TMI Takes Over at the Office

Discussions about shaving one's private parts over lunch. Dishing details about your husband's kinky underwear habits while pouring coffee. It's official, writes Elizabeth Bernstein, "the TMI phenomenon has invaded the workplace," and we have no one to blame but ourselves. Sure, Facebook and the confessional culture of reality TV has made it normal to share every salacious—and dull—detail with anyone who has ears, but we've also begun confusing co-workers with friends.

"It's understandable," writes Bernstein for the Wall Street Journal: Longer hours means more time with these people, who we email constantly. But some things are just too personal to be uttered at work. "So why do we do it?" We just don't think before we blurt, says Bernstein, and while judicious sharing can help us "build alliances," most of the time we really don't need to go there. How to shut up a TMI-prone co-worker? "Don't listen. Don't laugh, even out of nervousness. Change the subject." Click here to read tales of TMI, one of which involves a tambourine next to the bed.
(More co-workers stories.)