Gripes

20-ish female associate: Yeah, and you should see her hair! She dyed it red.
20-ish male associate: Really? How red? Like, Netflix-red?
20-ish female associate: No! Worse than that. Like Tandoori chicken-red!
Middle-aged male associate: Wait, wait, wait — what on Earth are you two talking about? What ever happened to fire engine-red and candy apple-red? [Met with silent, blank stares, then waves his hand in disdain] Bah! You kids nowadays are all freaks!

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Male cube rat: I need a word that rhymes with ‘vaginal.’
Female cube rat #1: Why?
Male cube rat: I’m writing a poem.
Female cube rat #1: What kind of poem has the word ‘vaginal’ in it?
Male cube rat: Don’t interrogate me. Just help me out.
Female cube rat #2: This poem isn’t about me, is it?
Male cube rat: I’ll bet Alfred Lord Tennyson didn’t have to put up with a bunch of fucking questions.

Insurance company
Melville, New York

Overheard by: Big Larry

Sales guy: That guy wouldn’t be in a good mood even if you woke him up with porn and ice cream.

Bonner Springs, Kansas

Failed hipster boss to peon: You’re really quiet today. Stop being so fucking inclusive.

Middleton, Wisconsin

Overheard by: The Friendliest Emo of All

Male hippie #1 standing at printer with no paper: Aren’t you supposed to be watching this? What do I pay you for?
Male hippie #2: To shave my legs and wear the skirt.

Memphis, Tennessee

Overheard by: please no more

Crazy woman at front desk: I will not be a slave to my teeth!

1685 Main Street
Santa Monica, California

Secretary #1: Here, I’ll trade you dark chocolate for my chocolate.
Secretary #2: No, I like dark chocolate.
Secretary #1: Why does the white man have to take all the dark chocolate? That’s the last piece of dark chocolate, and I’m dark so I should eat it! You ate all the white chocolate last week because you’re white, and now you’re going to have all the dark chocolate, too, just like the white man does to everything!
Secretary #2, eating dark chocolate: It’s all mine now. Look at this! [Opens mouth.]Secretary #1, muttering to herself and walking away: Just like the white man…

11330 Pierce Street
Riverside, California

Overheard by: Kevin

Boss: There’s nothing like walking to put the newspapers behind the circulation desk and looking out towards the front and having the first thing you see be the word ‘penis.’

Library
Richmond, Virginia

Male coworker: All I hear is, ‘Yap, yap, yap, I’m cold, yap, yap, yap, I’m a woman.

Gainesville, Florida

Overheard by: Erin

Librarian: Don’t use a potato chip as a bookmark!

Library
Overland Park, Kansas

Overheard by: Manager Guy