Why is it not an appropriate place? What is an appropriate place? Do you get to spend over 2/3 of waking time there? If you do not wish to discuss it with cowo

Why is it not an appropriate place? What is an appropriate place? Do you get to spend over 2/3 of waking time there? If you do not wish to discuss it with coworkers, some of whom may or may not be friends, it's your choice to raise them or not. Focusing the attention on important matters could be done tactfully, which is very different from not talking about things. If it's by fiat, there is an ulterior motive of "think happy thoughts, preferably shallow". There are such workspaces. There are also those that keep grave silence by fiat or unspoken convention.