An office parable

Suppose you have a problem with a person at work. Your office is right next to theirs. Your own office is nice, but theirs is also nice.

You both have grievances and you’ve kind of tried to get along, but it’s not working, and you’ve managed to win people to your side. The other person has grievances against you, but no-one really believes or acknowledges them. You insist that they’re made-up. People agree not to think too much about it because they like you so much.

Just recently there was an incident that they started that pushed the whole situation over the line. They were terminated and you got their office. Well, you just took the wall down and merged your offices. Now you have a nice, big office and your nemesis is gone.

What happens if it turns out that the triggering incident was partially or mostly your fault? Do you say something? Do you try to undo what you’ve done? Or do you cover it up so that no-one ever knows?

If you say something, what might happen? Will they bring your nemesis back on board? Will they give them back their office? Will they put them in your office? Will you have to share? Or…would they throw you out of your office?

Would you be punished? Terminated?

Better not to say anything.

Better to spin and to bury the truth.

Better to double down and go on the offensive.

Better to accuse anyone who tries to reveal the truth that you’re covering up of being against you for personal—and possibly deeply racist and shockingly discriminatory—reasons.

Right?

What, really, would the truth be in that situation?

I mean, c’mon.

Couldn’t you just pretend that the truth is what everyone already believes?

Wouldn’t it be a hassle for everyone to admit the “real” truth?

What would be the point?

No-one will ever know.

At least, no-one who matters.

And no-one listens to people who don’t matter, anyway.

And, honestly, even if someone who mattered did know, they probably wouldn’t care. They’re too invested in the truth they already believe.

Only your nemesis would benefit.

And you would stand to lose everything.

You got what you wanted by pleading a moral high ground to which you had no right.

You’re actually the bad guy and your nemesis would be vindicated.

A bad person managed to take something from a good person who they’d managed to make look like a bad person for long enough to steal everything they had.

But…the history shows a beleaguered good person who finally freed themselves of their nemesis.

A neat trick.

Why mess with that?