Shared fridge wars over my fermenting pickles

My office mate keeps moving my jar of fermenting cucumbers to the back because she says it looks creepy. I explained it's just brine and spices, but she won't listen. Now I have to label it with 'DO NOT TOUCH' which feels ridiculous. If people can't appreciate natural processes, maybe they should stick to store-bought stuff.

3 comments

3 Comments

laura_wright1mo ago

Ever think your office mate is using the "creepy" look as an excuse for something else? Does she often mess with other people's stuff in the fridge, or is it just your projects that get moved around? This might be less about pickles and more about her feeling like she controls the shared space.

jamesf261mo ago

Yeah that bit about "feeling like she controls the shared space" hits home. I read a thing once about how people use passive stuff, like moving things or making comments, to mark territory in shared areas. It's never just about a pickle jar. It's a power move to see what they can get away with, making you ask permission to use a common fridge. Saw it at my old job with a guy who'd rearrange the entire kitchen if a mug was left in the sink.

lee.kelly1mo ago

Exactly... like Laura said, it's all about unspoken rules.