Rearview mirror!

[JoitheArtist]

Ok, so my co-worker, K, LOVES to hover. He'll come in almost silently, sneak up behind people and ask questions, and if the person he wants isn't available, he'll hang around forever waiting. He especially likes to hover behind me, either pestering me or waiting to talk to my boss over her cubicle wall. He is TOTALLY oblivious to normal cues that the conversation is over: even walking away doesn't work, as he will FOLLOW you and keep rambling on.

It doesn't bug me too much when he hovers, because I have my headphones and can just ignore him. But I want to be careful about what sites I pull up when he's standing right behind me. Problem: I can't see behind me without being fairly obvious that I'm checking to see if someone is there.

Today, a coworker was cutting some shapes out of very shiny metallic cardboard, and offered the scraps to the office. I snagged one, and taped it on my wall--I can now see the entire area over my right shoulder!

GhettoMirror, ftw!

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

What if he comes to your left shoulder?

[JoitheArtist]

What if he comes to your left shoulder?

If he does, he's a teleporter, since most of that space is taken up by a giant bookshelf that I didn't want in the first place but they made me take...

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I see. Just allowing for all the possibilities.

[wagegoth]

At a previous firm, several people who liked surfing the net put the small, round, bicycle-type mirrors on the upper corner of their monitors. I thought that made it even more obvious.

[taurinejunkie]

Reminds me that I once almost got in shit (was verbally warned) about something I consider insignificant.

I had my iPod Touch in slideshow mode, with pretty pictures of pretty ladies, nothing NSFW of course. I thought that didn't violate the 'no distractions' policy, since it's just a picture next to the screen (some of the people with kids bring framed pics and that's OK), but a different picture every time you look at it. Supervisor was walking around and asks me what it is (in that "I know what it is I just want you to say it so I can remind you of the policy" tone), and says if he sees it again it's his till the end of my shift. I was too pissed to answer, just turned the thing off and shoved it in my pocket.

Was he a dick or did I actually cross the line?

[Primer]

At a previous firm, several people who liked surfing the net put the small, round, bicycle-type mirrors on the upper corner of their monitors. I thought that made it even more obvious.

I tend to have a very violent reaction to anyone coming up behind me without any warning. I'd just have to say that the mirror is for the safety of others.

[Bosch]

Reminds me that I once almost got in shit (was verbally warned) about something I consider insignificant.

I had my iPod Touch in slideshow mode, with pretty pictures of pretty ladies, nothing NSFW of course. I thought that didn't violate the 'no distractions' policy, since it's just a picture next to the screen (some of the people with kids bring framed pics and that's OK), but a different picture every time you look at it. Supervisor was walking around and asks me what it is (in that "I know what it is I just want you to say it so I can remind you of the policy" tone), and says if he sees it again it's his till the end of my shift. I was too pissed to answer, just turned the thing off and shoved it in my pocket.

Was he a dick or did I actually cross the line?

He's a dick, and if he mentions it again remind him that he will need to also write up everyone else with "distractions" at their desk.

[marlovino]

you should get one of these:

(click to go to website, Thinkgeek.com)

[Broomjockey]

Was he a dick or did I actually cross the line?

He's a dick, and if he mentions it again remind him that he will need to also write up everyone else with "distractions" at their desk.

I have to disagree. I think he could have handled it better, but an iPod is fundementally different from having pictures at your desk, even one of those digital picture frames. An iPod is a multi-function device. Especially the touch. For all he knows, when he's not around, you grab it and play games, or run video, rather than just a slideshow. That makes it a potential distraction, which as you said, is against policy. Even if you promise to only use it as a picture display, as a manager, he has to consider the implications. If he lets you, then he'd have to let someone else do that, or be accused of favourtism, or breaking policy. And then what if someone wants to pass off a PSP as a similar device? They can be used in such a fashion. Best to just say no at the start, and avoid the mess.