as we do them?

RiderOfGiraffes 16y ago
This is why it's so important to be genuine about it. The people I've made contact with in this way seem to appreciate being treated as people, and not invisible machines/slaves/robots. I've been worried about this and paid close attention to it. I think that if you're genuine, it's appreciated.
- hugh3 16y ago
  Right. So one should only befriend the cleaning staff if one has a genuine desire to befriend the cleaning staff. If one has no desire to do so, then one should not.
  - RiderOfGiraffes 16y ago
    I don't believe that's the lesson to take away. I believe one should become and be a person who is happy to take a small part of one's time and share it with others. Taking the time to become that person is the reward. Being genuinely interested in others is a skill that one can develop and will serve one well, but being useful is not the point. The point is to take opportunities to be a better person and make the world a better place. My opinion, and you may disagree, but I like myself better by making these my goals.
  - psyklic 16y ago
    There is a broader message here than simply "you should befriend the cleaning staff." Okay - you want to ignore the staff because you have no desire to meet them and you think they want to be ignored. Well, fine. You definitely don't sound like a people person. But if this is what you think, you are probably ignoring a lot of other people too. And missing out on a lot of opportunities and great relationships because of it.

3 ms·

I'd like to hear this from the other side. Sure, maybe it makes rich people feel better about themselves to know the names of the folks who clean their offices

by hugh3 16y ago

RiderOfGiraffes 16y ago
This is why it's so important to be genuine about it. The people I've made contact with in this way seem to appreciate being treated as people, and not invisible machines/slaves/robots. I've been worried about this and paid close attention to it. I think that if you're genuine, it's appreciated.
- hugh3 16y ago
  Right. So one should only befriend the cleaning staff if one has a genuine desire to befriend the cleaning staff. If one has no desire to do so, then one should not.
  - RiderOfGiraffes 16y ago
    I don't believe that's the lesson to take away. I believe one should become and be a person who is happy to take a small part of one's time and share it with others. Taking the time to become that person is the reward. Being genuinely interested in others is a skill that one can develop and will serve one well, but being useful is not the point. The point is to take opportunities to be a better person and make the world a better place. My opinion, and you may disagree, but I like myself better by making these my goals.
  - psyklic 16y ago
    There is a broader message here than simply "you should befriend the cleaning staff." Okay - you want to ignore the staff because you have no desire to meet them and you think they want to be ignored. Well, fine. You definitely don't sound like a people person. But if this is what you think, you are probably ignoring a lot of other people too. And missing out on a lot of opportunities and great relationships because of it.