This could probably be in the "What's your deal?" section but I'm more looking for opinions...

I'm on a project team that has been working together for a few years. My role is small. I hardly have anything to say at meetings. I just follow project risks and communicate them with the quality organization.

Anyhow many new members of the team over the last few months, including the project leader. Today he sent out a meeting invite with "Who's who" game as an "icebreaker". They want us to answer the questions below, and provide an awkward photo of ourself. The idea being everyone will vote on who is who by the answers and photo. Basically a team building type thing.

I despise this crap. I am good at my job but I don't particularly like mixing my personal life with work life. I only share things about myself with close coworkers of many years. Otherwise I do my work and keep my mouth shut. This team almost never meets in person. Many of them are in France.

Anyhow, here's the questions and for fun, what my answers would be. I'm sure you can see my dilemma. I want to gently refuse to answer. My other choice is just make shit up and don't worry about it.

Your favorite movie? I have no answer I like so many. How about Silence of the Lambs.

Your favorite book? The Liberal Media Industrial Complex by Mark Dice.

Favorite Band/Song: Slayer, Raining Blood.

Favorite hobby: Guns and guns and bbq and guns.

Your last best vacation?: Fort Myers during Covid so I could drink at a bar without the Karens whining. I didn't fill out my travel form either.

You are best when...? When corporate do gooders let me do my job and stay out of my shit.

You dislike when...? When corporate do gooders get in my personal life.

So do I send the answers?

I would just participate and make up answers that are not real or applicable to you.

Ask if this a corporation of adults or the high school year book committee?

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
I would just participate and make up answers that are not real or applicable to you.

Bingo. Fake it and just play along, not worth the hassle, time or brain power of pushing back and dealing with the fallout.

You could provide a pic of Yosemite Sam or Bill Murray.

Another vote for the politically correct answers. Sometimes, the fight just isn’t worth it.

Just decline the meeting and show up anyway without participating.

quote:

Originally posted by BamaJeepster:

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
I would just participate and make up answers that are not real or applicable to you.

Bingo. Fake it and just play along, not worth the hassle, time or brain power of pushing back and dealing with the fallout.

Yep. I’d do whatever feels like the equivalent of a polite smile and nod. You probably won’t be the only one.

Yep. As much as I would like to tell them to get stuffed, it would come back to bite me in the end. So just grit your teeth and make some shit up.

I was on a "team building" zoom where they did this crap. Be generic not honest.

The furthest I'd push it would be your favorites being:

movie - Office Space since the corporate idiocy seems to abound at your workplace

book - Journey to Cubeville a Dilbert Book by Scott Adams

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Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.

Your answers aren't crazy enough.

Let me suggest:

Your favorite movie? Nekromantik.

Your favorite book? Donner Party Cookbook

Favorite Band/Song: Slayer, Raining Blood.

Favorite hobby: Guns, skinning, butcher, and filet knives, and long pig bbq.

Your last best vacation?: The Pripyat Exclusion Zone. At night.

You are best when...? Having a friend for dinner.

You dislike when...? When that friend whines about the menu.

Yeah I will have to do as most of you say. Grit my teeth and be politically correct. Although Tatortodd has a nice idea with Office space and Dilbert.

Now for photos, I've chose one of two to send. You be the judge.



Or, since they are French, one from the Paris Catacombs...

While cathartic it’s not worth the potential hassle. I answer with truthful but more mundane answers. So, Im not lying but neither am I giving more info than I have to nor any excuses for controversy or trouble.

This is fun. Do you want to get booted off the team? Help me here...this thread could have legs

Your favorite movie? The Life of Pi

Your favorite book? Blood Meridian

Your favorite band/song? Pink Floyd/Another Brick in the Wall

Your favorite hobby? Taxidermy

Your last best vacation? Taking underprivileged young boys canoeing on the Chattooga

You are best when…I am left alone

You dislike when…I have to pretend I like you

2nd photo for sure

This message has been edited. Last edited by: cne32507,

I wouldn't send any actual pictures of myself. Rather a made-up caricature attributed to a pre-school youngster. It may not be a photo but it'd be awkward.

Be bland, keep your personal life personal. Just don’t include anything real or fake that encourages more questions.

damn, are you getting paid to play these ice-breaker games? sign me up. I'll take money for that.

quote:

Do you want to get booted off the team

Yes actually. I’m not qualified for the position as I have no experience with this stuff. It’s only like 5% of my time but the most stressful. But I don’t want to be fired. Lol

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
I would just participate and make up answers that are not real or applicable to you.

That's what I do. I seriously doubt anyone is going to make an issue out of it. But if they come up later and say, "do you really like...?" Just laugh and say, "no, I made it up!!!" and you both have a laugh.

I'm so glad that I do not have to deal with that nonsense anymore.