(Photo is of fellow WC Dish writers with popcorn bags at the Chili Cook-off)
Yes, I enjoy reading the horoscopes in the newspaper. I admit it. And I quite like to take my reading and squish my current life situations around so that they line up and I can say to myself “wow, that’s right on.” This week, as I reflected how my reading applied to my life, my eyes glanced across the page to my mother’s favorite section, Dear Abby. I normally don’t dive into this column but the word “popcorn” caught my eye and I was hooked. Here’s an abbreviated version of the letter.
Dear Abby:
…Suzy began ordering microwave popcorn as an “office supply.” Of course, the employees think this is wonderful. However, I am a little bothered — not only by the fact that she has unilaterally decided that food products are “office supplies” (we’re a law firm) but because I feel popcorn is very unprofessional food. The minute anyone walks into the office, the smell of popcorn wafts by. To me, this does not project a professional image to clients…
…Am I overreacting to the popcorn smell? Or is this truly unprofessional? I need a second opinion before I create any conflict. (By the way, I’m willing to offer some other treat in lieu of popcorn.)
— Believes in Decorum, Eugene, Ore.
The advice that Abby gave was very close to what I would have said. She summed up her reply with “Unless you want to be the most unpopular person in the office, my advice is to let this go.”
However, this did make me think a bit about how others reacted to the smell of popcorn, especially about the guy in my cubical area who “hates when anyone makes it” because he claims the smell makes him “absolutely ill.” Yet I recall other co-workers who smell freshly-popped corn, say how “mmmm good” it smells and then claim to want to make some for themselves.
So I ask you dish readers…what are your thoughts on the popcorn debate? Is it offensive to make this snack in an office environment or is this buttery treat fair game at work?
The Final Dish: I’ll let you know what the listeners on 1420am WCOJ say… I plan on asking them tomorrow morning on the show.
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