h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Okay so I am occasionally guilty as charged. I overheard some managers talking about an employee situation and made the horrendous mistake of telling 2 people. One of them made sure that it got back to the managers that they had been overheard. The blabber is a good friend who is a 'lead analyst' and thinks of herself as management. Of course, after the fact, I can see her telling Sr. Management as a way to further secure her status as a person in the know. I've decided to take to heart the adage: just because you're paranoid doesn't mean the they're not after you. You can bet I won't be sharing any trade secrets with her any time soon. Still, I know gossiping isn't the best use of my time. I had thought that the blabber was someone I could trust or I never would have said anything in the first place. I also know that a friend of the subject knows about all this & by now the subject does as well. The blabber would certainly tell who she heard it from if backed into a corner. The subject is a big girl, a bit unbalanced and prone to violent verbal outbursts. The blabber is a small person, not quite 5' tall and can be cowed. I have certainly learned my lesson. I would like to confront the blabber but am not sure if I should do so or not. I feel like she has no idea of the consequences to her actions. Or if she does have an idea, she doesn't care since she's not going to catch hell for this. As Bill Engvall would say, "Here's your sign." Yes, folks, I'm an idiot.

Yep... that's why I've tried to isolate myself from interpersonal politics here at work. Yet I've still managed to get backstabbed as I said in the WJH thread. I've decided to avoid any confrontations in my situation as I just can't see how they would do me any good. I gave a lot of thought to asking my supervisor (who works hand in hand with my ex-friend) if there is any such perception of me here or if he has heard anything negative about me from this person or others that may be affecting my position.

But I just can't see him either admitting it or doing anything that would help me. So, I'll just act like I'm ignorant of it... maybe try to be friendlier to those people... You know... in a Sun Tzu - Art of War way.

To paraphrase Quigly Down Under, "I said I don't like politics, I didn't say I don't know how to use them."


Anyway, in both our cases I think we've learned to be much more careful in who we trust and confide.

I think I'm going to adopt the 'Nancome' lady technique and put my fingers in my ears and say, "Lalalalala. I can't hear you. Lalalala," anytime anyone tries to tell me anything.

During our group meeting the subject's friend had a weird exchange with another co-worker so she may have heard something from her instead of from my friend. She, too, sits close enough to have overheard the managers' conversation. Either way it's a moot point. I've learned and shall stay out of it.