Great story, until a totally gratuitous and irrelevant Trump reference was thrown in. A much bigger threat to our economy than Trump is that our entire political class is obsessed with him, rather than our own manifold problems - most self-created.
Did the mention of Trump trigger you? Do you have a bad case of ‘TDS’? It was a non part of the story, but it got you. You don’t have to feel the need to defend him everytime he’s mentioned. He’s a big boy. He’s earned all the hate.
Play is good, especially when stress is high (one of my key duties is to keep my InfoSec team members “loose” enough to stay at the top of their threat hunting game, and injecting fun periodically is key).
The funniest thing about this is nobody had an issue with it until it was exposed to the public by a reporter. 🤣
You’d think by this point in time that governments at all levels would own their decisions they think are important enough to do - rather than erase them at the first sign of criticism.
I’m more amused by how fast it disappeared rather than anything else. Also - taxpayer dollars are paying for therapy dogs and therapists because citizens are expressing their concerns? Yikes.
We handled it without children's toys, spending money on 'safe' spaces, and having timeouts during work hours. No wonder the City is so inefficient and Canadian GDP is almost zero. When BlackRock bails on DEI, you know it's a losing proposition. And I'm no fan of BlackRock.
Your discovery of the adult toy room is good reporting. You went to the seat of municipal government in Calgary, had a look around and learned something about the use of taxpayer dollars that the public might want to know about. Well done.
Don't forget the on-site therapist - the city should post that contract on their website.
Is there any evidence that the investment in workplace coddling does any good? Does it result in fewer sick days and increased productivity? Or is it counterproductive and keeps everyone focused on how shitty their workplace can be and creates the expectation that employees can be psychologically damaged simply by interacting with the public - or by simply being within hearing distance of the dirty and disheveled souls who attend these things.
I sense a trend. My much smaller municipality frequently frames social media and even roadside signage about the future of our town in polyanna language that seems designed for 3rd graders (and I'm pretty sure I've known even 3rd graders who would read such things with cynicism). Instead of 'these are complex choices, let's find intelligent, mature ways to get through them together' it's 'this stuff is hard, let's try to sound playful and make failed attempts at humour in the infantilizing hope that no one will notice they are fed up and we haven't solved a thing.' I have a theory--utterly unprovable--that this all traces back to when 'to adult' became a verb, and then a noun, i.e. 'adulting.'
Why not have a fully stocked bar? That would be understandable, but no less inappropriate. I don't get this preoccupation of some adults with children's play. Why not a pickup game of ball after work?
Who actually thinks this was a solution to the challenges of governance? Governing means compromises and hard choices and work. To quote Red Forman "If it wasn't work, they wouldn't call it work. They'd call it super wonderful, crazy fun time."
We all need outlets for our stress. Calling it a Toy Room is not helpful but understanding the need to decompress and providing a means for that decompression is not a bad idea. Optics count in politics. There are many healthy ways to deal with stress. The question is did City Council ask for this or did a bureaucrat decide for them?
I don't have a clue what you are talking about. What is having some gadgets in a room have to do with taking ownership of your life? Also, you don't have to tell me what being an adult is. I raised four children to adulthood, one of whom is a doctor.
Strange story. Is it possible they just stocked kids things for occasions like this? If it’s truly for the adults I agree it’s strange. Not opposed to having quiet places down folks to blow off steam.
Great story, until a totally gratuitous and irrelevant Trump reference was thrown in. A much bigger threat to our economy than Trump is that our entire political class is obsessed with him, rather than our own manifold problems - most self-created.
Trump is crack for mainstream media. They're hopelessly addicted.
Did the mention of Trump trigger you? Do you have a bad case of ‘TDS’? It was a non part of the story, but it got you. You don’t have to feel the need to defend him everytime he’s mentioned. He’s a big boy. He’s earned all the hate.
I wasn't defending him. I want a better future for Canada, and the Trump obsession of the political class is impeding that.
I don't see Trump mentioned in the article?
Not by name, but it's there and it stuck out like a sore thumb.
This is why I ride a motorcycle.
Greatest stress reliever ever invented.
boo, was a lovely story, til last paragrapgh where the toy room got shut down. more kids, n toys in work sites might make our world better. stay well
Play is good, especially when stress is high (one of my key duties is to keep my InfoSec team members “loose” enough to stay at the top of their threat hunting game, and injecting fun periodically is key).
