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?

That's so judgy. It's also why I hate video in my home. It's none of anyone's business how and where I live.

Looking at what’s in the background is normal. Judging the size of their home not very pleasant. Not many family homes with children living at home have space for a dedicated office. Especially those who never expected to work from home. With five of us at home it is impossible to have 5 proper working areas.

I have a home office but rarely work in it, on Teams calls I'm usually sitting at the kitchen table which is my preferred working space.
I love getting a glimpse into my colleagues home lives, it gives me a warm feeling to see another side to them.

I have zero interest in the backgrounds of my colleagues while on video calls. And I have zero interest in what they think about mine.

I have to laugh because if you called me you’d see a totally blank wall behind me and not a single book on display. I have over 1000 books! It’s never even occurred to me to ensure that people know I have a ‘home library’ and while I’m sure I have nicer walls in other rooms, the room I choose to call from is warm and quiet. I think you are putting too much weight / judgement on what people choose to show you. The happiest people probably don’t give a damn what you or anyone else think of their backdrop. As long as it’s not a big dildo on a shelf or an overflowing bin.

[quote IknowIch]@SmileyClare actually, I have a home office and library and we use them.

I am not normally judgy, but was taken aback about opinions I formed on such trivial things.[/quote]
So now you have read some of the reasons here why people are not currently in a home library/office are you likely to be less judgemental in the future?

You do ralise that they may have a partner working from hom, uni kids studying from home, secondary age kids studying, primary kids home schooling.

As long as they can get on to the call why does it matter where they are sitting to be able to get enough peace and privacy to conduct their call what does it matter where they are?

Yanbu. Constantl subject of chatter on TEAMs where I work. Love your bookcase/pictures/Emma Bridgewater coffee mug etc. We're a pretty informal,friendly crowd though. You should work with us OP.

@garlicwhorl

wtf has a home library

Ermm - me?

My workroom is a separate room, all four walls lined with bookshelves from top to bottom, two desks (one with a return fitted), shredder and office chair with heat and massage function!

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 don’t judge them but seeing other people’s rooms has been one of the highlights of the pandemic.

I think it's sometimes unavoidable to notice and probably natural to judge but maybe people just don't say it.

I think people make judgments about all sorts of things.

This is why I don't put my camera on unless asked.

@Squirrelblanket

I have zero interest in the backgrounds of my colleagues while on video calls. And I have zero interest in what they think about mine.

This!

Cannot be on with all that blurring shit either, if my colleagues want to snoop and judge what they can see behind me on our team calls so what?

I don't judge. I'm just really envious! I'm on the board of a charity, and what zoom has brought home to me is how I'm the poor relation! Everyone else seems to have gorgeous houses and be very much more wealthy than me!

I have a kindle. Is that a home library

Well I can only dream about an office chair with heat and massage function. I suspect that cost more than my car

I do have a hot water bottle stuffed up my top though.

I think you sound mental

I think it’s normal to look at others’ backgrounds but very narrow minded to judge because of it.

I am senior management and do not work in the home office because DH uses it, I don’t work at the table either because 2 DCs have that and the dog would disturb. I choose to have a quiet corner upstairs with a big window and nice view. Sometimes I sit in my bed with my laptop on my lap as it’s comfy. Senior or not doesn’t matter one iota.

senior staff members with no home libraries or dedicated workspace.

Well, until 10 month ago senior staff members didn’t need a dedicated work space because, you know, they were at work...

I have so many books I've had to ban myself from buying any more. But they're all on my Kindle.

Should I hold that up behind my head so my colleagues know I read?

@SmileyClare

You can't really judge a colleague based on what's behind them on a Zoom call unless it's a gin palace, how slatternly

It's a bit cringe worthy when someone has tried too hard to arrange all their high brow reading materials behind their face, and a couple of "interesting artefacts" from their travels, a cute family photo and that trophy they got at university.
I mean get over yourself.

Or maybe they’re just insecure and worried because all their colleagues are judging them on their backgrounds.

I laugh at the way MPs try to impress us with their backgrounds. Quite a few seem to have a flag in a prominent position, and Matt Hancock operates from from a red cupboard, which reminds me of the first chapter of Jane Eyre.

It's a bit cringe worthy when someone has tried too hard to arrange all their high brow reading materials behind their face, and a couple of "interesting artefacts" from their travels, a cute family photo and that trophy they got at university
I mean get over yourself

^ This

So "try hard". It's naff.