The Peril of Workplace Whistling

Now correct me if I am wrong, but the Dwarves told us to whistle while we work. Perhaps in a simpler time, a time when you went to work with your axe or shovel, when you worked hard all day and then left work behind to enjoy cottage bachelorhood with six other messy, chore-averse men with strong personality traits - whistling while you worked was a good idea.

I'm here to tell you that in this fast paced, post industrial, every person for themselves, Office Space, slush bucket of a world we live in, whistling in the work place is frowned on.

OK, I can admit it - whistling bugs some people - a LOT. I suppose the real problem lies with me, in that, while I walk my lips are almost mechanically connected to my feet. I can't walk if I don't whistle. Anyway, a co-worker asked me to stop whistling.

It's happened to me before. When I first started my career, a co-worker threatened to tell on me. I stopped whistling, of course - no one likes to be told on. It's embarrassing to be asked to stop whistling.

It has happened again. I am trying very hard, but somehow my enjoyment of the work place is less now. I suppose I have to respect the public space.

To wrap up: Nothing against Dwarves, but I think they had this one wrong - or more precisely : The wisdom of the Dwarves is maybe not as venerable as some might like to believe.

If your going to go to work, as many of us are forced to do regularly, maybe just whistle on your way.