Infantilizing adults not as much.
There’s got to be a reasonable medium.
The funniest thing about this is nobody had an issue with it until it was exposed to the public by a reporter. 🤣
You’d think by this point in time that governments at all levels would own their decisions they think are important enough to do - rather than erase them at the first sign of criticism.
I’m more amused by how fast it disappeared rather than anything else. Also - taxpayer dollars are paying for therapy dogs and therapists because citizens are expressing their concerns? Yikes.
If adults need toys to cope with the stress of their job could they not bring their own adult toys to work?
OK ... wait a minute ... suddenly that doesn't sound like such a good idea either.
Never required toy rooms before DEI came along.
What does DEI have to do with it?
When meritocracy was a thing, there was no need for toy rooms.
Yes, because no one ever suffered stress at work before DEI.
We handled it without children's toys, spending money on 'safe' spaces, and having timeouts during work hours. No wonder the City is so inefficient and Canadian GDP is almost zero. When BlackRock bails on DEI, you know it's a losing proposition. And I'm no fan of BlackRock.
Your discovery of the adult toy room is good reporting. You went to the seat of municipal government in Calgary, had a look around and learned something about the use of taxpayer dollars that the public might want to know about. Well done.
Right. From the look of the toys it was probably a $20.00 purchase at the dollar store.
Don't forget the on-site therapist - the city should post that contract on their website.
Is there any evidence that the investment in workplace coddling does any good? Does it result in fewer sick days and increased productivity? Or is it counterproductive and keeps everyone focused on how shitty their workplace can be and creates the expectation that employees can be psychologically damaged simply by interacting with the public - or by simply being within hearing distance of the dirty and disheveled souls who attend these things.
I get the idea of destressing; perhaps a knitting room would work (works for me). xo
I want a nap room.
I sense a trend. My much smaller municipality frequently frames social media and even roadside signage about the future of our town in polyanna language that seems designed for 3rd graders (and I'm pretty sure I've known even 3rd graders who would read such things with cynicism). Instead of 'these are complex choices, let's find intelligent, mature ways to get through them together' it's 'this stuff is hard, let's try to sound playful and make failed attempts at humour in the infantilizing hope that no one will notice they are fed up and we haven't solved a thing.' I have a theory--utterly unprovable--that this all traces back to when 'to adult' became a verb, and then a noun, i.e. 'adulting.'
Good lord, everything is nuts. This adult toy room sounds really very much like the bonkers stuff we are hearing from NDP front runners at the moment.
Why not have a fully stocked bar? That would be understandable, but no less inappropriate. I don't get this preoccupation of some adults with children's play. Why not a pickup game of ball after work?
Who actually thinks this was a solution to the challenges of governance? Governing means compromises and hard choices and work. To quote Red Forman "If it wasn't work, they wouldn't call it work. They'd call it super wonderful, crazy fun time."
We all need outlets for our stress. Calling it a Toy Room is not helpful but understanding the need to decompress and providing a means for that decompression is not a bad idea. Optics count in politics. There are many healthy ways to deal with stress. The question is did City Council ask for this or did a bureaucrat decide for them?
In my life I would always decompress after work in the same place: it was called home.
Okay; this is a great piece of commentary.
Stone cold brilliant.
This is great writing; this is exquisite Canadian journalism.
Well done.
I don't get the criticism. What's wrong with having a room to de-stress? The only issue I would have is that there didn't appear to be any Lego.
I would ask in reply, why can’t they destress like other folks?
Get a gym membership, you know, like an actual adult.
Oh, I see, putting on shorts and a tank top and riding a bike that doesn't go anywhere,
lifting, pulling and throwing things is being an adult.
Honestly, Janet, if I have to tell you that being an adult is about taking ownership of your life, well, I fear all the rest just falls on deaf ears.
I don't have a clue what you are talking about. What is having some gadgets in a room have to do with taking ownership of your life? Also, you don't have to tell me what being an adult is. I raised four children to adulthood, one of whom is a doctor.
Pick your employee club: Stitch and Bitch, Try and Cry, and now Play or Pray.
Strange story. Is it possible they just stocked kids things for occasions like this? If it’s truly for the adults I agree it’s strange. Not opposed to having quiet places down folks to blow off steam.