Invisible wrote:
> You walk into somebody's office to say hi and have a friendly chat. You 
> discover that the person in question is actually quietly crying.
> 
> What do you do?
> 
> 1. Attempt to do the whole comforting / supportive trip.
> 
> 2. Bugger off and leave them in peace.
> 
> 
> 
> Obviously the answer depends on how much you like the person. We can 
> assume by the fact that you were making a social call in the first place 
> that you like this person.
> 

If you have already started talking, state something like 'sorry, I can 
come back later'...  That gives her the option


> Similarly, it depends on how well you know the person. Since I don't 
> honestly know Cute QA Girl very well at all, I opted for option #2. I 
> did give very serious considering to going back later to see if she was 
> OK, and point out that I would have offered her option #1 - but this 
> didn't actually occur.
> 


> I did, however, speak to her later that day. She actually *invited* me 
> into her office, no less. (Usually I don't get to have a conversation 
> with her unless *I* am the one who starts it. It's most unusual her for 
> to initiate one on purpose. Unless her PC is ****ed...) I couldn't begin 
> to speculate what upset her that morning, but when I spoke to her a few 
> hours later, you'd never know anything had happened.
> 

Did she notice you in her office?
If she did, then the next time you see her you could have apologized for 
walking in on her.  But I wouldn't go beyond that unless she took it there.

If she did not, then do not say anything.
OTOH you can also play this as fully honest and tell her you saw her - 
but only for her information.  This can build a lot of trust, but is 
dangerous and could explode if not approached tactfully.


Anyhow, good thinking on not moving in on her emotional state.



Tom

Post a reply to this message