It's the same in our Workplace; and I LOVE our Workplace except for that! I guess I'm just somewhat of a Pollyanna, I would just LOVE if people commented on someone's nice hair, eyes, clothes, or just smile or wave! Wouldn't that just be SO much nicer? I swear the atmosphere picks up the negative vibes, hangs over the place like a dark cloud, and you end up coming home drained, not from the Work but from the Negativity!
However, I do understand that there are SO many different personalities that hurt feelings or anger can occur. Why not then only have one trusted confidante that one can talk to and let it go at that? Why tell everybody and then that person tells another person, and another and another and so on and so on? I just don't get it...
Another thing I'm dead set against is someone spreading rumors about who is sleeping with who and that SEEMS to go around like Wildfire! Or using the term such and such a person is 'useless'! I don't think anyone is useless! One might not have a great work ethic or be too happy about their job, just proves one is either in the wrong job or hasn't found his/her passion yet.