Hi, can anyone help me with this little puzzle I have?Basically, why are people so weird at work?When I was at school, people were pretty normal. You know, down to earth and "real". I felt like I was around human beings who had personalities and were generally happy in life. They had hobbies and interests, and would involve you in things and speak to you without having an agenda.Yet... several years on... almost all the people I encounter at work are right up-their-own-ar5e bunch of pseuds and fakers. Trying to be all sophisticated and cosmopolitan. Competitve backstabbers, generally angry and unfriendly.So... what happened? I know I got older... but what happened to THEM?Ahh, bring back the days of Kriss Kross "Jump", long balmy summer evenings, and people who prefered cooperation to competition.

Sad to say, but they were exactly the same at school too. But now, armed with your consultant toolkit and behavioural profiling and career ambitions, you can analyse it much more quickly.

I think some people (hopefully the minority) get weird as they get older because they get to know their own failings and insecurities better, and think they have to work to cover them up / project them onto someone else / make themselves feel better.Sadly, I guess having to meet mortgage repayments plays a part too.I see it as positive though. I am not weird at work, try to be nice to people and work hard, and don't let daft politics or silly people with egos get in the way. This makes me more fun to work with than the wierd people, which means I get on better projects and have more fun than them. So there.

I suppose it's because in college, there is not much at stake in acting fun and silly with your friends. Now you're at work. It matters.Maybe you need to find a new set of friends outside of work, so that the small annoyances at work can be drowned out by more positive experiences outside of work.

At home I have a wife and 2 kidsAt work I wear a long cloak, make irrational judments about people, also pre judge based on general presentation and demeanour.I also wear a wigIm a JudgeCant say I done the above in School

People get promoted till they reach their level of incompetence (Dilbert Principle). Then they have to defend their kingdom to cover their incompetence. Hence, weirdness strikes!

I'd agree with joppie on this one. That is very much how weirdness, promotion, politics in large organisations, and competition co-exist. A profound insight.

What I have noticed is that CEOs are the weirdest. I have never met a CEO who does not seem to be eccentric.Is it a requirement of the job - lonely job requires a unique individual?

aww..you're right.... let's forget all that...get our baggies on and (altogether now ..)' Da Mack Daddy'll make ya....jump! jump!''Kris Kros'll make ya ... jump jump!'wickedy-wickedey-wickedy-whack !

Your mother is an elephant