Regarding my whole work situation from nearly a month ago:
I've been rebuilding the bridges I torched November and December and they're pretty much close to rebuilt. Went out drinking with them on Tuesday where I went all out. Had a nasty hangover but it seems like things are nearly back to the way they were.
Fortunately work is slow so I've been able to clear the backlog of shit out at work.
2010 is turning out well in the first few days so far.
I dunno sometimes the whole be nice at work thing goes too far. I wish people would just accept that they're their to do a job and nothing personal- this is just business.
I'm probably reading too much into the scenario, but wasn't it T EXP that got mad at everyone else? Being civil at work is mandatory, and being friendly (not friends per se) is part of that. Conversely if someone steps outside that social contract, if someone makes an issue personal, it is natural to take it personally -- but that's a reaction the defending person chooses.
It's hard to do sometimes, but when someone makes a personal attack on me, rather than jumping in to defend myself I find it is more helpful to ask them why they're reacting that way. More times than not, they'll backpedal or apologize. Personal attacks in the workplace say more about the attacker than the target.