The "Problem co-worker" thread

[Ned Bedinger]

Downing, David wrote:
> I have to confess
> I don't like the idea of deliberately refusing to respond to her,
> because I've had people do that to me and it always leaves me feeling
> that I got cheated.  Our whole profession has to do with understanding
>   

I agree, but see:

http://classics.mit.edu/Aesop/fab.1.1.html

The fourth fable from the bottom of the page: The Shepherd's Boy and the 
Wolf

IIRC from psychology, the technical term for what happens is 'extinction 
of behavior' -- when the receptive co-workers respond, repeatedly over 
time, and their response is repeatedly ignored, their receptive behavior 
goes extinct. Elsewhere, I have heard this called 'compassion burn-out.' 
When it happens in the workplace, it is tempting to attribute it to 
living in the rat race where we're packed in tight together, but as told 
by Aesop, it happens even in pastoral settings. The consequences for 
Aesop's protagonist were dire, but bringing any consequences to bear on 
the one in the office is a bit more fiddly. The silent treatment may 
seem heavy handed, but it can be done , and sounds to me like it could 
be effective when other options are limited.

Make time for it.

Ned Bedinger
doc at edwordsmith.com