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?

I have do do zoom/teams etc sat on my bed usually because I've got 4 children at home, usually in their own rooms doing school lessons or I'm desperately trying to keep them quiet in front of the telly whilst on the meeting. It's extremely stressful and I am really paranoid about what people might think of me. Luckily for me, it's only for uni and not a job and I don't often have to have the camera on

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

Also true oh dear...

I have a home office (it'll be marketed as the third bedroom when I sell but has never been a bedroom while I've lived here) but for the first 4 months of lockdown I worked from the dining table until I had the time and energy to change the desk for one that could accommodate all my work IT kit and move myself upstairs, I had my back to a plain wall so you won't have had much to judge.

I use blur or a background so you'd be none the wiser now I'm in a home office. Lots of my senior colleagues are working from their dining rooms and kitchens so they can monitor homeschooling dc.

I'll admit when I move it'll be to a property with an office (or space bedroom I can adapt) closing the office door at the end of the day is essential for me I also need a whiteboard and to be able to leave work out if I'm in the middle of something.

If I'm on a zoom or teams call I'm at dining table and you see a tower gym and treadmill in the background.

I'd hope that means you'd judge me positively even though they belong to ds

Yes, snooping and judgemental.

Which is why I have my back to the wall in the dining room.

This is mumsnet at its finest! Yep the mumsnet snobbery trophy goes to you! 👏👏🎖🏆

It is worth having a look because sometimes it helps you understand people and their working habits better.
For example when I saw that my boss was talking from right next to Niagara Falls I had a better understanding of why in normal times he gets in to work so late so often. That's one heck of a commute!

I always have a look at other people's houses (because I'm nosey ) but I'm not judging. I'm certainly not judging others who don't have libraries or home offices and I sure as hell hope they're not judging me - it's difficult to find room for a library in a one bedroom flat; if nothing else there's not enough space for one of those ladders that goes round the bookshelves. I suppose I could have an extension for the home office but it's a bit tricky when you're on the first floor. Maybe I could have a basement extension and just dig down into the flat below?

Seriously, take your judgy pants off.

Although I have to admit whenever Matt Hancock is on a zoom interview I do sit and try and work out if his red room with bookcase is actually the downstairs loo and he's sat on the loo with lid down 🤣

To be honest, I think we are all a little interested in the backdrop. Not particularly to snoop but just to get a quick overview of someone's tastes etc!

I zoom from the sex dungeon, you'd have a field day!

Utter peanuts.

DH has a bookcase behind where he works. Mostly full of craft stuff. Currently has a pile of fabric I need to do something with on it.

It's a constant source of chatter on TEAMS where I work..I love your bookcase, I love your Emma Bridgewater coffee mug etc

Sorry that sounds intolerable Do Emma Bridgewater mugs gain special recognition over an ordinary mug.

“Snoopy”, no. We all notice, that’s not snooping.
Snooty, yes. We don’t all judge.

Oddly enough when we bought our house a decade ago with office based jobs we didn’t factor in needing two home offices to work in 5 days a week and primary school aged children having to be homeschooled/cared for at home for 23 hours a day. So I work in my bedroom as there is no other space I can use for my senior job.

OP, this is MN Land of the Nosy Bastards. Of course they do! But they ain’t never gonna admit to it, even if you get the pliers on them.

@SmileyClare

It's a constant source of chatter on TEAMS where I work..I love your bookcase, I love your Emma Bridgewater coffee mug etc

Sorry that sounds intolerable Do Emma Bridgewater mugs gain special recognition over an ordinary mug.

I guess it's because they're quite expensive but really they're just the same as a mug from B&M but with delusions of grandeur.

@MrMucker

It is worth having a look because sometimes it helps you understand people and their working habits better. For example when I saw that my boss was talking from right next to Niagara Falls I had a better understanding of why in normal times he gets in to work so late so often. That's one heck of a commute!

Bwah ha brilliant. I did consider reporting a colleague for sitting next to some Palm trees on what was blatantly some sort of Caribbean holiday retreat but decided I shouldn't judge.

Those of you who blur your background, please be aware that this can cause problems for those in the call with hearing and visual impairments. It makes it much more difficult to ascertain body language and lip read as sometimes your body can disappear if you move. Just move to an area of your house with a white wall behind you!

I do have a nosey at people's backgrounds though. One colleague was typically very perfectionist and had clearly chosen the room / background that was just perfect. Another colleague (manager) had a really messy house and that did give me satisfaction as I hated her.

I have a (small) bookcase and a vase on top of it behind me. Out of shot is my very large pile of ironing!

I read that their is a company that comes to your house and dresses your backdrop for zoom meetings. Rearranging books.

I think your friend was being very kind and generous when she chose to use the word 'snoopy' instead of several other more honest options. She must like you a lot.

I thought that was what Zoom was for? (snooping)

Working from home. I live in a room with a tiny kitchen. I work from my sofa. I would love to have a library and a study and a garden and a washing machine and a loo and shower I don't have to share.
As it is I just have made it look like my camera is not functioning properly so never have it on for Teams.
But for others who have teams, try the all together mode, is quite hilarious!

If I ever have to zoom or teams from home the background is the last thing on my mind; all I care about is ds3 not coming in to loudly say something I really don't want everyone hearing, and wondering when the hell my nose got so fucking big