In most office the rumor mill can take the form of a person or just the environment. At my office we have both.

We have a unspoken rumor mill spokeswoman and then we have the sometimes stifling environment feel when something is just too good that it seeps into the air and you cant hide. Atleast the first one you can avoid, provided the person has been identified. I swear sometimes they work like spies. I guess thats how they get their info.

Today I got a lil visit from my dept rumor mill person. You know how the conversation starts, "Did you hear?..."
I was good today. I simply cut them off and said I was busy. It seems like the only way to get rid of them and sometimes even then it doesn't work.

Its best to cut them off because you never know...next time it could be you at the end of ..."Hey, did you hear?.."

My department is also part of the rumor mill. They gossip to each other about other people in the department, and they expect you to comment on the gossip. Of course, they'll never get a comment out of me, because that's like stabbing myself in the back. I just shake my head and say "HMMM".

I wonder what they say about me, eventually it will get to me. No doubt about it.

Rumor has it that since Im an awful person god only knows how my kid will turn out as a result. AND still people have the nerve to ask WHY I didnt bring my kid to bring your kid to work day. With that kind of sentiment why would I ?

People already ask inappropiate questions as it is...like wow she is sooo much darker than you, how do you handle that? Or is her hair like yours or does she have 'bad' hair ? or one co-worker she would never want any of her kids or grandkids to have to suffer being 'naturally tanned' and I gave her my evil eye look and she replied with well, your kid is already the product of sin. I didnt tackle her to the floor because there was no one there to stop me from killing her. These are all questions or comments people ask just from only seeing her from the pics I have of her at my desk. Why expose her to their stupidity ? I prefer not to, thank you.

I am not exactly liked in my office and I dont feel my job is secure right now so the timing couldnt be worse.

It is soo much better to be on the gossiper side than to be gossipee. If gossip wasnt part of office life all the better..but then that wouldnt be realistic.

Rumor has it that within 45-60 days we will be relocated to another campus for a few months. I couldnt be happier about the news. Its soooooo much closer to where I live, its insane.

But of course everyone else is not as happy as me. They live very south and feel that moving to further north campus would create a hardship for them as far as gas and the wear and tear on their car. WTF ?
Ive been having that issue since day 1. I didnt rally a group of protesters. I had to either accept it or move on. I accepted it and at this point I dont even notice the distance I commute as much, on my 10 yr old car.

So no! please dont come to my desk and look for sympathy that your BMW, or new Saturn, or Jeep cant make the commute!!! :P```