
Sorry. I should have added: In Amsterdam.

It was a she.Hopefully the next time he tries that game he remembers to include the word "positive".
It's today's therapy culture.You know it's a funny story but it boggles the mind how people over share. I've been in these icebreaker situations more than a few times where what is supposed to be a get to know you deal ends up with someone grandstanding and making it all about them and their suffering.
So today we had a staff meeting and for the ice breaker my boss passed around pennies. And the thing was the year of the coin, you had to state something that happened to you in your life during that year.
So the first girl to go, goes into this tearful sob fest about how 2002 was her third year in college and she attempted suicide twice.
The next person to go, went on and on about her adopted sister and the girls real dad breaking into the house trying to kidnap his child back and terrorized the family.
Finally at this point my boss stood up and said that this wasn’t what she meant, she said keep it light and fluffy.
Holy crap.
What a downer of a meeting this was.
You would think that these people would use a little common sense and realize that they aren't in group therapy and to keep it light.I think you only have to look at message board threads to see how easily it is for people to turn a discussion of anything into a pity party for themselves. As was mentioned upthread, it's incumbent on the facilitator to set the expectations for the ice breaker, "Share a funny story from ... etc." That won't completely stem the tide, of course. But it should keep these incidents to a minimum.
Now that is a fun game.The best thing to do when forced to answer random personal questions is to make shit up.
Do you live in a Todd Solondz movie?So today we had a staff meeting and for the ice breaker my boss passed around pennies. And the thing was the year of the coin, you had to state something that happened to you in your life during that year.
So the first girl to go, goes into this tearful sob fest about how 2002 was her third year in college and she attempted suicide twice.
The next person to go, went on and on about her adopted sister and the girls real dad breaking into the house trying to kidnap his child back and terrorized the family.
Finally at this point my boss stood up and said that this wasn’t what she meant, she said keep it light and fluffy.
Holy crap.
What a downer of a meeting this was.
^Well, it does sound a bit like a scene out of The Office.
In my office (a bunch of engineers), that wouldn't hurt anyone's feelings, since it would be taken (and intended) as good-natured ribbing. Happens quite a bit in our meetings, actually!"Sometimes they treat you like you have a brain the size of a pea!"
Silence.
Then I took advantage of the opening. "Well in your case, Wilma..." and didn't finish.
Even the manager laughed, and I didn't get a reprimand. I did apologize as it hurt her feelings.
So today we had a staff meeting and for the ice breaker my boss passed around pennies. And the thing was the year of the coin, you had to state something that happened to you in your life during that year.
^Well, it does sound a bit like a scene out of The Office.
We use essential cookies to make this site work, and optional cookies to enhance your experience.