I was the only person in my department who worked "late" tonight (until 8PM). Around 5:30 or thereabouts, our office manager came around and noticed this little fact, and promptly had a cow; there should be at least two people there at all times. Since there was nobody there but me to yell at, and I didn't make the decision, she didn't give me any grief. But she let it be known that she was not happy, and as she walked away I felt a weird urge to smirk or giggle-somebody's gonna catch it now!
Then I wondered, why? I like my two supervisors. Possible explanations I've thought up:
-I'm just a nasty SOB, as is anyone else who would feel such things
-These are my feelings of resentment at being the only person left running the show, coming to the surface in disguise
-My relief at escaping a screaming-at is manifesting itself in a weird way
-Humor is associated with discomfort, and that was an edgy situation
-Some combination of the above (I'm leaning towards the last three now)
Do you ever feel vague glee at somebody else's misfortune? What's your theory on the matter?
Then I wondered, why? I like my two supervisors. Possible explanations I've thought up:
-I'm just a nasty SOB, as is anyone else who would feel such things
-These are my feelings of resentment at being the only person left running the show, coming to the surface in disguise
-My relief at escaping a screaming-at is manifesting itself in a weird way
-Humor is associated with discomfort, and that was an edgy situation
-Some combination of the above (I'm leaning towards the last three now)
Do you ever feel vague glee at somebody else's misfortune? What's your theory on the matter?
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