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| CANADA'S SOURCE FOR ALIEN HUMOUR, PARODY, AND SATIRE
IN THE FORUMS-- It's just another example of how the pressures of work can tear people apart. Thrzzzph Kryzzp'thk, a victim of the peer system, has lost most of his friends and much of his social life after a year at Intermeritech. Thrzzzph was hired last summer as a java programmer, and despite the recent downturn in the high-tech industry, was twice promoted. Like most new employees, Thrzzzph was keen to prove himself to his bosses, and was happy knowing that he helped play a key role in the company's successes. But recently, Thrzzzph feels that his new promotion to systems supervisor has alienated him from his coworkers.
"I get this odd feeling that people are seeing me differently," said Thrzzzph. "It's like I've got new glasses and they look stupid but everyone's too polite to say anything. I'm getting the brush-off in the lunch room, especially when I bring up some work-related item. I'll approach a coworker, but I just feel like I'm invading their space. Now that I'm a supervisor, they seem to treat me like I'm from a different world." "I used to like Thrzzzph," said Deborah Thiessen, assistant marketing agent. "He was really down to earth. But lately, it's like he's from a another planet--he's completely wrapped up in this project. He seems to talk in this weird alien techno mumbo jumbo. It's like he learned to communicate using technical manuals and horrible science fiction movies from the 60's. I'm finding it hard to relate to him, especially now that he's my boss." Thrzzzph has been putting in a lot of overtime, trying to improve the system architecture on the latest project. Unfortunately, because of deadlines and other time-sensitive milestones, he has had very little time to spend with the people he worked with, whom he called friends. "I will admit that I have been spending a lot of time in my new desk," said Thrzzzph. "But these deadlines are tight, and the constant screw-ups in the planning department aren't helping any. Maybe it is part of this whole post-industrial capitalist thing, where we all become isolated and alienated from our friends, co-workers, and family. But what can I do? If I am unwilling to put in the time, they will just hire someone else to do the job." Deborah remembers when she, Thrzzzph, and a few other coworkers would hang out together. "When he first started, Thrzzzph was a little green," she said. "It was cute though. He had this odd habit of using his foot to move the mouse, and he would talk to the computer like he expected it to respond. Sandi, Edward, and I would get a good laugh at that. But Thrzzzph was eager to learn--he even had all the Star Trek episodes memorized. All of them! And when I first explained to him that the elevator wasn't a matter transporter he made like he was really disappointed. He had a good sense of humour." "After work we'd hang out, and maybe watch Babylon 5 or the X-Files. Now, he brushes us off like we're an inferior race or something. Maybe it's because now he's in management and he's not allowed to talk to us 'ordinary humans'. He only speaks to our leaders. And instead of joining us for a beer, at the end of the day, he just gets into his weird silver car, and blasts out of here." "It's tough being in this position," said Thrzzzph. "Sometimes, late at night when I'm the only one here I'll just stare at my computer screen and space out for a while. I miss my friends."
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| This fictional story about alienated coworkers is intended for adults. | The World Leader in Canadian humour, humor, parody, and satire. | |
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