Singapore Expats

I've only been working here for a couple of months, but I've noticed people (usually women) always running through the office. i don't mean just a simple, quick-paced jog, but full on sprints regardless of distance. Even from one cubicle to the next- loud, stomping sprints in heels. I don't understand. Is this a way to show productivity? It's very distracting actually, is this common?

They work just like they travel anywhere. Always leave it till it's too late and then have to run. Last minute lulu's. It's a whole nation of them. Except in my office. They if they are always running back and forth, I'm gonna wonder why they are so inefficient that they have to keep running. I know I don't overwork them, and I doubt that they look at it as exercising.......

I don't even know if it's because things are last minute. It's literally everywhere, all the time. Even people without many job duties do it all the same. But it's literally the loudest, most disturbing, flat-footed running through the walk-ways as if people are trying to make a ruckus. Maybe it is for exercise, or to get the blood flowing or something weird.

Reminds me of my favorite person I see every morning on the MRT. Probably a 45-50 year old woman, who, every single morning, engages in a full-on sprint- arms flailing, head bobbing, feet stomping (only to go about walking speed) just to get ahead of a few people in the line for the escalator, who then waits in the left side of it anyways. I will never understand...

Kiasu

richie303 wrote:Kiasu

Yes.

Now, imagine 'Yakety Sax' playing whenever you see someone running in your office.

nakatago wrote:

richie303 wrote:Kiasu

Yes.

Now, imagine 'Yakety Sax' playing whenever you see someone running in your office.

I like that song! I used to play E♭Alto Sax in a dance band (you youngsters probably don't know what a dance band is) back in the mid-60's.

sundaymorningstaple wrote:

nakatago wrote:

richie303 wrote:Kiasu

Yes.

Now, imagine 'Yakety Sax' playing whenever you see someone running in your office.

I like that song! I used to play E♭Alto Sax in a dance band (you youngsters probably don't know what a dance band is) back in the mid-60's.

I played alto in a dance band all through
my teens sang, too.

I tend to prefer "Hal of the mountain king" or that une from Benny Hill tv show. Depending on the person running!

I'm constantly humming the Benny hill theme in my head here.

They certainly don't run in my office....... wouldn't mind if they did, though, give my eyes some exercise and something else to focus on.

I wondered for a minute whether or not this should've been posted in the Leisure, Jokes and Rubbish section. People voluntarily moving fast in SG? I didn't know that it was possible

Sure they do. Just put up a sign saying free gif(sic!) at the end of the hall, street. Or tell 'em there are free 'Hello Kitty" dolls at McD's! Ball'o'Fire! You ain't seen nuttin' till then.

Worse that a herd of spooked wildebeest!

Such behaviour is a very natural (and logical) reaction to the Parkinson Principle:
"Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion."
Or rather its reversal:
"If you wait until the last minute, it takes just a minute to do."

nakatago wrote:

richie303 wrote:Kiasu

Yes.

Now, imagine 'Yakety Sax' playing whenever you see someone running in your office.

Being only a youngster, I never realized Yakkety sax was indeed the Benny Hill tune! lol.

HA!

Finally, Eibow's office: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW9w2KPT7B0