A friend accused me of being snoopy during Zoom/Teams meetings

[IknowIch]

I am long-term MN NC user.
English second language.

So to get on with it, I expressed to a friend I judge colleagues' background (e.g. type of wall paper, paint colour, decor, etc) during Zoom/Teams meetings, such as a laptop not on a desk or senior staff members with no home libraries or dedicated workspace.

Am I the only one who snoops into other's houses during meetings?

Not that trivial that you judge I have no desk to work from no space to put one and can't afford to move right now judge away 🤷‍♀️

Our books ( and comic book collection) are in the same room as the telly as this is where the comfy sofas are. I don't work in a sofa, that would kill my back.

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At least it's not the only bathroom!

Do my daughter's Peppa pig books count as a home library

Absolutely. In fact I think everyone displaying books on zoom should be prepared to answer a question from colleagues about them. E.g.; What do you think the main themes in Peppa pig and the camping trip were? Do you identify with any of the characters etc.

In fact I think everyone displaying books on zoom should be prepared to answer a question from colleagues about them.

They stopped that after realising I had books like Delusions of Gender and Carrie Gracie's Equal Pay just over one shoulder. I did have a good discussion with my director about his sparkly curtains (he claims it was his daughter's room and nothing to do with him,) and his books (he reads a lot of stuff like Jo Nesbo.)

I am huge fan of background effects for Teams calls and meetings. Currently I have downloaded a beautiful and grand New York loft style background. Somebody said it was so much cheaper than actually redecorating. Anyway with electronic libraries in my profession, we wouldn't have many "work" books in our offices. There are about four bookcases scattered through my house which you'd never see in my office - fake background or not.

I like peoples styles. I like anything from a messy cluttered room to anally tidy period styled houses from 80s. There is always something I like

I might fake the next call sipping a cocktail by the poolside .

Home office with a library wouldn’t mean someone goes up in my estimation. It might make me assume they had more money or less children then most to have a dedicated space.

I do feel for all those making calls on shared houses, from their bedrooms and those with toddlers running around tripping up and crying.

Daily Mail journo much?

It’s human nature to look but I think unfair to judge. I’ve actually found it quite refreshing to see how normal looking the homes of some people in high office, are.

But no, I don't pay very much attention to what people have at home, although if I catch my team slouching on the sofa with the lap top they get one hell of a roasting about DSE! But that is because I take their health and wellbeing seriously, and have ensured that every single one of them, regardless of home circumstances, has an appropriate place to work and the appropriate equipment to do so.

I'm really intrigued by this comment. How have you achieved this? My employer has been excellent and offered to buy me a desk and chair but I had to turn them down because there was nowhere I could put them. I'd be mightily pissed off if my boss felt they could scold me for doing a call whilst sitting at the kitchen table/on the sofa/in one of the kids bedrooms. Might as well scold me for not being able to afford a bigger house.

This is quite a revelation. I couldn’t give the slightest shit what anyone thinks of my background or home decor, or infers about my level of book ownership.

I have a kindle.

Who knew that would mean I am an uneducated unsuccessful slob?! Runs off sobbing to netmums.

Everyone does it but it’s very frustrating, especially if you are huddled in a bedroom because other people are in the “more presentable” rooms. Also, if you have lots of kids who drop things, you feel obliged to tidy the whole house before the call. I use virtual backgrounds for this reason.

Ha, I have a mirrored wardrobe behind me in my box-room/office, which reflects a) my ring light, b) my broad fat back and the fact that I'm actually hunched right forward over the desk to hide my double chin and c) all the shite I have cluttered on the multiple racks and shelves on the wall in front of me.

Thank God for custom backgrounds. I took a picture of a plain wall in the other bedroom with an averagely generic picture on it, and uploaded that as my background - in fact many of my colleagues didn't think it was a background because I made sure to capture a light switch.

I'll have a new home office soon, should I have some lurid wallpaper behind me or a really try hard picture (like a Banksy canvas)?

I don't use the camera for work teams as when I'm working from home I have to do so from my bedroom and I'm not prepared to share that. I have to be in a private room, the rest of the house is open plan, plus DH and DCx2 are also working from home. DH uses the home PC which is set up in the dining room (it also contains bookcases and books 😉).

I notice what's behind colleagues, and I might comment on something noticeable but unoffensive, eg "oh I like your clock/picture" etc. I absolutely wouldn't comment in any other way!

I work with the board members of a large global company. All earning 500k plus (except me)

All of us use photo backgrounds of beautiful scenery and change them regularly, often coinciding with the seasons. Usually they're photos we've taken ourselves whilst on holiday.

We love chatting about where we "are" that day and it really lifts our moods to see the photos. Much nicer than white walls or bookshelves.

We have a library in our house, i.e. a room fully shelved and some chairs to sit and read in. The books however have overflowed so we also have bookshelves in the hall and bedrooms.
When I'm on zoom calls I sit at the dining room table with a blank wall behind me - it's the most comfortable place to work with a laptop.

I have loved interviews on the news etc and seeing people's homes!!

No I don't care.

I don't judge anybody's background as I too have had to work from my bedroom and even bathroom when a family of 5 are all trying to do live lessons/meetings from home.

I do slightly judge people who sit in front of a window so they are a silhouette or don't know how to unmute.....

Oh and OP, my employer's advice is for staff to have a neutral, non-identifying background, for personal security purposes. Such as a blank wall, or a bland, non-identifying view out of a window. I talk online to a variety of users, mixed between members of the public and other staff members. I'm not changing my background to give a particular impression every hour. I don't work in sales or fashion or the arts, I'm doing a professional job, and I don't want to try and influence people's opinions of me by eg dropping subtle hints of my choice in books or decor style.

You sound as if you need to learn to focus more on your work and not be distracted by outside factors over which you have no control.

Well now I feel like shit! I've been working my arse off, teaching all day in class with my bubble of 24 children (yeah...'bubble' of 24 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️), interspersed with live Teams teaching those 6 at home, which means I don't get any breaks. I then get home around 6pm and spend another 2 (sometimes 3...depends how many re-takes I need to do 🤦‍♀️) making and uploading video lessons on loom for the lessons that I can't live teach for those children.

I sit at the only space I have available...a tiny folding table. My house is the size of a shoebox (home office??? 🤣🤣🤣) and as it's rented, I have no control over the decor. Can't 'blur' the background as I have to use my portable whiteboard and read picture books...if you use 'blur background' the camera only picks up you...found that out when I tried to show the pictures of the book I was reading and all you can see is a strange ghostlike space 😱

I'm now wondering how my parents are sitting at home judging my home everyday!

Thanks for that OP!