Off-limit conversations?

[MightyMouse]

In the past, it always seemed the conversations that would cause the most trouble were politically charged. And they still rank up there, but recently, there have been a couple of conversations that I have to stop as soon as they are started, just because of the passionate stances they invoke.

The two that come to mind right away are: Mike McQueary's culpability in the Jerry Sandusky situation; and Tim Tebow (the Tebow debate definitely is more recent).

Twice in the last three days Tebow's merits as a football player and NFL quarterback vs. college quarterback have been the the subject of very heated debates among the staff -- to the point where workflow is interrupted. And the conversation on Day 2 seemed to be identical to Day 1. It's gotten to the point where I have to pretty much outlaw Tebow talk in the sports department if any work is going to get done.

Just wondering if anyone else out there has taboo conversation topics (you know, aside from those that will get you called down to HR the next day).

 

[KYSportsWriter]

Our sports team hasn't really talked about Tebow or anything, but it has certainly been funny to listen to one of the ladies on the copy desk -- who, fwiw, pretends to be a sports fan -- talk about it like she knows what the hell she's talking about.

 

[JC]

Our sports team hasn't really talked about Tebow or anything, but it has certainly been funny to listen to one of the ladies on the copy desk -- who, fwiw, pretends to be a sports fan -- talk about it like she knows what the hell she's talking about.

She'd be a perfect fit here.

 

[Raiders]

If newsroom people don't know how to debate things in civil terms, what are they doing working for freedom of speech? Debates should be an exchange of ideas and opinions, not insults and ridicule.

 

[imjustagirl]

**** you, Raiders.

 

[Raiders]

**** you, Raiders.

I'd kick your ass if I wasn't on deadline.

 

[JRoyal]

**** you, Raiders.

I'd kick your ass if I wasn't on deadline.

I think she could take you.

 

[stix]

I would say if you're banging a co-worker's significant other, that might be off-limits.

 

[HejiraHenry]

We find it easier to keep political and religious conversations/debates to a minimum in the office.

 

[bpoindexter]

**** you, Raiders.
[/quoteThat was beautiful, simply perfect timing.

 

[lone star scribe]

We had to ban political talk, because there were very strident views at each end of the spectrum in our shop. Work would come to a crashing halt.

 

[Moderator1]

We had to ban political talk, because there were very strident views at each end of the spectrum in our shop. Work would come to a crashing halt.

Hey, so did we! On this board, I mean.

 

[Dick Whitman]

We had to ban political talk, because there were very strident views at each end of the spectrum in our shop.

This was a newspaper, right?

So left and far left?

 

[Stitch]

On one copy desk I worked on, absolutely nothing was off limits. It was great. I talked about wanting to bang one co-worker's sister so much, he threw a 50-pound box of printer paper at me.

I guess you never did get to bang his sister.

 

[joe_schmoe]

About the only taboo thing here is using the N word, and I don't mean nerd.

 

[spikechiquet]

My old newsroom, we could talk about anything we wanted...

...that said, I was the only one IN the newsroom 95% of the time.

Ah...budget cuts and layoffs.

 

[TrooperBari]

I don't think there are any taboo subjects, at least on our copy desk. We have a mix of Americans, Brits, Aussies and Kiwis who will savage just about anyone if given the chance, but most everything is done in good humor.

The most vociferous debate I can remember was when one Aussie brought up Ayn Rand and called "Atlas Shrugged" "one of those books everyone needs to read." That didn't go over very well.

 

[Versatile]

In my last shop, there was a lengthy list of **** we couldn't talk about when the copy desk chief or sports editor was around. They were rarely in Sundays (it wasn't an NFL city), so Sundays became the day of the week when all grievances with coworkers (particularly the sports editor and online editor) were aired and we otherwise shot the **** about everything.

In my current shop, the desk is a bit more subdued, but nothing is off the table if you know who you want to talk with about the topic. Politics get very sticky, though, and we usually just wait till after work if something needs to be said on the matter. The desk is actually split pretty evenly down the middle in terms of liberals and conservatives.

 

[Beef03]

At my current shop, so far as I can tell, nothing is off-limits. No body takes anything personally and we trade barbs all day. My last shop they didn't say anything was off limits, but you learned there were certain subjects that you didn't talk about with the majority of the room, religion was the big one.

 

[93Devil]

when all grievances with coworkers (particularly the sports editor and online editor) were aired

Vestivus?