Primadonnas

Texas Slim writes his Notes from the Cube . . .

Weeyaallll... so I haven't quite decided if I like primadonnas in the office or not.

In general, they're a pain in the ass: vain, pushy, egotistical. No one's gonna argue much about that.

By the same token, usually the primadonna's done something to earn that inflated sense of self-importance - and, more important, is still doing that something.

That puts the primadonna in a different class from the drones droning away at whatever they are assigned in a competent dull way. Or, just as frequently, in an incompetent dull way: drones don't distinguish - which distinguishes the primadonnas from the drones.

Of course, everybody thinks that the other department acts like primadonnas - especially the Sales and R&D folk - and that may be true: but that's corporate culture personalities at play. I'm talking about the individuals who are sure they're top shit, want everyone else to know it, and generally have what it takes to actually be top o' the pile.

Do I like them or hate them?

I - don't - know.

I have, in the past week, wanted to kill a primadonna: he gets very very VERY on the nerves. I have also benefited from another primaD's brilliance (which, I wish wish wish she hadn't proclaimed herself so loudly).

In either case, the primadonnas are more interesting than the drones here in the cubicles.

So what will it be: A life of turbulent interest - or dull safety?