Team building, summer-camp style
Looking to laugh off those Monday office blues? Host Kai Ryssdal talks with author John Austin about his office-prank guidebook, "Cubicle Warfare." And the Marketplace staff tries out a few of the gags.
The cover of "Cubicle Warfare." (Collins Living)
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From San Francisco, CA, 07/29/2008
Pranks only happen between equals; no one punks the boss. Smiling while you "attack" each other as the boss looks on is a great way to dissolve any subversive tendencies that might be channeled into changing work conditions. Call it "team building" instead of "blowing off steam" or "invading privacy" or "peer pressure" and you have an excuse to annoy people. After the first laugh, it's not really fun to pick up those beebees and step on them for weeks afterward. You have to pick and time your pranks wisely otherwise all you have is escalating warfare.
From Dallas, TX, 07/29/2008
Lighten up out there all you anals with serious hemroids. Life is very trying and people are loosing their "people skills" how much time is WASTED on the job with the cell phones and crackberries all you toad heads? If you don't like something take another direction.....it's a good thing to see people actually interact with one another rather that REACT and criticize. Find UR happy place......breath...breath!
From Houston, TX, 07/29/2008
I think the catch here to know your friends and their senses of humor and to know your company's/team's culture. I've decorated offices for anniversaries and birthdays before in rather elaborate ways, but often this is done off the clock and with strict consideration of how difficult it would be for the victim to get right to work after taking a moment to laugh upon arrival. You don't have to take down an entire team's efficiency to have a little fun.
From New York, NY, 07/29/2008
I love the tiny circuit board thing ...O my god! That is perfect for my office (why didn't I think of that).
From Denver, CO, 07/29/2008
We've done way better than this. For my birthday, my wife and my co-workers saran wrapped my entire cubicle (down to individual pens), and filled it with balloons. I think of it as harmless social bonding, so long as the victim can take it. (and yes, I can take it and dish it out) :)
From Big Rapids, MI, 07/29/2008
I love to do fun things like this. It's good to be creative and liven things up. You do have to be judicious and respectful. A fun one I did recently was to make this tiny circuit board thing w/ a mic on it and an antenna. Put it in a discreet place on my boss's desk. Later he discovered it and was momentarily disturbed, thinking he had been bugged. By the time his investigation got to me we all had a good laugh.
From Honolulu, HI, 07/29/2008
April Fools comes but once a year, relish it, but don't wear it out. In response to Govt. employees who don't get it. In general, the private sector survives by way of long hours, taking work home, and sacrifice of personal time. All this is judged on performance by a capitalist market place. Conversely, an constant 8-5 with an hour lunch, full benifits, including ample Fed/State holidays, and a labor union in tow make for a different work culture. I like the idea that State/Fed employees take their jobs very seriously and don't waste tax payer dollars with office jokes. Thank you!
From Stockton, CA, 07/29/2008
There's nothing wrong with a little levity now and again during these gloomy economic times. But after logging on twice to see the cubicle decorated with Christmas wrap, the photos were a disappointment. You can do better.
From Issaquah, WA, 07/28/2008
I listened to this story with total amazement. In my workplace, these kinds of pranks could get you fired, and my fellow co-workers would be outraged by the waste of their valuable time. I was especially interested because I happen to work for a large government bureaucracy. Government workers are characterized as being time-wasters and slackers, but no one in our workplace would put up with this kind of nonsense. Do workers in private business have time for these kinds of juvenile antics?
From New York, NY, 07/28/2008
Cubicle Warfare, Funny Stuff! Work..work..work...day in, day out for 50 years..thanks for giving something to laugh about. For sure I will pick this up and try a few of these...because when it's all said and done...if my name isn't on the building..I really don't care:-) Data Processing Tech..Dave "daninja" Johnson.
From Nashville, TN, 07/28/2008
Great story! Loved it. But after reading some of these negative postings about this story, their authors reminded me of something good friend has told me. "Don't take your self so seriously, your not that important".
From merced, CA, 07/28/2008
With Freddie & Fannie a downdat on the streetand oil , oil, oil it was refreshing to find some humor is still possible- BBs in the coffee cup is a classic! Thanks for brightening the load
From Lisle, IL, 07/28/2008
I have to admit, that cube warfare piece was a disappointment.
From Louisville, KY, 07/28/2008
;)
From Brooklyn, NY, 07/28/2008
I actually enjoyed the story on Cubicle Warfare (granted I heard it along with my 15 month old's dinner time babble) and just e-mailed it to my best friend. She is the biggest practical joker I know and will surely like the story too. Some people who work in offices actually have great senses of humor.
From Louisville, KY, 07/28/2008
The story on Cubicle Warfare was the biggest waste of air time I've ever heard, bar none. What a stupid, juvenile, assinine, adolescent jerk this guy is. If he worked for me, I'd fire him. I'm going to 'fire' your show if you air any more crap like that.
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