I got stuck on a lunchtime video conference today with some people in my department and a vendor. I hate meetings at noon, but with timezones being a factor, it was the only available time the vendor could meet. Usually, I’m only on these for technical consultation, so I rarely need to speak other than to clarify a point or answer questions about our infrastructure. Those are usually toward the end of the meeting.
That said, I just muted myself and ate at my desk because I was starving and would have plenty of time to eat a quick bite before it got to the point where I had to say anything.
What I did not realize was that even though I was muted, my webcam was on. So 6 people I work with plus three vendors all watched me eat a bag of tacos, and no one said anything!
Like, when I eat a taco with people around, I do eat it in a dignified way. Less so when I’m alone (or think I’m alone) and wolfing it down before I have to do something So, yeah, it was not a pretty sight.
I’m still mortified, but at least I am laughing about it as I’m typing this out.
Don’t be mortified. That was a power move. Lunch time is for lunch.
Yeah, alls you hear is “no one wants to work anymore”, yet this guy is sacrificing his lunch to benefit his company. They need a raise.
that’s pretty funny and equally embarrassing. thank you for sharing. i admit, I don’t pay much attention to traditional lunch times becsuse i mainly meet with network ops folks who have no concept of time or work-life balance. 24/7 or bust. i have a beard so foods like ribs, and tacos that fall apart are my kryptonite. i feel like i need to take a face shower after a meal at times. And honestly after the quarantine period of covid i felt like i had to learn how to interact with society again. cheers.
I definitely feel better after sharing and laughing about it LOL.
Same about the “post-covid reintegration into society awkwardness”. Definitely struggled there, too.
Yeah best to laugh that off as the people in your meeting probably did.
So easy to beat yourself up over something minor you did for years and can never undo. (Of all the times to get extra sour cream, why Tuesday, WHY?!)
Good! In the end of the day we’re all human and we all need to eat when we get hungry. That’s just how our bodies work. You went out of your way to attend the meeting during what would normally be your lunch time, so I think it’s pretty much expected to have some lunch during the meeting. And sometimes we all need to devour a meal like it’s our last.
I never turn my video off to eat. If we’re having a meeting time during eating time, you all can watch.
One time the head of product scheduled an excruciatingly early meeting , and I stayed home, so they had me on the big TV while I was eating a bowl of Cheerios.
You should make this your thing. Next time eat a slab of ribs smothered in BBQ sauce
As others have said, I actually do this on purpose. Taco time, and camera on.
I can occasionally accommodate a lunch meeting; but in return everyone is absolutely going to get to watch me eat a taco.
