The drag thing, a separate thread because this time it's specific to the workplace..

[knockabouthumour]

Been volunteering somewhere for quite sometime. Without wanting to reveal too much it is a professional occupation and I am on a traineeship. We work with vulnerable youths. It's a charity setting with a (remote)CEO.

Whenever CEO gets in touch they sign odd with gifs of Oprah (that's fine) but also comments ALWAYS that say 'I hope you are all watching Ru Paul's drag race' !!!

Well. I'm not watching that for my own reasons (I find it offensive to women) and I would imagine volunteers might find this expectation objectionable too?

Boggled. What on earth kind of CEO signs off work emails withRuPaul exhortations?

Put yours to working hard at not watching tv

The CEO needs to be careful.

In plenty of the larger organisations I've worked at CEO emails have been leaked to the press, either industry specific or normal, where the CEO has the pissed ripped out of them.

The GIFs of Oprah and the comments about watching Drag Race are both prime for having the piss ripped out of them. As a PP pointed out why is the CEO watching so much TV when they should be working?

No idea why that would be a priority, even working with vulnerable youths - although on the show (which I do watch avidly) there are often narratives whereby the contestants have had issues as teens: ostracised/rejected/bullying/homophobia - but I do not see the relevance in terms of your clients unless CEO is thinking hearing a variety of stories of lived experience will open your eyes further to what the vulnerable go through OR you work with many LGBTQI and it becomes a topic you can use as conversation/building a rapport.
Otherwise, it is a strange request - not sure how knowing Shea just won All Stars 5 or Jaida won the last series makes you better at your job or an expert on one aspect of gay culture.
Maybe the CEO wanted to sign off with an informality/affirmation rather than a request...but thought adopting Rupaul's If you don't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?' wasn't a professional signature
Alternatively they are insecure/pushing their credentials by referring to Oprah/Ru - that would be cringeworthy/try hard.

Oh - and obviously - although one contestant cries at least once every couple of episodes, it's a reality contest not social documentary so any glimpse into their experiences is just that - a snapshot - whilst not X factor band strikes up sob story - it's not far off ie heavily produced and edited.

It’s all a bit weird regardless of how you feel about drag though, isn’t it?

Why would a CEO - or any work boss - be signing off emails suggesting employees watch a particular show, unless it’s something directly work related?

Thanks all' I've never watched it.
We are all counsellors, highly trained to various theoretical models. Some (not me) are Christians or of their faith.

Of course we don't take our faith into the counselling room but it feels very odd that head office is keen to force a 'way' of being on us.

I'm a counsellor, the whole point is that I leave my own personality at the door: why isn't the CEO?!

Sounds like a clumsy attempt to be “woke” / acknowledge Pride month etc?

Maybe CEO is trying to be friendly/do the equivalent of water cooler chat via the written word! (RuPaul's All Stars Result was Friday just gone) but doesn't a) know their audience and that the OP finds it misogynist and b) doesn't realise being down with the kids is übercringe.

Not sure then - although drag/LGBTQI and religions are not mutually exclusive. They might not always make for likely bedfellows but some of the contestants have talked about their faith. Your CEO is still odd to present it as a recommendation however, unless many of your client-base can relate.

You could try signing off “I hope you all praise the living god and his son, Jesus Christ?”

Why not just email back and ask him why he is promoting drag artistes? Ask him what possible relevance it has to the workplace. You could warn him that many women regard it as offensive, misogynist and equivalent to blackface. I’d be interested to hear his justification!

Maybe the CEO is one of those blokes who likes to dress in women's clothes at the weekend....

I agree it's a bit odd, and I watch DR, but maybe he was just trying to be friendly?

Weird behaviour.

Very odd and not really work-appropriate.

Whenever CEO gets in touch they sign off with gifs of Oprah (that's fine)

Is it ? Sounds weird and inappropriate in a work context.

Does your CEO understand some people don't watch television? I don't. We have a television and a licence but it's only ever on for my husband for news programmes.

I have friends who don't have a television at all and are pestered by the licensing people to prove it.

He just sounds a bit of a fool to be honest. It’s unprofessional and leaves the recipient thinking about the weirdness rather than what he was communicating about.

Have you thought about bringing it up in supervision? I would!

Very odd!!!

Mind boggling