A fruit in the afternoon would hit the spot, I thought. So accordingly, on my way to work, I bought a banana and placed it in my desk's drawer.
Afternoon came and my stomach started to grumble. I recalled the banana but at the same time made a note that actually I haven't seen anyone eating banana or the like during work.
Just to be on the safe side, I thought it's better to ask from a person next to me, "Is it alright to eat a banana here?" Instead of saying "Yes, of course", a reply that I had expected, we ended up having the following dialog:
- "Eat a banana? Eh, you mean like in the lunch time, right?
- "No, I mean like in the afternoon."
- "Afternoon you say? Hmm, I wonder about that. Afternoon
is for working. Eating a banana would be like having a break,
or other in words not working. Moreover, as you can imagine, the
banana skin would make an awful mess."
- "Uh, I can imagine that. But then, why it's okay to drink coffee or
tea and eat small sweets?"
- "That's a different thing. Drinking does not interrupt work, and small
sweets can be eaten unnoticed.
- "I see (trying to figure the logic). So is this rule written somewhere?"
- "No. All rules are not written.
- "So it seems. Anyway, fruit would be better for health."
- "Maybe so."
Enlightening conversation, huh? I should have asked, "Why this rule is not written?", and maybe the reply would have been, "It doesn't make sense to write it", to which I could have concluded, "Yes, because its an insensible rule".
There are many unwritten rules. I get the feeling that rules have emerged first and then afterwards people have started to make up explanations to why such rule exists.On the other hand, for harmony's sake I better not drift into such debates anymore. Just comply to say "Yes, understood" and go on.
I took the banana out of from the drawer and brought it home.
Finally, if we're going to have a company costume party I'll be sure to wear this:
